Father Kevin Michael Laughery,Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, USA, Roman Catholic Church
Last update and upload: Thursday, June 4, 2020 

Time of evening darkness on Holy Saturday, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, 2009-2049

This page is a partial answer to a universal practical question in the Catholic Church: What is the earliest possible time to begin the Easter Vigil? (The Easter Vigil is not to begin until the beginning of nightfall on Holy Saturday night.) For myself, I have come around to a decision that I will not begin the Easter Vigil later than 8:30 pm CDT.

The answers you find here are calculated for Springfield, Illinois. They also apply to Athens, Sherman, Chatham, Pawnee, Divernon, Raymond, Litchfield, Farmersville, Mount Olive, Highland. CORRECTIONS FOR OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE DIOCESE

How were these times derived? Time of sunset comes from Joseph Kohn's Hebrew Calendar program, with latitude and longitude entered for Springfield. Standard time/daylight saving time is figured in. Duration of twilight is as given in The Old Farmer's Almanac: 1h33m through April 10, 1h39m thereafter. Time of sunset plus duration of twilight gives the first moment of evening darkness when there is no sunlight.

2009: April 11 ... 9:12 pm CDT
2010: April 03 ... 8:58 pm CDT
2011: April 23 ... 9:24 pm CDT
2012: April 07 ... 9:03 pm CDT
2013: March 30 ... 8:54 pm CDT
2014: April 19 ... 9:20 pm CDT
2015: April 04 ... 8:59 pm CDT
2016: March 26 ... 8:51 pm CDT
2017: April 15 ... 9:16 pm CDT
2018: March 31 ... 8:55 pm CDT
2019: April 20 ... 9:21 pm CDT
2020: April 11 ... 9:13 pm CDT
2021: April 03 ... 8:58 pm CDT
2022: April 16 ... 9:17 pm CDT
2023: April 08 ... 9:03 pm CDT
2024: March 30 ... 8:55 pm CDT
2025: April 19 ... 9:20 pm CDT
2026: April 04 ... 8:59 pm CDT
2027: March 27 ... 8:51 pm CDT
2028: April 15 ... 9:17 pm CDT
2029: March 31 ... 8:55 pm CDT
2030: April 20 ... 9:21 pm CDT
2031: April 12 ... 9:13 pm CDT
2032: March 27 ... 8:52 pm CDT
2033: April 16 ... 9:17 pm CDT
2034: April 08 ... 9:03 pm CDT
2035: March 24 ... 8:48 pm CDT
2036: April 12 ... 9:14 pm CDT
2037: April 04 ... 8:59 pm CDT
2038: April 24 ... 9:25 pm CDT
2039: April 09 ... 9:04 pm CDT
2040: March 31 ... 8:56 pm CDT
2041: April 20 ... 9:21 pm CDT
2042: April 05 ... 9:00 pm CDT
2043: March 28 ... 8:52 pm CDT
2044: April 16 ... 9:18 pm CDT
2045: April 08 ... 9:03 pm CDT
2046: March 24 ... 8:48 pm CDT
2047: April 13 ... 9:14 pm CDT
2048: April 04 ... 9:00 pm CDT
2049: April 17 ... 9:18 pm CDT

Other places in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois:

Subtract 1 minute for: Riverton, Rochester, Kincaid, Morrisonville, Hillsboro, Greenville

Subtract 2 minutes for: Illiopolis, Taylorville, Nokomis, Witt

Subtract 3 minutes for: Niantic, Stonington, Pana, Ramsey, Vandalia

Subtract 4 minutes for: Decatur, Macon, Moweaqua, Assumption, St. Elmo

Subtract 5 minutes for: Mt. Zion, Bethany, Shelbyville, Altamont

Subtract 6 minutes for: Sullivan

Subtract 7 minutes for: Effingham, Teutopolis, Neoga

Subtract 8 minutes for: Tuscola, Arcola, Mattoon

Subtract 9 minutes for: Villa Grove, Charleston, Greenup, Newton

Subtract 10 minutes for: Casey, Oblong

Subtract 11 minutes for: Robinson

Subtract 12 minutes for: Paris, Marshall

Add 1 minute for: Petersburg, Auburn, Virden, Girard, Carlinville, Gillespie, Benld, Staunton, Troy

Add 2 minutes for: Ashland, Waverly, Palmyra, Bunker Hill, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Collinsville

Add 3 minutes for: Virginia, Jacksonville, Murrayville, Greenfield, Medora, Brighton, Godfrey, Alton, Wood River, Granite City

Add 4 minutes for: Jerseyville

Add 5 minutes for: Beardstown, Bluffs, Winchester, White Hall, Carrollton, Grafton

Add 6 minutes for: Kampsville, Hardin

Add 7 minutes for: Mt. Sterling, Pittsfield

Add 8 minutes for: Camp Point, Barry

Add 9 minutes for: Liberty

Add 10 minutes for: Mendon, Quincy

To Table of Twilights, 2001-2049 | To Top

The Naval Oceanography Portal states that there are three different concepts of twilight: civil, nautical, astronomical. The Portal's Astronomical Applications division calculates civil twilights. It turns out that, whereas I had quoted 9:24 pm CDT as the time of dark on Saturday, April 22, 2000, the USNO gives 8:13 pm CDT as the end of civil twilight. ASTRONOMICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. 

The 1988 circular letter of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship, quoting the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, states that the Vigil "should not begin before nightfall."

END OF CIVIL TWILIGHT ON HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, 2009-2049

Source: Naval Oceanography Portal, Astronomical Applications

2009: April 11 ... 8:01 pm CDT
2010: April 03 ... 7:52 pm CDT
2011: April 23 ... 8:13 pm CDT
2012: April 07 ... 7:57 pm CDT
2013: March 30 ... 7:48 pm CDT
2014: April 19 ... 8:09 pm CDT
2015: April 04 ... 7:53 pm CDT
2016: March 26 ... 7:44 pm CDT
2017: April 15 ... 8:05 pm CDT
2018: March 31 ... 7:49 pm CDT
2019: April 20 ... 8:10 pm CDT
2020: April 11 ... 8:01 pm CDT
2021: April 03 ... 7:52 pm CDT
2022: April 16 ... 8:06 pm CDT
2023: April 08 ... 7:57 pm CDT
2024: March 30 ... 7:49 pm CDT
2025: April 19 ... 8:10 pm CDT
2026: April 04 ... 7:53 pm CDT
2027: March 27 ... 7:45 pm CDT
2028: April 15 ... 8:06 pm CDT
2029: March 31 ... 7:49 pm CDT
2030: April 20 ... 8:10 pm CDT
2031: April 12 ... 8:02 pm CDT
2032: March 27 ... 7:46 pm CDT
2033: April 16 ... 8:06 pm CDT
2034: April 08 ... 7:58 pm CDT
2035: March 24 ... 7:42 pm CDT
2036: April 12 ... 8:02 pm CDT
2037: April 04 ... 7:54 pm CDT
2038: April 24 ... 8:15 pm CDT
2039: April 09 ... 7:58 pm CDT
2040: March 31 ... 7:50 pm CDT
2041: April 20 ... 8:11 pm CDT
2042: April 05 ... 7:55 pm CDT
2043: March 28 ... 7:46 pm CDT
2044: April 16 ... 8:07 pm CDT
2045: April 08 ... 7:58 pm CDT
2046: March 24 ... 7:42 pm CDT
2047: April 13 ... 8:03 pm CDT
2048: April 04 ... 7:54 pm CDT
2049: April 17 ... 8:08 pm CDT

Father Kevin Michael Laughery, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, USA, Roman Catholic Church