Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-09-02

Daylight & Orientation: Newcastle, Australia

How to research daylight & orientation for a specific site in Newcastle — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated September 2, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames AU dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/AU.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2155472). Regulatory starting point: [Australian Building Codes Board and the applicable state or territory authority](https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: [NREL Solar Position Algorithm](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/).

Direct answer

For Newcastle at -32.9295, 151.7801, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 33.6° at the June solstice, 57.1° at an equinox and 80.5° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 2155472 in administrative area 02, at -32.9295, 151.7801; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 33.6° at the June solstice, 57.1° at an equinox and 80.5° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 9.8 hours in June to 14.2 hours in December; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this daylight and building orientation record.

Prepared by Harth · Topic-specific calculated asset and fresh SERP brief passed editorial screening; page remains noindex pending the independent content, evidence, similarity and link gates · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.

What must be verified for Newcastle?

Newcastle is represented here at approximately -32.9295, 151.7801 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

How should daylight and building orientation be established?

  1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
  2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
  3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
  4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
  5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This daylight-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Newcastle site remain authoritative.

Newcastle monthly daylight-orientation ledger

Representative dateGeometric daylightSolar sunriseSolar sunsetSunrise hour angleNoon bearingChange from prior month
21 January13.832 h05.0818.92103.74°0.0°-0.344 h
21 February12.985 h05.5118.4997.39°0.0°-0.847 h
21 March12.035 h05.9818.0290.26°0.0°-0.950 h
21 April10.983 h06.5117.4982.37°0.0°-1.052 h
21 May10.168 h06.9217.0876.26°0.0°-0.815 h
21 June9.825 h07.0916.9173.68°0.0°-0.344 h
21 July10.137 h06.9317.0776.03°0.0°+0.313 h
21 August10.967 h06.5217.4882.26°0.0°+0.830 h
21 September12.017 h05.9918.0190.13°0.0°+1.050 h
21 October13.033 h05.4818.5297.74°0.0°+1.015 h
21 November13.863 h05.0718.93103.97°0.0°+0.830 h
21 December14.175 h04.9119.09106.32°0.0°+0.313 h

Orientation checks prompted by the Newcastle ledger

The representative daylight span runs from 9.825 hours on 21 June to 14.175 hours on 21 December. Solar sunrise and sunset are expressed in apparent solar time, not a time-zone clock. The noon-bearing column is a true-north azimuth screen and becomes unstable when the sun passes close to zenith.

For Newcastle at -32.9295°, 151.7801°, test each occupied facade against the actual horizon, adjacent buildings, glazing, room depth and target illuminance. This ledger describes geometric availability only; it does not estimate irradiance, daylight autonomy, glare or energy. Refine project-date positions with the NREL SPA.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames AU dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2155472). Regulatory starting point: Australian Building Codes Board and the applicable state or territory authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: NREL Solar Position Algorithm.

Frequently asked questions

What does the daylight and building orientation record for Newcastle establish?

The daylight and building orientation record for Newcastle establishes a reproducible discovery point at -32.9295, 151.7801 (GeoNames ID 2155472, administrative area 02) and a Australia source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this daylight and building orientation workflow for a project in Newcastle?

For the daylight and building orientation record in Newcastle, replace the -32.9295, 151.7801 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Construction Code plus state and territory variations. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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