You have to wait for one hour after sunset.
darkness has nothing to do with it. (or have I misread 61.57?)

You are correct, although in practical terms, I've found that FAR to be
irrelevant.

Total darkness is, well, total -- and I don't much care if it happens to
occur only 48 minutes (or whatever) past sunset.

(Nor have I ever met a CFI who cares, either...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"