Juneau, AK: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Juneau
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:44 am and sets at 3:06 pm: 6h 21m of daylight, a very dark winter. The longest day of summer has 18h 18m, so the swing is 11h 57m.
When it gets better in Juneau
- Earliest sunset: 3:04 pm on Dec 15, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:46 am on Dec 27.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 23.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 5 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 112 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 93. 91 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 58.4°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 Juneau
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 92 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Oct 1 to Mar 19, so set it up before Oct 1.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 91 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 Oct 23 to Mar 2: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Oct 23.
Daylight in Juneau, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 6h 21m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 4:26 am | 9:39 pm | 17h 13m |
| August 2026 | 5:32 am | 8:26 pm | 14h 54m |
| September 2026 | 6:40 am | 6:58 pm | 12h 18m |
| October 2026 | 7:47 am | 5:34 pm | 9h 47m |
| November 2026 | 7:59 am | 3:25 pm | 7h 26m |
| December 2026 | 8:44 am | 3:06 pm | 6h 21m |
| January 2027 | 8:23 am | 3:54 pm | 7h 30m |
| February 2027 | 7:13 am | 5:08 pm | 9h 55m |
| March 2027 | 6:56 am | 7:13 pm | 12h 18m |
| April 2027 | 5:28 am | 8:24 pm | 14h 55m |
| May 2027 | 4:18 am | 9:30 pm | 17h 12m |
| June 2027 | 3:50 am | 10:08 pm | 18h 18m |
Juneau against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Juneau (6h 21m, sunset 3:06 pm):
- Anchorage, AK, 558 mi away: 5h 28m of daylight (-53 min), sunset 3:39 pm (+33 min), on America/Anchorage time.
- Wasilla, AK, 571 mi away: 5h 19m of daylight (-62 min), sunset 3:36 pm (+30 min), on America/Anchorage time.
- Fairbanks, AK, 626 mi away: 3h 42m of daylight (-159 min), sunset 2:40 pm (-26 min), on America/Anchorage time.
- Lynden, WA, 806 mi away: 8h 14m of daylight (+113 min), sunset 4:15 pm (+69 min), on America/Los Angeles time.
- Ferndale, WA, 809 mi away: 8h 15m of daylight (+114 min), sunset 4:16 pm (+70 min), on America/Los Angeles time.