Sun Position Calculator
Sun Position Calculator
Sun Position Calculator
By using this spreadseet, the user agrees to hold Bill Gottesman and Precision Sundials LLC harmless for any errors in this sp
suffered from relying on the results given by this spreadsheet.
The formulas used are from Astronomical Algorithms, 2nd edition, by Jean Meeus. Most calculations are based on Chapter 25
accuracy" method which is reported to be accurate to 1/100th of a degree, or about 3 seconds of time.
Except for the light yellow "data input" boxes, each sheet is locked to prevent you from accidentally corrupting the calculations.
view the method for calculation, you can unlock any sheet by selecting Tools > Protection > Unlock sheet, and entering the pas
sheet. To view hidden calculations, select columns "D" through "O", and then Format > Cells > Number > General.
Azimut
West
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
mless for any errors in this spreadsheet, and any for consequences
ns are based on Chapter 25, "Solar Coordinates," and use the "low
me.
North
Azimuth Definition
West
East
Eastward Azimuths
are Negative
(-)
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
South
Azimuth=0
This sheet calculates times of Solar Noon for a given date and location.
Enter Time Zone
-5 e.g. Enter -5 for Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
Input Longitude
Degrees or Deg:Min:Sec
-73.22 (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)
#VALUE! Longitude
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Daylignt Savings?
yes
Eot (Minutes:seconds)
Declination
Solar Noon
Unlock Password is "noon"
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is negative)
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(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. U
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This sheet calculates position of the sun at any given date and time.
Enter Time Zone
Input Latitude:
-5 e.g. Enter -5 for Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
Degrees or Deg:Min:Sec
44.476 (Southern Latitudes are negative)
Input Longitude
yes
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
Sun's Azimuth
True (Celestial) Altitude
of sun
Apparent (Refracted)
Altitude of sun
Latitude
#VALUE! (Confirms latitude and longitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds)
Longitude
#VALUE!
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
T Julian Centuries
Enter Time (HH:MM:SS)
#NAME?
Daylignt Savings?: Type "Yes" or "No"
#NAME?
Declination
Solar Time
EoT (minutes:seconds)
North
Theta in Degrees
#NAME?
#NAME?
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#NAME?
Lo Mean Long
#NAME?
Azimuth Definition
West
East
Eastward Azimuths
are Negative
(-)
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
South
Azimuth=0
M Mean Anomaly
#NAME?
True Longitude ()
#NAME?
o Obliquity of Ecliptic
#NAME?
This sheet calculates the time and azimuth for a given date and altitude the sun. You can enter True or Apparent altitude.
Enter Time Zone
-5 e.g. Enter -5 for Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
Degrees or Deg:Min:Sec
Input Latitude:
44.476 (Southern Latitudes are negative)
Input Longitude
#VALUE! Latitude
#VALUE! Longitude
5/31/2008
yes
7.8896602541
8
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Daylignt Savings?: Type "Yes" or "No"
#NAME?
True (Celestial) Altitude in degs (Entering an True Altitude automatically adjusts
Apparent (Refracted) Altitude
the Apparant Altitude, and vice-verca)
Caution: This Altitude sheet uses an iterative method which can introduce minor errors near solar noon, solar midnight, and
unpredictably at other times. For best accuracy, do not rely on these results until they have
been confirmed with the Position
#VALUE!
Calc. sheet, which uses a direct, non-iterative method.
#VALUE!
The sun reaches a given altitude twice a day (but only once for solar
noon and solar midnight). Some altitudes are never reached in a
given day.
AM
PM
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Declination (degs)
Azimuth (degs)
Civil Time
EoT (minutes:seconds)
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
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#VALUE!
Azimuth Definition
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
West
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
East
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Eastward Azimuths
are Negative
(-)
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
South
Azimuth=0
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
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#VALUE!
(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. U
#VALUE!
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This sheet calculates the time and altitude for a given date and azimuth the sun.
Enter Time Zone
-5 e.g. Enter -5 for Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
Degrees or Deg:Min:Sec
Input Latitude:
45 (Southern Latitudes are negative)
Input Longitude
#VALUE! Latitude
#VALUE! Longitude
10/8/2007 Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
yes
#NAME?
Caution: This Azimuth sheet uses an iterative method which can introduce minor errors near solar noon, solar
midnight, and unpredictably at other times. For best accuracy, do not rely on these results until they have been
confirmed with the Position Calc. sheet, which uses a direct, non-iterative
method. #VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
The sun is at this azimuth once, twice, or never
on a given day, depending on date and location
Time 1
-------------------------------------------------
Declination (degs)
True Altitude (degs)
Civil Time
EoT (minutes:seconds)
Time 2
-------------------------------------------------
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
on a given day
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
------------------------#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
zimuth
degs
errorsinnear
solar noon, solar
in degs
se results untilAzimuth
they have
been
d.
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
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#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
North
#VALUE!
Azimuth Definition
#VALUE!
Eastward
Azimuths
#VALUE!
are Negative
#VALUE!
(-)
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
South
Azimuth=0
#VALUE!
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#VALUE!
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#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. U
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
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Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Apparent (refracted)
Altitude in degrees