Moline, IL: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Moline

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:25 am and sets at 4:35 pm: 9h 10m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 11m, so the swing is 6h 01m.

When it gets better in Moline

• Earliest sunset: 4:32 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:29 am on Jan 3.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 31.
• By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.7 minutes a day.

Waking and coming home in the dark

With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 87 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 73. 58 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 41.5°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 Moline

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 38 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Oct 5 and Mar 23.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 58 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 Feb 10: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.

Daylight in Moline, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 10m.

Moline against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Moline (9h 10m, sunset 4:35 pm):

• Rock Island, IL, 5 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:36 pm (+1 min).
• Bettendorf, IA, 6 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:35 pm (0 min).
• East Moline, IL, 6 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:35 pm (0 min).
• Davenport, IA, 8 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:36 pm (+1 min).
• Clinton, IA, 28 mi away: 9h 08m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:33 pm (-2 min).