In December 2026, sunrise in Raleigh moves from 7:07 AM on December 1 to 7:25 AM on December 31, and sunset from 5:02 PM to 5:11 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 55m to 9h 46m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:07 AM → 7:25 AM
Sunset range
5:02 PM → 5:11 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 4:35 PM
New moon
Dec 8
best for stars
Day-by-day sun & moon times — December 2026
| Date | Sunrise | Morning golden hour | Evening golden hour | Sunset | Blue hour | Daylight | Moon | Moonrise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 | 7:07 AM | 6:50 AM–7:46 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 55m | 46% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:08 AM | 6:51 AM–7:47 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 54m | 35% | 12:50 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:09 AM | 6:51 AM–7:48 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 53m | 25% | 1:55 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:10 AM | 6:52 AM–7:49 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 52m | 17% | 2:58 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:11 AM | 6:53 AM–7:50 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 51m | 10% | 4:02 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:11 AM | 6:54 AM–7:50 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 50m | 5% | 5:05 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:12 AM | 6:55 AM–7:51 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 50m | 2% | 6:07 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:13 AM | 6:56 AM–7:52 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 49m | 0% | 7:06 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:14 AM | 6:56 AM–7:53 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 48m | 1% | 8:00 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:15 AM | 6:57 AM–7:54 AM | 4:23 PM–5:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:19 PM–5:30 PM | 9h 47m | 3% | 8:49 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:15 AM | 6:58 AM–7:55 AM | 4:23 PM–5:20 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:20 PM–5:31 PM | 9h 47m | 7% | 9:31 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:16 AM | 6:58 AM–7:55 AM | 4:23 PM–5:20 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:20 PM–5:31 PM | 9h 46m | 12% | 10:06 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:17 AM | 6:59 AM–7:56 AM | 4:23 PM–5:20 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:20 PM–5:31 PM | 9h 46m | 19% | 10:38 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:17 AM | 7:00 AM–7:57 AM | 4:23 PM–5:20 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:20 PM–5:31 PM | 9h 45m | 27% | 11:05 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:18 AM | 7:01 AM–7:58 AM | 4:24 PM–5:21 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:21 PM–5:31 PM | 9h 45m | 36% | 11:31 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:19 AM | 7:01 AM–7:58 AM | 4:24 PM–5:21 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:21 PM–5:32 PM | 9h 45m | 46% | 11:56 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:19 AM | 7:02 AM–7:59 AM | 4:24 PM–5:21 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:21 PM–5:32 PM | 9h 44m | 57% | 12:22 PM |
| Fri 18 | 7:20 AM | 7:02 AM–7:59 AM | 4:24 PM–5:22 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:22 PM–5:33 PM | 9h 44m | 67% | 12:49 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:20 AM | 7:03 AM–8:00 AM | 4:25 PM–5:22 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:22 PM–5:33 PM | 9h 44m | 77% | 1:19 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:21 AM | 7:03 AM–8:01 AM | 4:25 PM–5:22 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:22 PM–5:33 PM | 9h 44m | 85% | 1:55 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:22 AM | 7:04 AM–8:01 AM | 4:26 PM–5:23 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:23 PM–5:34 PM | 9h 44m | 93% | 2:39 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:22 AM | 7:04 AM–8:02 AM | 4:26 PM–5:23 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:23 PM–5:34 PM | 9h 44m | 97% | 3:32 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:22 AM | 7:05 AM–8:02 AM | 4:27 PM–5:24 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:24 PM–5:35 PM | 9h 44m | 100% | 4:35 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:23 AM | 7:05 AM–8:02 AM | 4:27 PM–5:24 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:24 PM–5:35 PM | 9h 44m | 99% | 5:45 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:23 AM | 7:06 AM–8:03 AM | 4:28 PM–5:25 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:25 PM–5:36 PM | 9h 44m | 96% | 6:59 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:24 AM | 7:06 AM–8:03 AM | 4:28 PM–5:26 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:26 PM–5:36 PM | 9h 44m | 90% | 8:14 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:24 AM | 7:06 AM–8:04 AM | 4:29 PM–5:26 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:26 PM–5:37 PM | 9h 45m | 83% | 9:26 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:24 AM | 7:07 AM–8:04 AM | 4:30 PM–5:27 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:27 PM–5:38 PM | 9h 45m | 73% | 10:35 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:25 AM | 7:07 AM–8:04 AM | 4:30 PM–5:27 PM | 5:10 PM | 5:27 PM–5:38 PM | 9h 45m | 63% | 11:41 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:25 AM | 7:07 AM–8:04 AM | 4:31 PM–5:28 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:28 PM–5:39 PM | 9h 46m | 52% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:25 AM | 7:08 AM–8:04 AM | 4:32 PM–5:29 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:29 PM–5:40 PM | 9h 46m | 41% | 12:46 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/New York) and computed for Raleigh city center.
Photo planning tips for December
- The December solstice brings the earliest sunsets and the most southerly sunrise and sunset.
- Long nights are ideal for star trails and winter constellations.
- The Geminids peak around December 13–14 — the year's richest shower.
Other months
JanuaryRaleighFebruaryRaleighMarchRaleighAprilRaleighMayRaleighJuneRaleighJulyRaleighAugustRaleighSeptemberRaleighOctoberRaleighNovemberRaleighDecemberRaleigh
FAQ
What time is sunset in Raleigh in December?
Between 5:02 PM (on December 1) and 5:11 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Raleigh in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 4:24 PM–5:21 PM and the morning golden hour is 7:01 AM–7:58 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 4:35 PM in Raleigh. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.