Get SunCast
Trace the sun's path in AR, preview shadows at any hour, scout spots in street view — and more with the app.
Location
London, United KingdomDate & time
Sun position
Sun times
Sun position calculator
See exactly where the sun is in the sky for any location and date. Search a place or move the map, then scrub through the day to read the sun's direction (azimuth) and height above the horizon (elevation) at any moment — plus the compass bearings where it rises and sets. Whether you're a photographer chasing the light, a gardener tracking shade, a buyer checking which way a home faces, or scouting solar-panel placement, the sun's exact direction is what matters. The example below is for London, United Kingdom; change the location or date above to make it your own.
Sunrise
04:46
NE (50°)
Sunset
21:15
NW (310°)
Sun azimuth
152°
at 12:00
Sun elevation
59°
at 12:00
Sun direction (azimuth)
The sun's compass bearing, measured clockwise from true north — 90° is due east, 180° south, 270° west. The calculator draws it as a ray from your point on the map so you can see which way the light falls.
Sun elevation
The sun's angle above the horizon: 0° at the horizon, 90° straight overhead, negative when it's down. A lower sun means longer shadows, so elevation tells you how much direct light a spot gets.
Keep exploring
Get the SunCast app
See the sun's path overlaid on the real sky in AR, with true terrain and building shadows — for any place, any day.
Download on the App StoreSun calculator FAQ
What does the sun calculator show? ⌄
Pick any place on the map and any date and time, and the calculator shows the sun’s direction (azimuth) and height above the horizon (elevation) at that moment, plus where it rises and sets. It answers “where will the sun be, here, at this time?” — useful for planning photos, gardens, solar panels or which way a room faces.
What is sun azimuth? ⌄
Azimuth is the sun’s compass direction, measured in degrees clockwise from true north: 0° is north, 90° east, 180° south and 270° west. So an azimuth of 120° means the sun sits in the south-east. The calculator draws this direction as a ray from your point on the map.
What is sun elevation (altitude)? ⌄
Elevation, or altitude, is the sun’s angle above the horizon: 0° at the horizon and 90° directly overhead. It is highest at solar noon and negative when the sun is below the horizon. Elevation is what determines how long shadows are — the lower the sun, the longer the shadow.
How do I find which direction the sun rises and sets? ⌄
Search for your location or drag the map, then read the sunrise and sunset azimuths. The sun only rises due east and sets due west at the equinoxes; in northern-hemisphere summer it rises north of east and sets north of west, and the opposite in winter. The calculator shows the exact bearings for your place and date.
Can I use it to plan shadows or sunlight on a property? ⌄
Yes. Move the map to the spot, scrub the time across the day and watch the sun’s direction and elevation change to judge when a garden, balcony or window gets direct light. For true 3D shadows from buildings and terrain — where ridges and walls actually block the sun — use the SunCast app’s shadow map.
Why a map instead of just a table of times? ⌄
A table tells you when; a map tells you where. Seeing the sun’s direction drawn over real streets and terrain makes it obvious which way a building faces, whether a hill is in the way, or where light will fall at golden hour. For the full set of times in one place, use the Sun Times calculator instead.
