Sun Position Calculator

What it does

Calculates exactly where the sun will be in the sky — its compass direction (azimuth) and height above the horizon (elevation) — for any date and time you choose, not just right now. This is the planning counterpart to the live Sun & Moon Compass tool: pick a future date and time instead of watching the current moment.

What you'll need

• Your location — either tap “Use my location” or enter latitude/longitude manually.
• The date and time you're planning for.

Steps

1. Set your location.
2. Pick the date and time you're planning to shoot.
3. Read the sun's azimuth and elevation for that exact moment.

Reading the result

Azimuth is the compass direction along the horizon (0°=N, 90°=E, 180°=S, 270°=W); elevation is how high above the horizon, from 0° (right at the horizon) to 90° (overhead). If elevation is negative or the tool flags the sun as below the horizon, it hasn't risen yet or has already set at that date/time.

Tips

• Use this to check whether the sun will backlight, side-light, or sit behind your subject at your planned shoot time, weeks before you arrive.
• Combine with the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator to first confirm the sun is actually up at your chosen time.

How is future sun position calculated?

The sun's position in the sky at any moment follows entirely from your location and the exact date and time — no measurement or observation needed, just orbital mechanics. This tool runs the same underlying calculation as the live Sun & Moon Compass, but for a date and time you choose instead of the current moment, which turns it from a live readout into a planning tool.

Why photographers use it

A building that backlights beautifully at 6pm in June might side-light awkwardly at the same clock time in October — the sun's position shifts through the year even at a fixed hour. Working that out weeks or months before you arrive, instead of discovering it on location, is the whole point of checking a future date and time here rather than only watching the live compass.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the same clock time gives the same sun position year-round. it doesn't — the sun's azimuth and elevation at, say, 6pm shift meaningfully by season. Always check the specific date you're planning for, not just a remembered time of day.
• Forgetting time zone and daylight saving. the date/time picker uses your device's local time and time zone. If you're planning for a shoot in a different time zone, double-check the local time at the destination, not your own.
• Reading a negative elevation as an error. it means the sun is below the horizon at that date/time — check the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator first if you're not sure the sun will be up at all at your planned hour.

Example settings

FAQ

How is this different from the Sun & Moon Compass tool?

The Compass shows the live position right now, updating every few seconds. This tool answers the same question for any date and time you pick — including future dates — making it a planning tool rather than a live readout.

How far in the future can I plan?

Any date the astronomical calculation supports — practically, years ahead. The sun's position is fully predictable from orbital mechanics, unlike weather.

Does this account for daylight saving time changes?

It uses whatever local time your device and browser resolve for the date you pick, which includes daylight saving automatically for your own time zone.

Is my location or planned date sent anywhere?

No — everything is computed entirely in your browser using the SunCalc library.