Solar position
What are sun azimuth and elevation?
Azimuth and elevation are the two numbers that describe where the sun is in the sky. With them you can work out sun direction, shadow length, window light and photo angles.
By SunCast team Last updated: October 14, 2026
Short answer
Sun azimuth is the compass direction of the sun, measured in degrees clockwise from north. Sun elevation is the angle of the sun above or below the horizon. Together, azimuth and elevation describe where sunlight comes from at a specific place and time.
Compass and angle reference
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Azimuth 0 degrees | North. |
| Azimuth 90 degrees | East. |
| Azimuth 180 degrees | South. |
| Azimuth 270 degrees | West. |
| Elevation 0 degrees | The sun is on the horizon. |
| Elevation 90 degrees | The sun is directly overhead. |
How azimuth works
Azimuth is a compass bearing. If the sun azimuth is 90 degrees, the sun is coming from the east. If it is 270 degrees, it is coming from the west.
That tells you which direction light will enter a window, patio, street, garden or photo location.
How elevation works
Elevation tells you how high the sun is. Low sun gives long shadows and warmer-looking light; high sun gives short shadows and harsher overhead light.
Sunrise and sunset happen near 0 degrees elevation. Elevation peaks at solar noon, when the sun crosses due south in the northern hemisphere and due north in the southern hemisphere.
One summer day in Toronto
On 21 June in Toronto the sun rises at 05:37 EDT at an azimuth of 56° and sets at 21:03 at 304°, so it starts and ends the day well north of east and west. At 07:00 it is at 70° and 12.6° high. By 10:00 it has moved to 100° and 44.6°. At 13:00 it is almost due south (167°) at 69.4°, close to its daily peak of 69.8° at 13:20. At 16:00 it is at 252° and 51.5°, and at 19:00 at 284° and 19.4° (calculated with SunCast’s sun calculator).
Elevation converts directly into shadow length: divide an object’s height by the tangent of the elevation, or multiply the height by the shadow ratio that SunCast shows. At 10:00 that day the ratio is about 1.0, so a 2 m fence casts a 2 m shadow. At 19:00 it is 2.85, and the same fence casts a shadow of about 5.7 m. At noon on 21 December the sun only reaches 22.9° in Toronto, and the ratio is 2.37 even at the highest point of the day.
Where these numbers help
Photography
Azimuth tells you where light comes from. Elevation tells you whether it will be low and soft or high and harsh.
Home sunlight
Azimuth explains which windows receive morning or afternoon light. Elevation explains how deep light reaches into a room.
Shadows
Shadows point directly away from the sun, at the azimuth plus 180°. Their length depends on elevation.
Limits
Azimuth and elevation describe the sun’s position. Buildings, trees, terrain, weather and window shape still decide what light reaches a real place.
Check it in SunCast
Need the azimuth and elevation for a real place? SunCast’s Sun Times & Position Data shows them with the shadow ratio for any date, and the web sun calculator gives a quick check.
Frequently asked questions
Is azimuth the same as direction?
Yes. Azimuth is the compass direction of the sun, written as degrees clockwise from north.
What does negative sun elevation mean?
Negative elevation means the sun is below the horizon. Twilight lasts while the sun is between 0 and 18 degrees below the horizon and still lighting the sky.
Why does sun elevation matter for shadows?
Lower sun elevation creates longer shadows. At 45 degrees a shadow is as long as the object is tall; at about 18 degrees it is three times as long.
