solar position
Click the map to select a location
sunpath diagrampolar projection
shadow mapunit cube 1×1×1
The sun's position in the sky is defined by two angles: azimuth and elevation. Azimuth describes the compass direction of the sun — 0° is north, 90° is east, 180° is south, and 270° is west. Elevation is the angle of the sun above the horizon, ranging from 0° at sunrise and sunset to its peak at solar noon.
These two numbers tell you everything you need to know about where the sun is at any moment, from any point on Earth. They change constantly throughout the day as the Earth rotates, and shift seasonally as the Earth's axial tilt angles different latitudes toward or away from the sun.
This calculator uses the Solar Position Algorithm published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the same reference algorithm used by solar energy researchers and engineers worldwide. Given a location and time, it computes precise sun azimuth and elevation values accurate to within ±0.0003 degrees.
Select any location on the map, drag the time slider to move through the full 24-hour day, and watch the sun's position update in real time. The 3D sky dome shows the sun's position overhead as it would appear from where you're standing. The 2D sunpath diagram plots the sun's arc across the sky in a polar projection — a standard format used in solar site assessments, architecture, and building design.
Solar installers use azimuth and elevation to determine optimal panel placement and identify shading issues throughout the year. Architects reference sunpath diagrams when designing buildings for natural daylighting or passive solar heating. Photographers track the sun's position to plan shots around specific lighting angles. Surveyors, farmers, gardeners, and anyone working outdoors can benefit from knowing exactly where the sun will be at any given time.