May 2026 Sunrise & Sunset Today in West Des Moines, United States 🇺🇸
Sun Phase: Night
Sunrise Today: 06:03 ↑ 62.9° ENE
Sunset Today: 20:38 ↑ 296.9° WNW
Day Length: 14h 34m
Sun Direction: N
Sun Altitude: -28.89°
Sun Distance: 151.932 million km
Next Equinox: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 (September Equinox)
When Is Sunrise & Sunset in West Des Moines?
May 2026 Sunrise & Sunset Times in West Des Moines
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| Day | Sunrise/Sunset | Daylight | Astronomical Twilight | Nautical Twilight | Civil Twilight | Solar Noon | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | Sunset | Length | Diff. | Start | End | Start | End | Start | End | Time | Sun Dist. (Mil km) | |
| 1 |
06:11
↑
69° ENE
|
20:12
↑
292° WNW
|
14h 00m | +2m 24s | 04:24 | 22:00 | 05:04 | 21:20 | 05:41 | 20:43 | 13:12 | 150.72 |
| 2 |
06:10
↑
68° ENE
|
20:13
↑
292° WNW
|
14h 03m | +2m 22s | 04:22 | 22:02 | 05:02 | 21:21 | 05:39 | 20:44 | 13:11 | 150.76 |
| 3 |
06:09
↑
68° ENE
|
20:14
↑
292° WNW
|
14h 05m | +2m 21s | 04:20 | 22:04 | 05:01 | 21:23 | 05:38 | 20:45 | 13:11 | 150.79 |
| 4 |
06:07
↑
68° ENE
|
20:15
↑
293° WNW
|
14h 07m | +2m 19s | 04:18 | 22:05 | 04:59 | 21:24 | 05:36 | 20:47 | 13:11 | 150.83 |
| 5 |
06:06
↑
67° ENE
|
20:17
↑
293° WNW
|
14h 10m | +2m 18s | 04:16 | 22:07 | 04:58 | 21:25 | 05:35 | 20:48 | 13:11 | 150.87 |
| 6 |
06:05
↑
67° ENE
|
20:18
↑
294° WNW
|
14h 12m | +2m 16s | 04:15 | 22:09 | 04:56 | 21:27 | 05:34 | 20:49 | 13:11 | 150.91 |
| 7 |
06:04
↑
66° ENE
|
20:19
↑
294° WNW
|
14h 14m | +2m 14s | 04:13 | 22:10 | 04:55 | 21:28 | 05:32 | 20:50 | 13:11 | 150.94 |
| 8 |
06:03
↑
66° ENE
|
20:20
↑
294° WNW
|
14h 17m | +2m 13s | 04:11 | 22:12 | 04:53 | 21:29 | 05:31 | 20:51 | 13:11 | 150.98 |
| 9 |
06:01
↑
66° ENE
|
20:21
↑
295° WNW
|
14h 19m | +2m 11s | 04:09 | 22:13 | 04:52 | 21:31 | 05:30 | 20:52 | 13:11 | 151.02 |
| 10 |
06:00
↑
65° ENE
|
20:22
↑
295° WNW
|
14h 21m | +2m 09s | 04:08 | 22:15 | 04:50 | 21:32 | 05:29 | 20:54 | 13:11 | 151.05 |
| 11 |
05:59
↑
65° ENE
|
20:23
↑
295° WNW
|
14h 23m | +2m 07s | 04:06 | 22:17 | 04:49 | 21:33 | 05:27 | 20:55 | 13:11 | 151.09 |
| 12 |
05:58
↑
64° ENE
|
20:24
↑
296° WNW
|
14h 25m | +2m 05s | 04:04 | 22:18 | 04:48 | 21:35 | 05:26 | 20:56 | 13:11 | 151.12 |
| 13 |
05:57
↑
64° ENE
|
20:25
↑
296° WNW
|
14h 27m | +2m 03s | 04:03 | 22:20 | 04:46 | 21:36 | 05:25 | 20:57 | 13:11 | 151.16 |
| 14 |
05:56
↑
64° ENE
|
20:26
↑
296° WNW
|
14h 29m | +2m 01s | 04:01 | 22:22 | 04:45 | 21:37 | 05:24 | 20:58 | 13:11 | 151.19 |
| 15 |
05:55
↑
64° ENE
|
20:27
↑
297° WNW
|
14h 31m | +1m 59s | 03:59 | 22:23 | 04:44 | 21:39 | 05:23 | 20:59 | 13:11 | 151.22 |
| 16 |
05:54
↑
63° ENE
|
20:28
↑
297° WNW
|
14h 33m | +1m 57s | 03:58 | 22:25 | 04:42 | 21:40 | 05:22 | 21:00 | 13:11 | 151.25 |
| 17 |
05:53
↑
63° ENE
|
20:29
↑
297° WNW
|
14h 35m | +1m 55s | 03:56 | 22:26 | 04:41 | 21:41 | 05:21 | 21:01 | 13:11 | 151.29 |
| 18 |
05:52
↑
63° ENE
|
20:30
↑
298° WNW
|
14h 37m | +1m 52s | 03:55 | 22:28 | 04:40 | 21:42 | 05:20 | 21:03 | 13:11 | 151.32 |
| 19 |
05:51
↑
62° ENE
|
20:31
↑
298° WNW
|
14h 39m | +1m 50s | 03:53 | 22:30 | 04:39 | 21:44 | 05:19 | 21:04 | 13:11 | 151.35 |
| 20 |
05:51
↑
62° ENE
|
20:32
↑
298° WNW
|
14h 41m | +1m 47s | 03:52 | 22:31 | 04:38 | 21:45 | 05:18 | 21:05 | 13:11 | 151.38 |
| 21 |
05:50
↑
62° ENE
|
20:33
↑
298° WNW
|
14h 42m | +1m 45s | 03:50 | 22:33 | 04:37 | 21:46 | 05:17 | 21:06 | 13:11 | 151.40 |
| 22 |
05:49
↑
61° ENE
|
20:34
↑
299° WNW
|
14h 44m | +1m 42s | 03:49 | 22:34 | 04:36 | 21:47 | 05:16 | 21:07 | 13:11 | 151.43 |
| 23 |
05:48
↑
61° ENE
|
20:35
↑
299° WNW
|
14h 46m | +1m 40s | 03:48 | 22:36 | 04:34 | 21:49 | 05:15 | 21:08 | 13:11 | 151.46 |
| 24 |
05:48
↑
61° ENE
|
20:35
↑
299° WNW
|
14h 47m | +1m 37s | 03:46 | 22:37 | 04:33 | 21:50 | 05:14 | 21:09 | 13:11 | 151.49 |
| 25 |
05:47
↑
61° ENE
|
20:36
↑
300° WNW
|
14h 49m | +1m 34s | 03:45 | 22:39 | 04:33 | 21:51 | 05:14 | 21:10 | 13:11 | 151.51 |
| 26 |
05:46
↑
60° ENE
|
20:37
↑
300° WNW
|
