Moon Phases Visible from Paris

From Paris at latitude 48.9°, 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, Paris's high-latitude latitude affects the moon's maximum altitude in the sky. The moon can reach up to 69.7° altitude when crossing the meridian near summer solstice, and only 12.5° near winter solstice. This seasonal variation determines how high the moon appears above Paris's horizon and affects lunar photography planning.

Das Pariser Observatorium, 1667 von Ludwig XIV. in Auftrag gegeben, ist das älteste durchgehend betriebene astronomische Observatorium der Welt. Die Arago-Medaillons — 135 in Pariser Bürgersteige entlang des ursprünglichen Pariser Meridians eingelassene Bronzescheiben — markieren noch heute die Linie, die bis 1884 mit Greenwich als Weltnullmeridian konkurrierte.

Moonrise & Moonset Times at Paris

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Paris. 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 Paris's latitude (48.9°), 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 Paris using real-time ephemeris data.

Paris auf 48,9°N erlebt Sommertage, die sich auf 16 Stunden und 10 Minuten ausdehnen — deutlich länger als die 15-Stunden-Maxima von New York oder Tokio in niedrigeren mittleren Breiten. Dieses verlängerte Sommer-Tageslicht, kombiniert mit dem für seinen klaren Augusthimmel bekannten Paris, erzeugt einige der längsten und fotogensten Goldenen-Stunden-Fenster aller europäischen Hauptstädte.

Moon Illumination & Paris's Dark-Sky Planning

For stargazing and astrophotography in Paris, 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 48.9° 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 Paris.

Lunar Data Accuracy for Paris

MoonSync computes moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and lunar age for Paris using real-time ephemeris data. Phase illumination is accurate to ±1%. Moonrise and moonset times are calculated from Paris's precise coordinates (48.9°, 2.4°) 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.