Sun Position Calculator

The Sun Position Calculator tells you exactly where the sun is in the sky — its azimuth (compass direction) and elevation (height above the horizon) — for any date, time, and location on Earth. It plots the sun on an interactive sky dome, traces the entire day's sun path, and reports sunrise, solar noon, sunset, day length, shadow length, and the current solar phase. It is perfect for photographers chasing golden hour, gardeners planning sunlight, solar-panel installers, architects, and anyone curious about the sky.

What Are Solar Azimuth and Elevation?

The sun's position is described with two angles. Azimuth is the horizontal compass direction to the sun, measured clockwise from true north: 0° points north, 90° east, 180° south, and 270° west. Elevation (also called altitude) is the vertical angle of the sun above the horizon, ranging from 0° at the horizon to 90° straight overhead at the zenith. With both angles you can point to the exact spot the sun occupies in the sky.

Sun Position Formula

The calculator follows the standard NOAA solar position algorithm. The key relationships are:

Here \(h\) is the elevation, \(A\) is the azimuth, \(z = 90^\circ - h\) is the zenith angle, \(\phi\) is your latitude, \(\delta\) is the sun's declination, and \(H\) is the hour angle. The declination and the equation of time come from the date; the hour angle comes from the true solar time at your longitude. A small atmospheric refraction correction is then added to the elevation so the value matches what you actually observe.

How to Read the Sky Dome

The sky dome is a top-down map of the sky above you. The outer rim is the horizon (elevation 0°) and the centre is the point straight overhead (the zenith, elevation 90°). Compass directions run around the edge — north at the top, east on the right, south at the bottom, west on the left. The glowing dot is the sun's current position, and the trail of small gold dots is the full path the sun travels across that day, from sunrise on one side to sunset on the other.

Sun Elevation and the Time of Day

What You Can Use It For

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter your location: Type your latitude and longitude, click a quick-example city, or use the "Use My Location" button to fill in your coordinates.
2. Set the date and time: Choose the date and local clock time, then select the matching UTC time-zone offset.
3. Click Calculate: The tool computes the sun's azimuth and elevation instantly.
4. Review your results: See the sun on the sky dome, the day's sun path, sunrise and sunset, day length, shadow length, and a full step-by-step breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are solar azimuth and elevation?

Azimuth is the sun's compass direction measured clockwise from true north, where 0 degrees is north, 90 is east, 180 is south and 270 is west. Elevation (also called altitude) is the angle of the sun above the horizon, from 0 degrees at the horizon to 90 degrees straight overhead. Together they pinpoint exactly where the sun appears in the sky.

How is the sun's position calculated?

The calculator uses the standard NOAA solar position algorithm. From the date it computes the sun's declination and the equation of time, combines them with your local time to get the hour angle, then applies your latitude and longitude to find elevation and azimuth. A small atmospheric refraction correction is added so the result matches what you actually see.

What is the difference between azimuth and elevation?

Azimuth tells you which horizontal direction to look (the compass bearing), while elevation tells you how high to look (the angle above the horizon). You need both to describe the sun's position completely: azimuth points you the right way, and elevation tells you how far up to tilt your gaze.

Why is solar noon not at 12:00 on the clock?

Solar noon is the moment the sun crosses the local meridian and reaches its highest point. It rarely lands on 12:00 because your longitude usually sits east or west of your time zone's central meridian, and because the equation of time shifts the sun up to about 16 minutes earlier or later through the year. The calculator reports the true solar noon for your exact location.

How do I find the sun's position for solar panels?

Enter your site's coordinates and check the elevation and azimuth at the times of day that matter for your installation. The elevation tells you the ideal panel tilt, and the azimuth shows the direction to face. Tracing the day's sun path also reveals when nearby buildings or trees might cast shade on your array.

How long is the shadow of an object?

Shadow length equals the object's height divided by the tangent of the sun's elevation. When the sun is high the shadow is short, and as the sun drops toward the horizon the shadow grows very long. The calculator shows the shadow multiplier and the shadow cast by a 1.8 metre (about 6 foot) person for your chosen moment.

Additional Resources

• Solar Azimuth Angle - Wikipedia
• Position of the Sun - Wikipedia