What is the golden hour time in Port Elizabeth in December?

Golden hour in Port Elizabeth in December begins at sunrise (average 05:02) and lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, and again begins about 30 to 60 minutes before sunset (average 19:26).

Port Elizabeth Sunrise & Sunset: December 2026

Day-by-day sunrise and sunset times with golden hour data

In Port Elizabeth in December, sunrise averages 05:02 and sunset averages 19:26. Days are getting longer through December at Port Elizabeth's latitude of -34.0°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.

Avg Sunrise

05:02

Avg Sunset

19:26

Avg Daylight

14h 22m

NovemberDecember 2026January

Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: Port Elizabeth

Date	Day	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Golden Hour
12/01	Tue	05:01	19:14	14h 14m	05:37 – 18:38
12/02	Wed	05:00	19:15	14h 15m	05:37 – 18:39
12/03	Thu	05:00	19:16	14h 16m	05:37 – 18:40
12/04	Fri	05:00	19:17	14h 17m	05:37 – 18:41
12/05	Sat	05:00	19:18	14h 18m	05:37 – 18:41
12/06	Sun	05:00	19:19	14h 18m	05:37 – 18:42
12/07	Mon	05:00	19:19	14h 19m	05:37 – 18:43
12/08	Tue	05:00	19:20	14h 20m	05:37 – 18:44
12/09	Wed	05:00	19:21	14h 21m	05:37 – 18:44
12/10	Thu	05:01	19:22	14h 21m	05:37 – 18:45
12/11	Fri	05:01	19:23	14h 22m	05:37 – 18:46
12/12	Sat	05:01	19:23	14h 22m	05:38 – 18:47
12/13	Sun	05:01	19:24	14h 23m	05:38 – 18:47
12/14	Mon	05:01	19:25	14h 23m	05:38 – 18:48
12/15	Tue	05:02	19:25	14h 24m	05:38 – 18:48
12/16	Wed	05:02	19:26	14h 24m	05:39 – 18:49
12/17	Thu	05:02	19:27	14h 24m	05:39 – 18:50
12/18	Fri	05:03	19:27	14h 25m	05:39 – 18:50
12/19	Sat	05:03	19:28	14h 25m	05:40 – 18:51
12/20	Sun	05:03	19:28	14h 25m	05:40 – 18:51
12/21	Mon	05:04	19:29	14h 25m	05:41 – 18:52
12/22	Tue	05:04	19:29	14h 25m	05:41 – 18:52
12/23	Wed	05:05	19:30	14h 25m	05:42 – 18:53
12/24	Thu	05:05	19:30	14h 25m	05:42 – 18:53
12/25	Fri	05:06	19:31	14h 25m	05:43 – 18:54
12/26	Sat	05:06	19:31	14h 25m	05:43 – 18:54
12/27	Sun	05:07	19:31	14h 24m	05:44 – 18:54
12/28	Mon	05:08	19:32	14h 24m	05:45 – 18:55
12/29	Tue	05:08	19:32	14h 24m	05:45 – 18:55
12/30	Wed	05:09	19:32	14h 23m	05:46 – 18:55
12/31	Thu	05:10	19:32	14h 23m	05:46 – 18:56

Daylight Hours Throughout the Year

December Sunrise & Sunset in Port Elizabeth: Complete Monthly Guide

In December 2026, Port Elizabeth has an average of 14h 22m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 05:01 at the start of the month to 05:10 at the end, while sunset shifts from 19:14 to 19:32.

December in Port Elizabeth brings long summer days in the southern hemisphere. Average sunrise in December is 05:02 and average sunset is 19:26. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.

Day Length Variation in December

Day length in Port Elizabeth in December changes throughout the month. Near the solstices (June 21 for the northern hemisphere, December 21 for the southern hemisphere), day length changes very slowly, less than 1 minute per day. Near the equinoxes (March 20 and September 22), day length changes rapidly, gaining or losing 2 to 4 minutes per day depending on latitude.

