What Time Does Evening Start?
The answer to this question is a bit complicated, as there is no official agreed-upon time when evening starts. Depending on geography, culture, society, or personal preference, the specific timing of when evening begins can vary greatly.
Day vs Evening and Twilight
Many people tend to interchange the terms “day” and “evening” but technically they denote different times. In a nutshell, daytime is considered the period of light between sunrise and sunset while evening is the period of darkness after sunset. The transition from day to evening is known as twilight, which is considered a separate time of day and can be broken down into three distinct parts—civil, nautical, and astronomical.
Civil Twilight
Civil twilight marks the time in the morning and evening when the sun is below the horizon, but there is still enough ambient light for most outdoor activities. For most, it is the agreed-upon definition of when evening begins, as overnight is typically considered after the civil twilight has concluded. In terms of timing, civil twilight typically starts 30 minutes before sunset and ends 30 minutes after sunrise.
Nautical Twilight
Nautical twilight is the period of time before or after sunrise and sunset when the sun is between the horizon and 6 degrees below the horizon. This twilight period is typically too dark for most outdoor activities, but not dark enough to require artificial lighting for safety. Nautical twilight typically starts 60 minutes before sunrise and sunset, ending 60 minutes afterwards.
Astronomical Twilight
The time before or after sunrise and sunset when the sun is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon is considered astronomical twilight. This part of the twilight period is difficult to detect outside of the winter months, and is rarely considered when defining the beginning of evening. Astronomical twilight typically starts 90 minutes before sunrise and sunset, ending 90 minutes afterwards.
Conclusion
The answer to the question of what time does evening start is not straightforward, as it can depend on geography, culture, society, or personal preference. Generally speaking, the civil twilight marks the start of evening by providing enough ambient light for most outdoor activities before the official transition to night. However, depending on the circumstances, the answer could just as easily be nautical or even astronomical twilight.