Latitude & Daylight at Paris

Paris sits at latitude 48.9°. At this latitude, daylight varies from approximately 16.0h in summer (solstice) to 16.0h in winter — a seasonal swing of 0.0h. The sun reaches a maximum altitude of 64.6° at summer solstice and a minimum of 17.7° at winter solstice. This high-latitude profile is what shapes Paris's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

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.

Golden Hour Photography at Paris

Golden hour at Paris occurs when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light ideal for portrait and landscape photography. At Paris'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.

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.

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at Paris

UV radiation at Paris peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At 48.9° 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 Paris'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 Paris

All solar calculations for Paris 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 Paris's coordinates (48.9°, 2.4°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.