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.

The Paris Observatory, commissioned by Louis XIV in 1667, is the world's oldest continuously operating astronomical observatory. The Arago Medallions — 135 bronze disks embedded in Paris sidewalks along the original Paris Meridian — still mark the line that rivaled Greenwich as the world's prime meridian until 1884, when the International Meridian Conference voted to standardize on London.

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 at 48.9°N experiences summer days stretching to 16 hours and 10 minutes — significantly longer than the 15-hour maxima of New York or Tokyo at lower mid-latitudes. This extended summer daylight, combined with Paris's famously clear August skies, produces some of the longest and most photogenic golden hour windows of any major European capital.

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.