Sun Azimuth Elevation Calculator
The Sun's position is fully determined by the date, the universal time, and your latitude and longitude. This calculator implements the NOAA Solar Calculator equations: it derives the solar declination and the equation of time from the date and time, then the hour angle for your longitude, and finally the elevation above the horizon and the azimuth clockwise from true north. Enter the date and time in UTC (convert from your local clock first) and your coordinates with east longitude positive. The result is the true geometric solar position.
Solar position method
Julian day from calendar date and UTC time
Solar declination and equation of time from mean longitude
True solar time = UTC minutes + eqTime + 4*longitude
Hour angle from true solar time
elevation = asin(sin(lat)sin(dec) + cos(lat)cos(dec)cos(HA))
Azimuth is recovered from the zenith angle and hour angle and reported clockwise from true north. The method matches the published NOAA Solar Calculator.
Solar position context
- Elevation is the angle above the horizon; 90 degrees is straight overhead.
- Azimuth is clockwise from true north; 180 degrees is due south.
- Time must be UTC; convert from local time and remove any daylight-saving offset.
- Longitude is east positive, west negative in this calculator.
- The output is the true geometric elevation, not corrected for refraction.
Solar position: frequently asked questions
What are solar azimuth and elevation?
Solar elevation is the angle of the Sun above the horizon (0 at the horizon, 90 straight overhead). Solar azimuth is the compass direction of the Sun measured clockwise from true north (180 is due south). Together they fix the Sun's position in the sky.
What algorithm does this use?
It follows the NOAA Solar Calculator equations: it computes the Julian date, the Sun's geometric mean longitude and anomaly, the equation of center, true longitude, obliquity of the ecliptic, declination and the equation of time, then the hour angle, elevation and azimuth for your location.
Why must I enter time in UTC?
Solar position depends on the Sun's hour angle, which is tied to universal time and your longitude, not your local clock or daylight-saving offset. Convert your local time to UTC before entering it so the result is correct. Longitude is east positive, west negative.
Does it correct for atmospheric refraction?
This calculator reports the true geometric elevation. Near the horizon, refraction lifts the apparent Sun by roughly half a degree, so the visible sunrise occurs a little before the geometric elevation reaches zero. For most uses the geometric angle is what you want.
What can I use solar position for?
Solar panel tilt and tracking, shading and daylight studies, photography planning, antenna sun-outage timing, and checking sundials all rely on knowing the Sun's azimuth and elevation at a given time and place.
Official sources
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory: NOAA Solar Calculator.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: U.S. Naval Observatory.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.