Dämmerung

Dämmerung is a German noun meaning twilight, dusk, or the period of dim light between day and night. In everyday usage it denotes the transitional light after sunset or before sunrise, when direct sunlight is no longer visible but the sky remains illuminated. The term also appears in scientific and literary contexts to describe these low-light intervals.

Etymology: from dämmern, to grow dim; Dämmerung forms with Morgen- and Abend- to denote dawn (Morgendämmerung) and dusk (Abenddämmerung).

In astronomy, twilight is divided into civil, nautical, and astronomical stages, defined by the sun’s elevation below the horizon: civil twilight up to 6 degrees, nautical from 6 to 12 degrees, and astronomical from 12 to 18 degrees. These periods vary with latitude and season and end when night fully begins.

Cultural usage includes the expression Götterdämmerung, meaning “Twilight of the Gods,” a phrase used to signify the decline or end of an era. In literature and music, Dämmerung often evokes fading light, transition, or a somber mood.

In photography, film, and visual arts, twilight offers soft, diffuse light and distinctive color palettes, making it a favored time for outdoor imagery and atmospheric scenes.