Seasons and sky
Dusk
Direct answer
Dusk is the evening transition from sunset toward darkness as atmospheric scattered sunlight fades.
Dusk is the fading twilight after sunset.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Related
- Dawn, Civil Dawn, Astronomical Season, Equinox
Dusk is the fading twilight after sunset.
A Sun-Earth orientation for seasonal, atmospheric, tidal, and terrestrial terms.
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The story behind Dusk
Traditional day boundaries often used sunset or visible darkness, while modern tables define repeatable solar angles.
Why Dusk matters
Different activities use different dusk thresholds, from civil lighting rules to astronomical observing darkness.
Dusk in practice: an example
Civil dusk occurs before nautical dusk and astronomical dusk on a normal mid-latitude evening.
Where readings of Dusk go wrong
It is a mistake to assume dusk brightness from time alone; clouds, snow, Moon, and urban lighting can dominate visibility.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Rise, Set, and Twilight Definitions - Official definitions used for sunrise, sunset, refraction, and twilight calculations.
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory: Solar Calculator Glossary - NOAA definitions for solar geometry, atmospheric refraction, and civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Select the evening threshold
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Common questions
What is dusk?
Dusk is the evening transition from sunset toward darkness as atmospheric scattered sunlight fades.
What do people get wrong about dusk?
It is a mistake to assume dusk brightness from time alone; clouds, snow, Moon, and urban lighting can dominate visibility.
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