# Sun Position Calculator - Sun Direction, Azimuth and Elevation

See where the sun is for any place and date: sun direction, azimuth, elevation, and sunrise and sunset bearings on an interactive map.

Canonical HTML: https://suncastapp.com/tools/sun-calculator
Last updated: 2026-07-14

## Direct Answer

The SunCast sun calculator shows the sun direction, azimuth, elevation, sunrise bearing, and sunset bearing for a selected place, date, and time. Use it when the question is not just when the sun rises, but where the light will come from.

## Key Facts
- Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north: 0 degrees north, 90 degrees east, 180 degrees south, and 270 degrees west.
- Elevation is the angle of the sun above the horizon; lower elevation creates longer shadows.
- The web tool is free and works from a searched place or map location.

## Common Uses
- Check which direction sunlight will enter a room or window.
- Plan front light, side light, or backlight for a photo location.
- Estimate when a garden, balcony, or roof will receive direct light.
- Understand sunrise and sunset direction for a specific date.

## 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.