Latitude & Daylight at London

London sits at latitude 51.5°. At this latitude, daylight varies from approximately 16.4h in summer (solstice) to 16.4h in winter — a seasonal swing of 0.0h. The sun reaches a maximum altitude of 61.9° at summer solstice and a minimum of 15.1° at winter solstice. This high-latitude profile is what shapes London's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

Als Heimat des Royal Observatory Greenwich seit 1675 ist London der Geburtsort des Nullmeridians — der 0°-Längenlinie, die die Weltzeit für den gesamten Planeten definiert. Jede Zeitzone der Erde wird relativ zu diesem einzigen Punkt auf einem Hügel mit Blick auf die Themse gemessen, was London zum buchstäblichen Zentrum der globalen Zeitmessung macht.

Golden Hour Photography at London

Golden hour at London occurs when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light ideal for portrait and landscape photography. At London's latitude, morning golden hour typically starts in the 1–2 hours after sunrise and lasts approximately 40–70 minutes. Evening golden hour mirrors this before sunset. The longer twilight at this latitude gives photographers more time to capture the 'magic hour' compared to equatorial locations where the sun sets more steeply.

Auf 51,5°N gelegen, prägt Londons extremer saisonaler Tageslichtunterschied von über 8 Stunden zwischen Mittsommer und Mittwinter den Rhythmus der Stadt. Während der Juni-Sonnenwende kann die Dämmerung bis nach 22 Uhr anhalten, während die Dezembertage auf kaum 8 Stunden Sonnenlicht schrumpfen — eine Spanne, die Besucher aus niedrigeren Breitengraden ständig überrascht.

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at London

UV radiation at London peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At 51.5° latitude, peak UV levels vary significantly by season: summer months see UV indices of 4–6 (moderate), while winter months typically register 0–1 (very low). The World Health Organization recommends sun protection when UV index exceeds 3. At London's latitude, this threshold is exceeded for approximately 4–6 months per year, making sun awareness a year-round consideration for outdoor workers and athletes.

How We Calculate Solar Data for London

All solar calculations for London use the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar position algorithm with bisection iteration, accurate to ±1 minute for dates between 1901–2099. Sunrise and sunset times define the moment the upper limb of the sun appears on the horizon, accounting for atmospheric refraction. Daily data is calculated client-side from London's coordinates (51.5°, -0.1°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.