Petra Monastery (Ad-Deir): when is the facade in the sun?
Short answer: 7 Nov 2026: Sun on the Monastery facade 14:05–17:30, most frontal around 17:25; golden light 16:55–17:30.
The Monastery sits on an open plateau at the top of 800 steps and faces west. It is in shade in the morning and in full sun from early afternoon, turning orange towards sunset.
Sat 7 November 2026 · sunrise 06:59, sunset 17:48
Sun on the facade 14:05–17:30
Sun on the Monastery facade 14:05–17:30, most frontal around 17:25; golden light 16:55–17:30.
| Direct sun | Golden light | |
|---|---|---|
| Monastery facade faces west, over the open plateau | 14:05–17:30 Most frontal 17:25 | 16:55–17:30 |
Hour by hour
| Time | Monastery facade |
|---|---|
| 06:30 | Dark |
| 07:00 | Dark |
| 07:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 08:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 08:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 09:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 09:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 10:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 10:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 11:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 11:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 12:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 12:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 13:00 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 13:30 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 14:00 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 14:30 | Side light: strong relief |
| 15:00 | Side light: strong relief |
| 15:30 | Side light: strong relief |
| 16:00 | Side light: strong relief |
| 16:30 | Full sun on the facade |
| 17:00 | Golden light on the facade |
| 17:30 | In shade (cliffs or hills in front) |
| 18:00 | Dark |
Plan it
The climb takes about 45 minutes from the basin. Leave time to walk back down before the site closes.
Through the year
| 15th of | Monastery facade |
|---|---|
| January | 14:40–17:45 |
| February | 14:25–18:10 |
| March | 14:00–18:35 |
| April | 13:30–18:50 |
| May | 13:05–19:10 |
| June | 13:00–19:25 |
| July | 13:10–19:25 |
| August | 13:25–19:05 |
| September | 13:35–18:30 |
| October | 13:50–17:55 |
| November | 14:10–17:25 |
| December | 14:30–17:25 |
Petra Monastery light by month
Questions
What time is the sun on the Petra Monastery (Ad-Deir) facade?
7 Nov 2026: Sun on the Monastery facade 14:05–17:30, most frontal around 17:25; golden light 16:55–17:30. Pick your own date above; the window moves through the year.
Is Petra Monastery (Ad-Deir) better in the morning or the afternoon?
The Monastery facade faces west, over the open plateau. On 15 June 2027 it is lit 13:00–19:25; on 15 December 2026, 14:30–17:25.
When is the golden light on Petra Monastery (Ad-Deir)?
On 7 November 2026, 16:55–17:30. Golden light needs the sun low and on the same side as the facade.
How is this calculated?
For every 5 minutes of the day we compute the sun's direction and height and compare it with the way the facade faces. Within 40° of straight on is full front light, 40° to 70° is side light that brings out the carving, and beyond that the facade is mostly in shade. Below 10° above the horizon the light is golden. Where cliffs or mountains stand in front of a facade, the sun also has to clear them.
Calculated from the sun's position and the facade's direction (estimated from maps and photos). Nearby buildings and trees can shade the lower part of a facade earlier than shown; clouds remove direct light altogether. Times are local (Asia/Amman).