Fairbanks, AK: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Fairbanks

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 10:58 am and sets at 2:40 pm: 3h 42m of daylight, a very dark winter. The longest day of summer has 21h 50m, so the swing is 18h 09m.

When it gets better in Fairbanks

• Earliest sunset: 2:39 pm on Dec 18, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 10:59 am on Dec 24.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 28.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 6.8 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 146 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 111. 78 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 64.8°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 Fairbanks

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 136 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 11 to Apr 2, so set it up before Sep 11.
• On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 78 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 Jul 1 to Jun 30: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Jul 1.

Daylight in Fairbanks, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 3h 42m.

Fairbanks against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Fairbanks (3h 42m, sunset 2:40 pm):

• Wasilla, AK, 232 mi away: 5h 19m of daylight (+97 min), sunset 3:36 pm (+56 min).
• Anchorage, AK, 258 mi away: 5h 28m of daylight (+106 min), sunset 3:39 pm (+59 min).
• Juneau, AK, 626 mi away: 6h 21m of daylight (+159 min), sunset 3:06 pm (+26 min), on America/Juneau time.
• Lynden, WA, 1,433 mi away: 8h 14m of daylight (+272 min), sunset 4:15 pm (+95 min), on America/Los Angeles time.
• Ferndale, WA, 1,435 mi away: 8h 15m of daylight (+273 min), sunset 4:16 pm (+96 min), on America/Los Angeles time.