Herndon, VA: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Herndon
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:25 am and sets at 4:51 pm: 9h 26m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 54m, so the swing is 5h 28m.
When it gets better in Herndon
- Earliest sunset: 4:47 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:29 am on Jan 4.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 25.
- 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 97 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 65. 50 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 39.0°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 Herndon
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 45 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Sep 25 and Mar 26.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 50 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 29: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Herndon, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 26m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:01 am | 8:30 pm | 14h 29m |
| August 2026 | 6:29 am | 7:56 pm | 13h 28m |
| September 2026 | 6:56 am | 7:08 pm | 12h 12m |
| October 2026 | 7:25 am | 6:22 pm | 10h 57m |
| November 2026 | 6:59 am | 4:52 pm | 9h 52m |
| December 2026 | 7:25 am | 4:51 pm | 9h 26m |
| January 2027 | 7:24 am | 5:18 pm | 9h 54m |
| February 2027 | 6:53 am | 5:53 pm | 11h 00m |
| March 2027 | 7:12 am | 7:22 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:25 am | 7:52 pm | 13h 28m |
| May 2027 | 5:52 am | 8:21 pm | 14h 28m |
| June 2027 | 5:44 am | 8:39 pm | 14h 54m |
Herndon against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Herndon (9h 26m, sunset 4:51 pm):
- Vienna, VA, 9 mi away: 9h 26m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:50 pm (-1 min).
- Fairfax, VA, 9 mi away: 9h 27m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 4:51 pm (0 min).
- Falls Church, VA, 13 mi away: 9h 26m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:50 pm (-1 min).
- Leesburg, VA, 13 mi away: 9h 25m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:51 pm (0 min).
- Manassas Park, VA, 14 mi away: 9h 27m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 4:51 pm (0 min).