Nightfall

An expression I have not heard in years, ‘nightfall’ came to mind this evening and got me wondering, just when does ‘night fall’?

It is easy to describe moments along the way.

The moment the sun dips below the horizon.
The emergence of the very first stars.
The moment a feature on the horizon is lost in the darkness.
When all the night-sky’s stars become visible.

All these moments are grey transitions until you realize you are left gazing into starry night’s sky.

So when does night fall? All I can be sure of it that it just does!

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Nightfall’, 1/60s f/11 ISO160 13mm