Moon Phases Visible from Madrid

From Madrid at latitude 40.4°, the moon's appearance follows the same 29.53-day synodic cycle visible worldwide — all 8 phases from New Moon through Full Moon and back. However, Madrid's mid-latitude latitude affects the moon's maximum altitude in the sky. The moon can reach up to 78.2° altitude when crossing the meridian near summer solstice, and only 21.0° near winter solstice. This seasonal variation determines how high the moon appears above Madrid's horizon and affects lunar photography planning.

Auf 667 Metern über dem Meeresspiegel auf Europas höchstem Hauptstadtplateau gelegen, verschafft Madrids Höhe seinen Amateurastronomen einen klaren Vorteil: dünnere Luft bedeutet weniger atmosphärische Turbulenzen und schärfere Planetenansichten durch bescheidene Teleskope. Madrids Status als UNWTO-Zentrum hat es auch zu einem Treffpunkt für internationale Astrotourismus-Konferenzen gemacht.

Moonrise & Moonset Times at Madrid

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Madrid. This daily delay occurs because the moon orbits Earth eastward at about 1 km/s, moving roughly 13° per day against the background stars. At Madrid's latitude (40.4°), the moon's rise and set positions along the horizon shift seasonally — rising further north in summer and further south in winter. MoonSync calculates exact moonrise and moonset times for Madrid using real-time ephemeris data.

Nur zwei Autostunden von Madrid entfernt beherbergt das Calar-Alto-Observatorium in Almería das größte optische Teleskop Kontinentaleuropas — einen 3,5-Meter-Reflektor, der gemeinsam von Spanien und Deutschland betrieben wird. Auf 2.168 Metern Höhe über dem Mittelmeer macht seine außergewöhnlich trockene, stabile Atmosphäre es zu einem der weltweit führenden Standorte für Exoplaneten-Entdeckung und Galaxienentstehungsforschung.

Moon Illumination & Madrid's Dark-Sky Planning

For stargazing and astrophotography in Madrid, moon illumination percentage is the critical number. A Full Moon (100% illuminated) washes out all but the brightest stars and makes deep-sky observation nearly impossible. The 7 days around New Moon (0-15% illumination) provide the best dark-sky window. At 40.4° latitude, combine moon phase with the Twilight Calculator to find nights when both astronomical darkness and minimal moonlight coincide — these 'astrophotographer's golden hours' occur roughly once per month at Madrid.

Lunar Data Accuracy for Madrid

MoonSync computes moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and lunar age for Madrid using real-time ephemeris data. Phase illumination is accurate to ±1%. Moonrise and moonset times are calculated from Madrid's precise coordinates (40.4°, -3.7°) and corrected for atmospheric refraction. The Keplerian orbital model used achieves timing accuracy of approximately ±30 minutes over a synodic month. For sub-minute lunar event timing, consult the USNO Phases of the Moon data service.