Sun position calculator
Calculate sun position, angle, azimuth, altitude or elevation, and a 24-hour curve for any location, date, and local time.
Calculator controls
Search by address, place, district, or city.
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
-27.4698°, 153.0251°
Calculated result
2026-08-17 · Australia/Brisbane
Local time
12:00
Australia/Brisbane
Azimuth
357.2°
North
Altitude
+48.9°
Angle above or below the horizon
Daylight state
day
Hourly classification used by the main tool
Curve deck
Compare the sun's height and compass path across the day.
Altitude - angle above or below the horizon.
Azimuth - compass direction across the full day.
Interpretation
Solar Path Tracker reports azimuth clockwise from true north. This makes the value directly comparable with a compass bearing and helps identify whether light approaches from the east, north, west, or a direction between them.
Direction changes continuously throughout the day, so always pair the bearing with the selected local time.
Altitude, also called elevation, is the Sun’s angle above or below the horizon. A low positive value produces long shadows and shallow light, while a higher value places the Sun more directly overhead. Negative values mean the Sun is below the astronomical horizon.
The 24-hour curve reveals how quickly the solar angle changes around the time you selected.
These angles support early daylight research, facade observations, photography planning, and orientation checks. They do not calculate roof suitability, panel yield, structural constraints, glare compliance, or professional design outcomes.
Use qualified site data and professional analysis for consequential engineering or installation decisions.
Questions
Sun position combines azimuth, the compass bearing around the horizon, with altitude or elevation, the angle above or below the horizon, at a particular place, date, and local time.
Enter a location, date, and local time. The calculator reports the Sun’s azimuth and altitude for that instant, then shows the daily angle curve for the same location and date.
In this calculator, altitude and elevation refer to the same solar angle above or below the astronomical horizon. Positive values are above the horizon and negative values are below it.
Azimuth is the Sun’s compass bearing measured clockwise from north: 0 degrees is north, 90 east, 180 south, and 270 west.
No. Panel yield and tilt require additional assumptions about equipment, shading, roof geometry, losses, and energy objectives. This tool reports solar position only.