Eden, NC: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Eden
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:27 am and sets at 5:07 pm: 9h 40m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 39m, so the swing is 4h 59m.
When it gets better in Eden
- Earliest sunset: 5:03 pm on Dec 5, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:31 am on Jan 6.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 18.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 117 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 56. 43 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 36.5°N this sits between Sarasota FL (27°N, 1.4%) and Nashua NH (43°N, 9.7%) in a 1990 survey of winter depression by latitude.
What to do about it in Eden
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 60 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 14 to Apr 2, so set it up before Sep 14.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 43 weekdays start and end in the dark. If you notice winter low mood, ask a doctor whether one fits you.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 18: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Eden, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 40m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:17 am | 8:34 pm | 14h 17m |
| August 2026 | 6:42 am | 8:02 pm | 13h 20m |
| September 2026 | 7:06 am | 7:17 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:32 am | 6:35 pm | 11h 03m |
| November 2026 | 7:03 am | 5:07 pm | 10h 04m |
| December 2026 | 7:27 am | 5:07 pm | 9h 40m |
| January 2027 | 7:28 am | 5:33 pm | 10h 05m |
| February 2027 | 7:00 am | 6:06 pm | 11h 06m |
| March 2027 | 7:21 am | 7:31 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:38 am | 7:58 pm | 13h 21m |
| May 2027 | 6:08 am | 8:24 pm | 14h 16m |
| June 2027 | 6:01 am | 8:40 pm | 14h 39m |
Eden against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Eden (9h 40m, sunset 5:07 pm):
- Reidsville, NC, 12 mi away: 9h 41m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:07 pm (0 min).
- Martinsville, VA, 14 mi away: 9h 39m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:07 pm (0 min).
- Danville, VA, 19 mi away: 9h 40m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:06 pm (-1 min).
- Summerfield, NC, 23 mi away: 9h 42m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 5:09 pm (+2 min).
- Greensboro, NC, 29 mi away: 9h 42m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 5:09 pm (+2 min).