Frankfort, KY: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Frankfort
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:52 am and sets at 5:23 pm: 9h 30m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 50m, so the swing is 5h 19m.
When it gets better in Frankfort
- Earliest sunset: 5:19 pm on Dec 6, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:56 am on Jan 5.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 23.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.4 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 166 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 36. 36 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 38.2°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 Frankfort
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 121 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 24 to Apr 16, so set it up before Aug 24.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 36 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 12 to Dec 31: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 12.
Daylight in Frankfort, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 30m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:33 am | 8:58 pm | 14h 25m |
| August 2026 | 7:00 am | 8:25 pm | 13h 25m |
| September 2026 | 7:26 am | 7:38 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:54 am | 6:53 pm | 10h 59m |
| November 2026 | 7:27 am | 5:23 pm | 9h 56m |
| December 2026 | 7:52 am | 5:23 pm | 9h 30m |
| January 2027 | 7:52 am | 5:50 pm | 9h 58m |
| February 2027 | 7:22 am | 6:24 pm | 11h 02m |
| March 2027 | 7:42 am | 7:52 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:56 am | 8:21 pm | 13h 25m |
| May 2027 | 6:24 am | 8:49 pm | 14h 24m |
| June 2027 | 6:17 am | 9:06 pm | 14h 50m |
Frankfort against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Frankfort (9h 30m, sunset 5:23 pm):
- Lawrenceburg, KY, 11 mi away: 9h 31m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (+1 min).
- Versailles, KY, 13 mi away: 9h 31m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:23 pm (0 min).
- Georgetown, KY, 19 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:21 pm (-2 min).
- Shelbyville, KY, 20 mi away: 9h 30m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:24 pm (+1 min).
- Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY, 25 mi away: 9h 31m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:22 pm (-1 min).