What time is sunset in Ames today?

Sunset in Ames is at 6:45 PM local time (America/Chicago) on 2026-10-07.

What phase is the Moon tonight in Ames?

The Moon is a Waning Crescent and about 9% illuminated.

Astronomical twilight ends at 8:18 PM local time, so the sky is fully dark from then until 5:46 AM.

Moonrise in Ames is at 3:55 AM and moonset is at 5:19 PM local time.

The aurora is possible from Ames if the sky is dark and clear; planetary Kp is 2.7.

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Kp2.7

Solar wind348 km/s

X-rayB9.6

StormG0 (Quiet)

Source: NOAA SWPC

2026-10-07 · times in America/Chicago · 42.03°N, 93.62°W

Event	Time
Sunrise	7:18 AM
Sunset	6:45 PM
Day length	11 h 28 min
End of civil twilight	7:13 PM
End of nautical twilight	7:45 PM
End of astronomical twilight	8:18 PM
Night length (sunset to sunrise)	12 h 34 min
Fully dark sky tonight	9 h 28 min
Astronomical twilight starts (morning)	5:46 AM

Moonrise	3:55 AM
Moonset	5:19 PM
Illumination	9.2%
Phase	Waning Crescent
Sublunar point (Moon overhead)	7.23°N, 144.60°W
Sublunar point ground speed	1,603 km/h

Moon values are for the moment this page was generated (19:14 UTC). A moonrise or moonset can be missing on a given date.

Planet	Rise	Set	Meridian	Visibility
Mercury (mag -0.1)	9:32 AM	7:31 PM	2:32 PM	Not visible tonight: below the horizon (or too low) while the sky is dark.
Venus (mag -4.6)	9:40 AM	7:01 PM	2:21 PM	Not visible tonight: below the horizon (or too low) while the sky is dark.
Mars (mag 1.1)	1:22 AM	4:01 PM	8:42 AM	Visible about 5 h after dark, highest 57° toward the SE.
Jupiter (mag -1.9)	2:43 AM	4:41 PM	9:42 AM	Visible about 3.8 h after dark, highest 44° toward the E.
Saturn (mag 0.2)	6:42 PM	7:04 AM	12:55 AM	Visible about 11.5 h after dark, highest 50° toward the S.

Aurora possible

Ames is far enough from the equator for aurora. Planetary Kp is 2.7. Seeing it still needs a dark, clear sky.

NOAA SWPC OVATION model. Full aurora forecast