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Sunset to Sunrise: The enigmatic symphony of darkness and nature

A magical scene at Pyramid State Recreation Area in Perry County, Ill., just before dawn breaks over the horizon. The scene is part of the pre-dawn charm of Illinois. (Photo by Gretchen Steele)

It’s the time of year when we suddenly notice the shortening of the days. Not only is darkness starting to fall earlier in the evening, but we are in the zone just before time changes, where sunrise comes late in the morning.
A friend, an earlier riser, recently commented that she was up and set, ready to take the dog for his morning walk. She was struck by how pitch-black it was at 5 a.m. – how it felt creepy and like the dead of night. That made me think about the stages of darkness in nature and their differences.

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