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Solar & Daylight Data

Sun-path, solar altitude and azimuth, and daylighting inputs for architects — how to read sun-path diagrams and use computed solar angles for orientation, shading, and passive design.

Solar & Daylight Data

Where the sun sits in the sky at a given latitude, date, and time drives orientation, shading, glazing, and passive-solar strategy long before energy modeling begins. The pages below explain the geometry architects rely on — sun-path diagrams, solar altitude and azimuth, and solar noon — and show how the numbers are computed from latitude and solar declination.

Values here are calculated from standard solar-geometry equations and are approximate: they use mean declination and ignore atmospheric refraction, the equation of time, and local horizon obstructions. Use them to reason about orientation and shading at concept stage, then confirm with a full solar study or energy model as the design develops.

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