Dämmerungszeiten Madrid — Twilight Calculator · FastTool

Twilight Duration at Madrid

At Madrid's latitude of 40.4°, twilight duration varies dramatically by season. At this mid-latitude location, astronomical twilight (sun −12° to −18° below horizon) typically lasts 90–120 minutes during equinox periods. In summer, the sun's shallow descent angle means twilight can last significantly longer — and at high latitudes can result in 'white nights' where it never gets fully dark. This seasonal variation is what makes Madrid's dark-sky window so different month to month.

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.

When Does It Get Truly Dark in Madrid?

At Madrid, true astronomical darkness begins when the sun drops more than 18° below the horizon — the end of astronomical twilight. At 40.4° latitude, this dark window varies from approximately 4–6h in summer to 12–14h in winter. During the October–March months, Madrid enjoys the longest dark-sky windows of the year — ideal for deep-sky astrophotography and stargazing. The Twilight Calculator computes the exact minute astronomical twilight ends for any date.

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.

Civil, Nautical & Astronomical Twilight Explained

Three twilight phases occur each evening and morning at Madrid, defined by how far the sun is below the horizon. Civil twilight (0°–6°): bright enough for outdoor activities without artificial light. Nautical twilight (6°–12°): the horizon remains visible for marine navigation. Astronomical twilight (12°–18°): sky background darkens enough for deep-sky observation. At Madrid's latitude, these phases progress at different speeds depending on the season — faster near the equinoxes and slower near the solstices.

Jean Meeus Algorithm & Accuracy

The Twilight Calculator for Madrid uses the simplified solar position algorithm from Jean Meeus's 'Astronomical Algorithms' (Chapter 25), refined with bisection iteration (15 steps) to locate each twilight threshold to sub-minute accuracy. The algorithm accounts for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent sun by approximately 34 arcminutes at the horizon. Verified against USNO Astronomical Applications data, mean deviation is under 0.5 seconds for Madrid's coordinates.