Anchorage, AK: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Anchorage

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 10:11 am and sets at 3:39 pm: 5h 28m of daylight, a very dark winter. The longest day of summer has 19h 21m, so the swing is 13h 53m.

When it gets better in Anchorage

• Earliest sunset: 3:38 pm on Dec 16, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 10:13 am on Dec 26.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 25.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 5.7 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 153 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 72. 72 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 61.2°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.

What to do about it in Anchorage

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 144 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 7 to Apr 7, so set it up before Sep 7.
• On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 72 weekdays start and end in the dark. Use it in the morning, and if winter low mood is the reason, ask a doctor before you rely on one.
• If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Feb 9: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.

Daylight in Anchorage, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 5h 28m.

Anchorage against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Anchorage (5h 28m, sunset 3:39 pm):

• Wasilla, AK, 29 mi away: 5h 19m of daylight (-9 min), sunset 3:36 pm (-3 min).
• Fairbanks, AK, 258 mi away: 3h 42m of daylight (-106 min), sunset 2:40 pm (-59 min).
• Juneau, AK, 558 mi away: 6h 21m of daylight (+53 min), sunset 3:06 pm (-33 min), on America/Juneau time.
• Lynden, WA, 1,340 mi away: 8h 14m of daylight (+166 min), sunset 4:15 pm (+36 min), on America/Los Angeles time.
• Ferndale, WA, 1,341 mi away: 8h 15m of daylight (+167 min), sunset 4:16 pm (+37 min), on America/Los Angeles time.