Latitude & Daylight at Madrid

Madrid sits at latitude 40.4°. At this latitude, daylight varies from approximately 14.9h in summer (solstice) to 14.9h in winter — a seasonal swing of 0.0h. The sun reaches a maximum altitude of 73.0° at summer solstice and a minimum of 26.1° at winter solstice. This mid-latitude profile is what shapes Madrid's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

Perched at 667 meters above sea level on Europe's highest capital plateau, Madrid's altitude gives its amateur astronomers a distinct advantage: thinner air means less atmospheric turbulence and sharper planetary views through modest telescopes. Madrid's status as a UNWTO hub has also made it a gathering point for international astrotourism conferences.

Golden Hour Photography at Madrid

Golden hour at Madrid occurs when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light ideal for portrait and landscape photography. At Madrid's latitude, morning golden hour typically starts in the hour after sunrise and lasts approximately 28–40 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.

Just a 2-hour drive from Madrid, the Calar Alto Observatory in Almería hosts the largest optical telescope in continental Europe — a 3.5-meter reflector operated jointly by Spain and Germany. At 2,168 meters elevation above the Mediterranean, its exceptionally dry, stable atmosphere makes it one of the world's premier sites for exoplanet detection and galaxy formation studies.

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at Madrid

UV radiation at Madrid peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At 40.4° latitude, peak UV levels vary significantly by season: summer months see UV indices of 6–9 (high), while winter months typically register 1–3 (low). The World Health Organization recommends sun protection when UV index exceeds 3. At Madrid's latitude, this threshold is exceeded for approximately 6–8 months per year, making sun awareness a year-round consideration for outdoor workers and athletes.

How We Calculate Solar Data for Madrid

All solar calculations for Madrid 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 Madrid's coordinates (40.4°, -3.7°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.