What is the golden hour time in San Antonio in October?

Golden hour in San Antonio in October begins at sunrise (average 07:37) and lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, and again begins about 30 to 60 minutes before sunset (average 19:04).

San Antonio Sunrise & Sunset: October 2026

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

In San Antonio in October, sunrise averages 07:37 and sunset averages 19:04. Days are getting shorter through October at San Antonio's latitude of 29.4°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.

Avg Sunrise

07:37

Avg Sunset

19:04

Avg Daylight

11h 27m

SeptemberOctober 2026November

Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: San Antonio

Date	Day	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Golden Hour
10/01	Thu	07:28	19:21	11h 53m	07:59 – 18:49
10/02	Fri	07:28	19:20	11h 51m	08:00 – 18:48
10/03	Sat	07:29	19:18	11h 50m	08:00 – 18:47
10/04	Sun	07:29	19:17	11h 48m	08:01 – 18:46
10/05	Mon	07:30	19:16	11h 46m	08:02 – 18:44
10/06	Tue	07:31	19:15	11h 44m	08:02 – 18:43
10/07	Wed	07:31	19:14	11h 43m	08:03 – 18:42
10/08	Thu	07:32	19:13	11h 41m	08:03 – 18:41
10/09	Fri	07:32	19:11	11h 39m	08:04 – 18:40
10/10	Sat	07:33	19:10	11h 37m	08:05 – 18:39
10/11	Sun	07:34	19:09	11h 36m	08:05 – 18:37
10/12	Mon	07:34	19:08	11h 34m	08:06 – 18:36
10/13	Tue	07:35	19:07	11h 32m	08:07 – 18:35
10/14	Wed	07:35	19:06	11h 31m	08:07 – 18:34
10/15	Thu	07:36	19:05	11h 29m	08:08 – 18:33
10/16	Fri	07:37	19:04	11h 27m	08:09 – 18:32
10/17	Sat	07:37	19:03	11h 25m	08:09 – 18:31
10/18	Sun	07:38	19:02	11h 24m	08:10 – 18:29
10/19	Mon	07:39	19:01	11h 22m	08:11 – 18:28
10/20	Tue	07:39	19:00	11h 20m	08:11 – 18:27
10/21	Wed	07:40	18:59	11h 19m	08:12 – 18:26
10/22	Thu	07:41	18:58	11h 17m	08:13 – 18:25
10/23	Fri	07:41	18:57	11h 15m	08:14 – 18:24
10/24	Sat	07:42	18:56	11h 14m	08:14 – 18:23
10/25	Sun	07:43	18:55	11h 12m	08:15 – 18:22
10/26	Mon	07:43	18:54	11h 11m	08:16 – 18:21
10/27	Tue	07:44	18:53	11h 09m	08:17 – 18:20
10/28	Wed	07:45	18:52	11h 07m	08:18 – 18:19
10/29	Thu	07:46	18:51	11h 06m	08:18 – 18:18
10/30	Fri	07:46	18:50	11h 04m	08:19 – 18:18
10/31	Sat	07:47	18:50	11h 03m	08:20 – 18:17

Daylight Hours Throughout the Year

October Sunrise & Sunset in San Antonio: Complete Monthly Guide

In October 2026, San Antonio has an average of 11h 27m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 07:28 at the start of the month to 07:47 at the end, while sunset shifts from 19:21 to 18:50.

October in San Antonio brings shortening autumn days. Average sunrise in October is 07:37 and average sunset is 19:04. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.

Day Length Variation in October

Day length in San Antonio in October 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 San Antonio's latitude of 29.4°, the rate of day length change in October is approximately 1 to 2 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in San Antonio shifts by approximately 20 to 40 minutes over the course of October.

Golden Hour in San Antonio in October

Golden hour in San Antonio in October 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 Octoberat San Antonio's latitude of 29.4°, golden hour lasts approximately 25 to 45 minutes.

For photographers planning shoots in San Antonio in October: 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 October begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.

Blue Hour and Twilight in San Antonio in October

Civil twilight in San Antonio in October 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 San Antonio in October 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 October in San Antonio

Shooting in San Antonio in October requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in October:

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 October, San Antonio'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 October table for San Antonio are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of San Antonio (29.4241°, -98.4936°) and the local timezone (America/Chicago). 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: October Sunrise & Sunset in San Antonio

What is the average sunrise time in San Antonio in October?

The average sunrise time in San Antonio in October 2026 is approximately 07:37. This is based on the mid-month calculation for San Antonio at latitude 29.42° and longitude -98.49°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 07:28 on the first of the month to 07:47 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.

How many hours of daylight does San Antonio get in October?

San Antonio receives an average of 11h 27m of daylight per day in October 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 11h 53m on the first of the month to 11h 03m on the last day.

What is the earliest sunrise in San Antonio in October?

The earliest sunrise in San Antonio in October 2026 occurs on 2026-10-01 at 07:28. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-10-31 at 07:47.

What time is golden hour in San Antonio in October?

Golden hour in San Antonio in October occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (07:37 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 25 to 45 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (19:04 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.

Is October a good time to photograph sunrise in San Antonio?

October is a strong month for sunrise photography in San Antonio. Autumn light has a distinctive warm quality, sunrise at 07:37 is at a comfortable time, and the lower sun angle produces extended golden hour periods compared to summer.

When does civil twilight start in San Antonio in October?

Civil twilight in San Antonio in October begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At San Antonio's latitude of 29.4°, civil twilight in October starts around 07:12 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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