14h 50m | +1m 31s | 03:44 | 22:40 | 04:32 | 21:52 | 05:13 | 21:11 | 13:11 | 151.54 |
| 27 |
05:46
↑
60° ENE
|
20:38
↑
300° WNW
|
14h 52m | +1m 28s | 03:43 | 22:41 | 04:31 | 21:53 | 05:12 | 21:12 | 13:11 | 151.56 |
| 28 |
05:45
↑
60° ENE
|
20:39
↑
300° WNW
|
14h 53m | +1m 25s | 03:42 | 22:43 | 04:30 | 21:54 | 05:11 | 21:13 | 13:12 | 151.59 |
| 29 |
05:44
↑
60° ENE
|
20:40
↑
300° WNW
|
14h 55m | +1m 22s | 03:40 | 22:44 | 04:29 | 21:55 | 05:11 | 21:13 | 13:12 | 151.61 |
| 30 |
05:44
↑
59° ENE
|
20:40
↑
301° WNW
|
14h 56m | +1m 19s | 03:39 | 22:45 | 04:28 | 21:56 | 05:10 | 21:14 | 13:12 | 151.64 |
| 31 |
05:43
↑
59° ENE
|
20:41
↑
301° WNW
|
14h 57m | +1m 16s | 03:38 | 22:47 | 04:28 | 21:57 | 05:10 | 21:15 | 13:12 | 151.66 |
|
All times are in local time for West Des Moines. Time is adjusted for Daylight Saving Time (DST) when applicable. Calculations account for atmospheric refraction and are based on the Gregorian calendar. Today's date is in the table. |
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In West Des Moines, the earliest sunrise of May is on May 31 and the latest sunset of May is on May 31.
2026 Sun Graph for West Des Moines
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Sun's Path on Selected Date in West Des Moines
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Is the Day Getting Longer or Shorter in West Des Moines?
Days in West Des Moines are currently getting shorter by about 1m 53s each day, roughly 13 minutes less daylight per week.
Golden Hour & Blue Hour in West Des Moines Today
| Morning | Evening | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue hour | 05:31-05:43 | 20:58-21:10 |
| Golden hour | 05:43-06:42 | 19:59-20:58 |
West Des Moines's Longest and Shortest Days
| Event | Date | Daylight |
|---|---|---|
| Longest day | June 22, 2026 | -9h 10m |
| Shortest day | December 21, 2026 | 9h 09m |
| Earliest sunrise | June 11, 2026 | 05:40 |
| Latest sunset | June 20, 2026 | 20:52 |
Understanding Twilight & the Golden Hour
After the sun drops below the horizon, the sky does not turn dark all at once. Civil twilight is the brightest stage, when there is still enough natural light for most outdoor activities. Nautical twilight follows, when the sea horizon becomes hard to make out. Astronomical twilight is the darkest stage, after which the sky is fully dark and the faintest stars appear. The same three stages occur in reverse before sunrise, as dawn.
West Des Moines sees its golden hour today around 05:43-06:42 and 19:59-20:58, framed by the blue hour at 05:31-05:43 and 20:58-21:10. As the sun's arc shifts with the seasons, these windows move with it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sun in West Des Moines
What time is sunrise in West Des Moines today?
Sunrise in West Des Moines today is at 06:03 local time.
What time is sunset in West Des Moines today?
Today West Des Moines has sunset at 20:38 local time.
What time is solar noon in West Des Moines today?
Solar noon in West Des Moines — when the sun is at its highest point in the sky — is at 13:21 local time today.
When does civil twilight begin and end in West Des Moines?
In West Des Moines today: civil twilight begins at 05:31 (before sunrise) and ends at 21:10 (after sunset). Civil twilight is the brightest of the three twilight phases.
When does nautical twilight occur in West Des Moines?
Nautical twilight in West Des Moines today runs from 04:51 in the morning to 21:50 in the evening — the period when the horizon is still visible to sailors but stars are out.
When is the sky fully dark in West Des Moines for stargazing?
Astronomical twilight in West Des Moines ends at 22:34 in the evening and resumes at 04:06 in the morning — between those times the sky is fully dark, ideal for observing faint stars and deep-sky objects.
Where on the horizon does the sun rise and set in West Des Moines?
Today in West Des Moines, the sun rises at an azimuth of 63° and sets at 297° (measured clockwise from due north). The exact angle shifts slightly each day with the seasons.
