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 uses the NOAA Solar Calculator algorithm, based on equations from "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus. It is accurate to within about ±0.01° for dates between 1950 and 2050, sufficient for all practical applications.

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 your local time zone is ahead of (positive) or behind (negative) Coordinated Universal Time. For example, US Eastern Standard Time is UTC−5, Central European Time is UTC+1, and Japan Standard Time is UTC+9.

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.

Sun Position Calculator

Name: Sun Position Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

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

Location & Time

Latitude (°)

Longitude (°)

Date

Local Time

UTC Offset (hours)

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

Optimize solar panel tilt and orientation for maximum energy yield.
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.
Verify satellite dish or antenna clear-sky sightlines.
Support agricultural planning by knowing daily sun exposure hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related tools

Sidereal Time Calculator Julian Day Converter Great Circle Distance Calculator

Last updated: 2026-05-29 · Reviewed by Nham Vu