Is the darkest hour really just before the dawn?

No.

All other things being equal the sky is at its darkest when the Sun is at least 18 degrees below the horizon (this is the definition of astronomical twilight.) The phase of the Moon also has a big effect, skies are darkest around New Moon when the Moon is in the same general direction as the Sun in the sky and therefore below the horizon when the Sun is also below the horizon. All of this presumes of course a clear, cloudless sky.

The darkest hour isn't purely until eventually now break of day. The darkest hour, reckoning on the time of year, is from between 12am hour of darkness to 2am. The darkest would be while there is least moonlight too. "The Darkest Hour is in basic terms until eventually now break of day" is rather the call of an album via Dan Matz. "The Darkest Hour" is a word coined via Winston Churchhill throughout worldwide conflict 2.

I think, barring additional light sources like a full moon or an aurora, that the darkest hour is generally midway between sunset and sunrise.

No. It's coldest just before dawn.

It is darkest in the very middle of the night, half-way between sun rise and sun set (not necessarily at midnight).

according to the Mamas and the Papas - ''while I'm far away from you, my baby

I know it's hard for you, my baby

Because it's hard for me, my baby

And the darkest hour is just before dawn''

Yes and all the wierd things that go bump in the night happen i hour before first light.

6:00 AM is the worst - work nights and 6-7 is the hardest one to concentrate on

OUR DARKEST HOUR WAS THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN WHEN WE STOOD ALONE

WE SHALL FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER

AND WE,RE STILL HERE

IM SPEAKING LITERALLY TOO

LOL

mmmmmmmmm Never taken any notice!

HARR HAAAAAAAARRR!!!!!!

That it bee, lass, that it beee.

Shiver me timbers.