Latitude & Daylight at New York

New York sits at latitude 40.7°. 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 72.7° at summer solstice and a minimum of 25.8° at winter solstice. This mid-latitude profile is what shapes New York's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

Twice a year, crowds line Manhattan's east-west streets to witness 'Manhattanhenge' — the moment when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the borough's grid system, casting a golden glow through the concrete canyons. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson coined the term as director of the Hayden Planetarium, which has been New York's gateway to the cosmos since 1935.

Golden Hour Photography at New York

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

At 40.7°N, New York's longest day reaches 15 hours and 5 minutes at the summer solstice. For comparison, Chicago at 41.9°N gains 8 extra minutes of daylight — a difference that seems tiny but is immediately noticeable in the timing of Manhattanhenge and the golden-hour window that photographers rely on.

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at New York

UV radiation at New York peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At 40.7° 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 New York'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 New York

All solar calculations for New York 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 New York's coordinates (40.7°, -74.0°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.