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Sun Angle Equation:
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The Sun Angle Equation calculates the altitude angle of the sun above the horizon based on the sun's declination, observer's latitude, and the hour angle. This is fundamental in astronomy, solar energy, and navigation applications.
The calculator uses the Sun Angle Equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation calculates the sine of the sun's altitude angle based on the spherical geometry relationship between the sun's position and the observer's location on Earth.
Details: Accurate sun angle calculation is crucial for solar panel positioning, architectural design, agricultural planning, and various scientific applications including climate studies and astronomy.
Tips: Enter declination, latitude, and hour angle in degrees. All values must be valid numerical inputs. Positive values for northern latitudes/declinations, negative for southern.
Q1: What is sun declination?
A: Declination is the angular distance of the sun north or south of the celestial equator, ranging from approximately -23.5° to +23.5° throughout the year.
Q2: How is hour angle calculated?
A: Hour angle is the angular distance between the sun's current position and its position at solar noon, with 15° representing one hour of time.
Q3: What are typical sun angle values?
A: Sun angle varies from 0° (sunrise/sunset) to 90° (directly overhead at equator during equinoxes), depending on location, season, and time of day.
Q4: Why is latitude important in this calculation?
A: Latitude determines how the sun's path appears in the sky - higher latitudes experience lower maximum sun angles, especially during winter months.
Q5: Can this equation predict sunrise and sunset times?
A: Yes, by setting α = 0° (sun on horizon), the equation can be solved to find the hour angles corresponding to sunrise and sunset times.