Calculate the sun position for a location, date, time, and time zone. This calculator returns solar elevation, solar zenith, solar azimuth, declination, hour angle, solar noon, and a sun path view for solar panel planning.
Use this page for sun position, solar elevation angle, solar zenith angle, solar declination, hour angle, solar azimuth angle, and sun path calculator queries. The page stays inside solar geometry and does not cover astrology, horoscope, ROI, or system sizing.
Calculate solar elevation, zenith, azimuth, declination, hour angle, solar noon, and sun path from location and time.
The sun position result outputs elevation, zenith, azimuth, declination, hour angle, solar noon, and a daily path table. Cards show the current moment. A table shows how the values change across the selected day.
Result cards:
| Output | Definition |
|---|---|
| Solar elevation | Sun height above the horizon |
| Solar zenith | Angle from vertical to the sun |
| Solar azimuth | Compass direction of the sun |
| Solar declination | Seasonal angle of the sun relative to Earth’s equator |
| Hour angle | Solar time offset from solar noon |
| Solar noon | Highest daily sun position |
Sun position changes by time and season.
Solar elevation measures the sun height above the horizon in degrees. A low elevation means the sun is close to the horizon. A high elevation means the sun is higher in the sky.
Solar elevation helps explain why winter panel tilt is steeper and summer panel tilt is flatter.
Solar zenith measures the angle from vertical to the sun. Zenith and elevation are complementary angles. When elevation is 40 degrees, zenith is 50 degrees.
Zenith matters because many solar-position formulas use the angle from vertical, while panel users often think in angle from horizontal.
Solar azimuth measures the compass direction of the sun. It tells whether the sun is east, south, west, or another direction at the selected time.
Solar azimuth connects sun position to panel orientation. Panel azimuth and sun azimuth describe horizontal direction from true north.
Solar declination describes the seasonal position of the sun relative to Earth’s equator. Hour angle describes how far solar time is from solar noon.
Declination changes across the year. Hour angle changes across the day. Together, they explain the sun path curve.
Sun position depends on latitude, longitude, date, local time, and time zone. Each input changes the solar geometry state, so the calculator uses all 5 inputs to return elevation, zenith, azimuth, declination, hour angle, and sun path.
According to NREL solar-position research, solar zenith and azimuth can be calculated from location and time using solar-position algorithms. According to NOAA solar calculator documentation, location, date, time, and time zone are core sun-position inputs.
This calculator gives a mathematical estimate. Atmospheric refraction, local terrain, trees, buildings, and horizon obstructions can alter observed sunrise and sunset.
Use this calculator in 6 steps:
The result gives solar geometry values. The Solar Panel Angle Calculator converts those geometry concepts into panel tilt guidance.
Geographic coordinates determine the observer position. Latitude measures north-south position. Longitude measures east-west position. Together, they define where the sky is observed from.
Address, city, ZIP code, and manual coordinates all resolve to latitude and longitude. Exact coordinates produce the strongest site-specific result.
Date and time determine the solar geometry state. Date changes solar declination across the year. Time changes hour angle across the day.
Morning values, solar noon values, and evening values differ because the sun moves across the sky. A daily table makes this change visible.
Solar noon marks the time when the sun reaches its highest daily position at the selected location. Clock noon and solar noon are not always the same because longitude and time zone boundaries differ.
Time zone confirmation prevents a location result from using the wrong local clock offset.
Sun position changes by time and season.
A sun path chart plots solar elevation and solar azimuth across time. Morning points appear near the eastern horizon. Solar noon appears at the day’s highest elevation. Evening points move toward the western horizon.
The chart uses 4 display elements:
Local terrain and buildings are not included unless a future shade tool adds horizon obstruction data.
Inputs, formulas, and limits stay connected.
Sun position informs panel tilt and orientation because sunlight reaches the panel from a changing height and direction. Solar elevation connects to tilt. Solar azimuth connects to orientation. Seasonal declination explains why monthly and seasonal tilt values change.
Solar panel angle planning uses the same geometry family. Tilt aims the panel surface toward useful sun height. Orientation aims the panel face toward useful compass direction.
Use this page to understand solar geometry. Use the Solar Panel Angle Calculator for panel tilt. Use the Solar Orientation Calculator for panel direction.
Tilt + azimuth form the solar geometry pair.
Solar geometry terms define the position of the sun in measurable values. These terms allow calculators to turn a sky position into panel tilt, orientation, shadow, and sun path decisions.
Key terms:
These definitions keep the page practical. Full academic derivation belongs in a methodology page.
Elevation, zenith, and azimuth describe sun position.
Use sun-position data to plan tilt, orientation, and shadow review. Export the hourly table, then compare the result with the solar panel angle calculator, orientation calculator, and any on-site shade concerns.
Next actions:
According to NREL PVWatts documentation, PV performance estimates include assumptions and use tilt and azimuth inputs. Sun position supports those inputs, but it does not replace a full performance model.
Use this check when sun path, low winter sun, hourly values, or shadow timing needs a planning note before roof review. The check is optional and does not block the calculator result.
Choose your situation:
The sun position calculator links to geometry guides that define each output without splitting one calculator into duplicate tools. Use these pages when a result term needs deeper explanation.
Support pages connect to one calculator entity.
Sun position is the location of the sun in the sky at a specific place and time. It is described with elevation, zenith, azimuth, declination, and hour angle.
Sun position is calculated from latitude, longitude, date, local time, and time zone. The output describes the sun’s height, direction, and solar-time state.
A sun position calculator needs latitude, longitude, date, time, and time zone. Address or ZIP input works after it resolves to coordinates.
Solar elevation angle is the sun’s height above the horizon. A 0-degree elevation sits on the horizon. A 90-degree elevation sits overhead.
Solar zenith angle is the angle between vertical and the sun. Zenith equals 90 degrees minus solar elevation.
Solar azimuth is the sun’s compass direction measured in degrees from true north.
Solar declination is the seasonal angle of the sun relative to Earth’s equator. It changes across the year.
Hour angle is the sun’s angular distance from solar noon. Negative values represent morning. Positive values represent afternoon.
Solar noon is the time when the sun reaches its highest daily position at the selected location.
Sun position affects panel tilt, azimuth, shadow length, seasonal adjustment, and the directness of sunlight on the panel surface.
NOAA states that its old solar calculator is no longer actively maintained. It remains useful as a reference, but NREL solar-position research is the stronger technical authority.
This calculator gives an educational solar-position estimate. Engineering design requires project-specific methods, site survey data, and qualified review.
