Sun Angle Calculator

Determining the sun's position requires complex astronomical algorithms based on spherical trigonometry. First, the local time zone offset is adjusted for any active daylight saving time: time_zone_offset = time_zone + summer_time. Using this standardized time alongside the observer's latitude and longitude, the calculator determines the solar time. From there, it computes two core angles: the Elevation Angle (elevation = getElevationAngle(latitude, longitude, date_time, time_zone_offset)), which measures how high the sun is above the horizon from 0 to 90 degrees, and the Azimuth Angle (azimuth = getAzimuthAngle(latitude, longitude, date_time, time_zone_offset)), which defines the compass direction of the sun relative to true north.

Imagine you are planning a rooftop solar installation in Denver, Colorado, situated at a latitude of 39.7392° N and a longitude of -104.9903° W. You want to check the solar position on June 21st at 12:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). First, the time zone offset is calculated as -6 hours (-7 standard time plus +1 hour for summer daylight saving). Inputting these coordinates and date-time into the equations, the model computes a high solar elevation angle of approximately 74.5° due to the summer solstice, and an azimuth angle pointing nearly due south at 180.2°. This tells the engineer that solar panels should be tilted at a shallower angle facing south to capture peak radiation.

Always double-check your local time zone offset and daylight saving settings, as an error of even one hour can significantly skew azimuth and elevation values. When planning solar panel installations, remember that seasonal variations require adjustments; analyzing both the winter solstice and summer solstice extremes ensures year-round efficiency. Finally, ensure your latitude and longitude inputs use decimal degrees rather than degrees-minutes-seconds to prevent conversion errors.