At Port Elizabeth's latitude of -34.0°, the rate of day length change in December is approximately 1 to 2 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in Port Elizabeth shifts by approximately 20 to 40 minutes over the course of December.

Golden Hour in Port Elizabeth in December

Golden hour in Port Elizabeth in December occurs twice each day: in the morning shortly after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. The duration depends on the sun's angle of elevation above the horizon, which varies with latitude and month. In Decemberat Port Elizabeth's latitude of -34.0°, golden hour lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes.

For photographers planning shoots in Port Elizabeth in December: plan to arrive at your location 30 to 40 minutes before the listed sunrise time to capture blue hour before golden hour begins. The transition from blue hour to golden hour creates the most dramatic color sequences. Evening golden hour in December begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.

Blue Hour and Twilight in Port Elizabeth in December

Civil twilight in Port Elizabeth in December begins before sunrise and ends after sunset, creating windows of usable natural light even outside the official sunrise-to-sunset window. Civil twilight occurs when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical twilight spans 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Astronomical twilight spans 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon.

The total twilight window in Port Elizabeth in December extends the usable light day by approximately 45 to 70 minutes beyond the sunrise-to-sunset window. This extended twilight is valuable for photographers who want to shoot in soft, diffused light without harsh shadows.

Photography Tips for December in Port Elizabeth

Shooting in Port Elizabeth in December requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in December:

Blue hour: ISO 800 to 1,600; aperture f/8; shutter speed 10 to 30 seconds on tripod.
Golden hour: ISO 100 to 400; aperture f/8 to f/16 for landscapes, or f/1.8 to f/2.8 for portraits; shutter speed 1/250 to 1/1,000s handheld.
Post-sunrise (30 minutes after): ISO 100; aperture f/11; shutter speed 1/500 to 1/2,000s.

In December, Port Elizabeth's weather patterns affect photography conditions. Check cloud cover forecasts the evening before a planned shoot: a thin layer of clouds above the horizon creates more dramatic golden and orange tones than a clear sky. Fully overcast conditions produce flat, diffused light that is good for portraits but lacks the dramatic quality of golden hour. Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic conditions.

About This Monthly Sunrise Data

All sunrise and sunset times in this December table for Port Elizabeth are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of Port Elizabeth (-33.9608°, 25.6022°) and the local timezone (Africa/Johannesburg). Times are accurate to within 1 minute and account for atmospheric refraction.

The times shown are for the center of the sun crossing the horizon. Sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the mathematical horizon. Sunset is when the upper limb disappears below the horizon. Both definitions account for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent position of the sun by approximately 0.5 to 1 degree near the horizon.

Frequently Asked Questions: December Sunrise & Sunset in Port Elizabeth

What is the average sunrise time in Port Elizabeth in December?

The average sunrise time in Port Elizabeth in December 2026 is approximately 05:02. This is based on the mid-month calculation for Port Elizabeth at latitude -33.96° and longitude 25.60°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 05:01 on the first of the month to 05:10 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.

How many hours of daylight does Port Elizabeth get in December?

Port Elizabeth receives an average of 14h 22m of daylight per day in December 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 14h 14m on the first of the month to 14h 23m on the last day.

What is the earliest sunrise in Port Elizabeth in December?

The earliest sunrise in Port Elizabeth in December 2026 occurs on 2026-12-02 at 05:00. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-12-31 at 05:10.

What time is golden hour in Port Elizabeth in December?

Golden hour in Port Elizabeth in December occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (05:02 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (19:26 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.

Is December a good time to photograph sunrise in Port Elizabeth?

December is summer in Port Elizabeth's southern hemisphere location. Sunrise at 05:02 provides a reasonable start time for photography.

When does civil twilight start in Port Elizabeth in December?

Civil twilight in Port Elizabeth in December begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At Port Elizabeth's latitude of -34.0°, civil twilight in December starts around 04:37 in the morning. Civil twilight provides enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting and is considered the beginning of the usable photography window each day.

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