Solar Elevation Calculator
Calculate the sun's elevation angle above the horizon for any location, date, and time.
How It Works
Enter your location, date, and time. The calculator computes solar declination from the day of year, then uses spherical trigonometry to find the sun's elevation angle above the horizon.
Formula
sin(elevation) = sin(lat) x sin(decl) + cos(lat) x cos(decl) x cos(hourAngle)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is solar elevation angle?
Solar elevation (altitude) is the angle between the sun and the horizon. 0 degrees is sunrise/sunset; 90 degrees is directly overhead.
When is solar elevation highest?
Solar elevation is highest at solar noon. The maximum elevation depends on latitude and season.