What is solar azimuth?

Azimuth is the compass bearing of the sun measured clockwise from true north. An azimuth of 0° or 360° means the sun is due north, 90° is due east, 180° is due south, and 270° is due west.

What is solar elevation (altitude)?

Elevation, also called altitude, is the angle of the sun above the horizon. A value of 0° means the sun is at the horizon, 90° means directly overhead (zenith). Negative values mean the sun is below the horizon.

What algorithm is used?

This tool implements equations published with NOAA GML's solar calculator, including equation of time, declination and atmospheric-refraction approximations. It is an engineering estimate, not an ephemeris or survey instrument.

What is atmospheric refraction correction?

The atmosphere bends sunlight, making the sun appear slightly higher than its true geometric position, especially near the horizon. This tool applies the standard refraction correction formula so the reported elevation matches what you actually see in the sky.

How do I find my UTC offset?

Your UTC offset is the number of hours local civil time is ahead of or behind UTC on the selected date. Enter the offset actually in force, including daylight-saving time where applicable; this calculator does not infer time-zone rules from coordinates.

Why is solar noon not exactly 12:00?

Solar noon depends on your exact longitude within your time zone and on the Equation of Time — a correction for Earth's elliptical orbit and axial tilt. It can differ from clock noon by up to about 16 minutes.

How accurate is this sun position result?

It is an engineering estimate based on NOAA solar-calculator equations. NOAA notes that accuracy may be lower above 72° north or below 72° south, partly because atmospheric refraction is difficult to predict. Local terrain and the visible horizon are not modeled.

Sun Position Calculator

Calculate the sun's azimuth and elevation angle for any location, date, and time using the NOAA solar position algorithm.

Location & Time

Latitude (°)

Longitude (°)

Location permission is optional. Coordinates are used only in this browser calculation.

Date

Local Time

UTC Offset (hours)

Object Height (optional)

Unit

Enter location and time to see sun position

Summary

Calculate the sun's azimuth and elevation angle for any location, date, and time using the NOAA solar position algorithm.

How it works

Enter your latitude and longitude (or click "Use My Location" to auto-fill from your browser).
Select the date and local time you want to evaluate.
Enter your UTC offset to convert local time to Universal Time.
The tool computes the Julian Day Number and Julian Century for the given moment.
Solar geometric angles (declination, equation of time, hour angle) are derived using NOAA polynomial coefficients.
Azimuth and elevation are calculated from the hour angle and declination, then corrected for atmospheric refraction.

Use cases

Inspect solar azimuth and elevation before planning a solar-energy site assessment.
Determine shading patterns for building design and architecture.
Plan landscape or portrait photography at the golden hour or blue hour.
Schedule outdoor activities around peak sun intensity.
Find sunrise and sunset times for any location on Earth.
Calculate solar noon for accurate sundial calibration.
Check when direct sunlight may enter a window or cast a shadow.
Support agricultural planning by knowing daily sun exposure hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu