The summer solstice has come and gone, and San Francisco’s latest sunsets of the year are coming to an end. Our last post-7pm sunset will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Consider this your reminder to enjoy the extra daylight while it lasts, because the sun will be going down before 5pm in November! See specific sunset times at TimeAndDate.com.
Here are some dates to keep in mind for the rest of this year:
- Aug. 16: Last post-8pm sunset of 2023
- Sept 26: Last post-7pm sunset of 2023
- Nov. 6: Daylight Saving Time ends, sun begins setting just after 5pm
- Nov. 12: Last post-5pm sunset of 2023
- Dec. 1-11: Earliest sunsets of 2023 at 4:50pm
- Dec. 21: Winter solstice, shortest day of 2023
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice happened on June 21, 2023, lasting 14 hours, 46 minutes, and 55 seconds. The sun rose at 5:48am and set at 8:34pm. For the West Coast, the sun hit solstice position at exactly 7:57am that day.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun is farthest north in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning the earth’s North Pole is tilted at about 23.4° toward the sun. As a result of the earth’s placement in its orbit, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere experience the longest day of the year.
Six months later, the same phenomenon occurs for the Southern Hemisphere during our winter solstice. This is when we experience the shortest day of the year, which this year falls on December 21, 2023.
How should I enjoy the sunset in SF?
Here are some ideas to help you take advantage of a beautiful sunset in San Francisco.
- Stuff your face at the Off The Grid food truck parties on Friday evenings
- Enjoy dinner with a view at SF’s best waterfront restaurants
- Watch the sun go down at these popular sunset viewing spots around the Bay
- Have a dinnertime picnic at a beautiful SF park