Latitude & Daylight at Reykjavik

Reykjavik sits at latitude 64.1°. At this latitude, daylight varies from approximately 20.5h in summer (solstice) to 20.5h in winter — a seasonal swing of 0.0h. The sun reaches a maximum altitude of 49.3° at summer solstice and a minimum of 2.4° at winter solstice. This polar profile is what shapes Reykjavik's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

Reykjavik sits squarely within the path of totality for the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse — one of only two national capitals (alongside Nuuk, Greenland) directly on the centerline. At 64.1°N, the city's extreme seasonal twilight means the eclipsed Sun will hang low in the sky at approximately 17:30 UTC, a rare opportunity to photograph a solar eclipse against Iceland's volcanic landscape under perpetual summer dusk.

Golden Hour Photography at Reykjavik

Golden hour at Reykjavik occurs when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light ideal for portrait and landscape photography. At Reykjavik's latitude, morning golden hour typically starts in the hours after sunrise (when sun rises) and lasts approximately 60–90+ 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 64.1°N, Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital and experiences the midnight sun from late May to early August, with civil twilight lasting all night around the June solstice. This extreme latitude creates the longest summer golden hours on Earth — up to 3 hours of soft, amber light as the Sun skims the horizon without fully setting.

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at Reykjavik

UV radiation at Reykjavik peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At 64.1° latitude, peak UV levels vary significantly by season: summer months see UV indices of 2–4 (low-moderate), while winter months typically register 0 (none). The World Health Organization recommends sun protection when UV index exceeds 3. At Reykjavik's latitude, this threshold is exceeded for approximately 2–4 months per year, making sun awareness a year-round consideration for outdoor workers and athletes.

How We Calculate Solar Data for Reykjavik

All solar calculations for Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik's coordinates (64.1°, -21.9°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.