Photographers use sun position data to plan outdoor shoots. Knowing the sun's elevation and azimuth at 6:30pm in Paris on July 18 tells you whether the light will be soft and golden or harsh and direct. A low sun elevation (under 10 degrees) produces warm, directional light that flatters portraits.
Solar panel installers use azimuth and elevation to determine optimal panel tilt and detect shading. A panel facing south (azimuth 180 degrees) in the Northern Hemisphere captures the most energy. If a building at azimuth 120 degrees has an elevation of 25 degrees, it will shade panels during morning hours from May through August.
Architects use sun position to design buildings that maximize natural light and minimize heat gain. A south-facing window in New York at noon on June 21 receives sun at an elevation of 72 degrees, nearly overhead. The same window on December 21 receives sun at only 25 degrees, much lower and more penetrating.
Real estate agents use sun position to answer buyer questions about when a property gets sunlight. A north-facing garden in Sydney (Southern Hemisphere) gets more sun in winter because the sun tracks lower in the northern sky. The calculator shows this by displaying a lower elevation and northern azimuth for June dates in Sydney.
Film location scouts use it to determine whether a location will be in sun or shade at a specific time. A scene requiring shadows pointing west needs to be filmed in the morning when the sun is in the east (azimuth around 90 degrees).
The calculator uses standard solar position formulas based on the NOAA solar calculator. It computes three key values: solar declination (the sun's angular distance north or south of the equator), the equation of time (the difference between solar time and clock time), and the hour angle (the sun's angular position relative to solar noon).
From these values, the tool calculates the sun's elevation (angle above the horizon, from -90 to +90 degrees) and azimuth (compass direction, from 0 to 360 degrees where 0 is north, 90 is east, 180 is south, 270 is west). These two values pinpoint the sun's exact position in the sky for any given location, date, and time.
The tool also calculates sunrise, solar noon, and sunset times for the selected location and date. Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, which is not necessarily 12:00 local time. The difference between solar noon and clock noon is caused by the equation of time and the location's longitude within its timezone.
The sun phase indicator shows whether the sun is above the horizon (daylight), in civil twilight (sun within 6 degrees of horizon), nautical twilight (6 to 12 degrees), or astronomical twilight (12 to 18 degrees). Below 18 degrees, the sun is considered fully below the horizon.
Input
New York, July 18, 2026, 12:00pm
Output
Elevation: 70.9 degrees, Azimuth: 179.2 degrees (South)
Sun nearly overhead at noon in mid-July. Day length: 14h 46m.
Input
New York, December 21, 2026, 12:00pm
Output
Elevation: 25.5 degrees, Azimuth: 179.1 degrees (South)
Sun very low at noon on winter solstice. Day length: 9h 15m.
Input
London, June 21, 2026, 9:00pm
Output
Elevation: 5.2 degrees, Azimuth: 312.8 degrees (NW)
Civil twilight. Sun just above horizon in northwest. Long summer evenings at 51N latitude.
Input
Singapore, March 20, 2026, 1:00pm
Output
Elevation: 89.2 degrees, Azimuth: 175.0 degrees (South)
Sun nearly directly overhead near the equator on equinox. Singapore is at 1.3 degrees north.
Input
Sydney, June 21, 2026, 12:00pm
Output
Elevation: 32.5 degrees, Azimuth: 0.0 degrees (North)
Winter solstice in Southern Hemisphere. Sun is in the north, low in the sky.
Things to watch out for
What are altitude and azimuth?
Altitude (also called elevation) is the sun's angle above the horizon, ranging from -90 degrees (directly below) to +90 degrees (directly overhead). Azimuth is the compass direction of the sun measured clockwise from north: 0 degrees is north, 90 is east, 180 is south, 270 is west. Together, altitude and azimuth pinpoint the sun's position in the sky.
How accurate is the sun position calculation?
The calculation uses simplified solar position formulas accurate to within about 1 degree for most purposes. The main source of error is atmospheric refraction near the horizon, which the tool approximates but does not fully model. For applications requiring arc-minute precision (such as telescope pointing), use a professional ephemeris tool.
Why is solar noon not at 12:00?
Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point, which depends on your exact longitude within your timezone and the equation of time (a seasonal variation caused by Earth's elliptical orbit and axial tilt). In practice, solar noon can differ from clock noon by up to 30 minutes depending on your location and the time of year.
Can I use this for solar panel installation?
Yes. Check the sun's azimuth and elevation at different times throughout the year to identify potential shading from nearby buildings or trees. Panels in the Northern Hemisphere should face south (azimuth 180 degrees). The optimal tilt angle equals your latitude, but adjusting it seasonally improves energy yield.
What is the difference between civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight?
Civil twilight is when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. There is enough light for most outdoor activities. Nautical twilight (6 to 12 degrees below) is when the horizon is still visible at sea. Astronomical twilight (12 to 18 degrees below) is when the sky is dark enough for most astronomical observations. Below 18 degrees, the sun has no effect on sky brightness.
Why does the compass direction matter?
The compass direction (azimuth) tells you where to look for the sun. This is useful for photographers positioning subjects, for architects determining which windows receive direct sunlight, and for homeowners evaluating solar exposure for gardens or panels.
Does the calculator work for Southern Hemisphere locations?
Yes. The formulas are global. In the Southern Hemisphere, the sun tracks through the northern sky. In Sydney (33.9 degrees south), the sun is in the north at solar noon, and the seasons are reversed: the sun is highest in December and lowest in June.
Calculations use simplified astronomical formulas accurate to within approximately 1 degree. Atmospheric refraction near the horizon is approximated but not fully modeled. For applications requiring precision (telescope pointing, solar tracking systems), use a professional ephemeris tool such as the NREL Solar Position Algorithm or JPL Horizons.