Solar & Daylight Data
Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Chennai, India
How to research solar altitude & azimuth for a specific site in Chennai — 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 IN dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/IN.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 1264527). Regulatory starting point: [Bureau of Indian Standards and the applicable state or urban local body](https://www.services.bis.gov.in/php/BIS_2.0/bisconnect/knowyourstandards/Indian_standards/isdetails/). 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 Chennai at 13.0878, 80.2785, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 79.7° at the June solstice, 76.9° at an equinox and 53.5° 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 1264527 in administrative area 25, at 13.0878, 80.2785; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 79.7° at the June solstice, 76.9° at an equinox and 53.5° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 11.2 hours in December to 12.8 hours in June; 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 solar altitude and azimuth 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 Chennai?
Chennai is represented here at approximately 13.0878, 80.2785 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 solar altitude and azimuth be established?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |
What are the limits of this worksheet?
This solar-angle-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Chennai site remain authoritative.
Chennai apparent-solar-time altitude and azimuth matrix
| Representative date | Apparent solar time | Hour angle | Altitude | Azimuth from north |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | 08:00 | -60° | 22.29° | 118.51° |
| 21 January | 10:00 | -30° | 45.56° | 137.90° |
| 21 January | 12:00 | +0° | 56.77° | 180.00° |
| 21 January | 14:00 | +30° | 45.56° | 222.10° |
| 21 January | 16:00 | +60° | 22.29° | 241.49° |
| 21 February | 08:00 | -60° | 25.70° | 109.49° |
| 21 February | 10:00 | -30° | 51.56° | 127.91° |
| 21 February | 12:00 | +0° | 65.69° | 180.00° |
| 21 February | 14:00 | +30° | 51.56° | 232.09° |
| 21 February | 16:00 | +60° | 25.70° | 250.51° |
| 21 March | 08:00 | -60° | 29.04° | 97.89° |
| 21 March | 10:00 | -30° | 57.34° | 112.09° |
| 21 March | 12:00 | +0° | 76.51° | 180.00° |
| 21 March | 14:00 | +30° | 57.34° | 247.91° |
| 21 March | 16:00 | +60° | 29.04° | 262.11° |
| 21 April | 08:00 | -60° | 31.50° | 84.31° |
| 21 April | 10:00 | -30° | 60.67° | 89.60° |
| 21 April | 12:00 | +0° | 88.49° | 180.00° |
| 21 April | 14:00 | +30° | 60.67° | 270.40° |
| 21 April | 16:00 | +60° | 31.50° | 275.69° |
| 21 May | 08:00 | -60° | 32.36° | 74.27° |
| 21 May | 10:00 | -30° | 60.45° | 72.14° |
| 21 May | 12:00 | +0° | 82.95° | 0.00° |
| 21 May | 14:00 | +30° | 60.45° | 287.86° |
| 21 May | 16:00 | +60° | 32.36° | 285.73° |
| 21 June | 08:00 | -60° | 32.47° | 70.35° |
| 21 June | 10:00 | -30° | 59.77° | 65.64° |
| 21 June | 12:00 | +0° | 79.64° | 0.00° |
| 21 June | 14:00 | +30° | 59.77° | 294.36° |
| 21 June | 16:00 | +60° | 32.47° | 289.65° |
| 21 July | 08:00 | -60° | 32.37° | 73.91° |
| 21 July | 10:00 | -30° | 60.40° | 71.54° |
| 21 July | 12:00 | +0° | 82.65° | 0.00° |
| 21 July | 14:00 | +30° | 60.40° | 288.46° |
| 21 July | 16:00 | +60° | 32.37° | 286.09° |
| 21 August | 08:00 | -60° | 31.53° | 84.10° |
| 21 August | 10:00 | -30° | 60.69° | 89.25° |
| 21 August | 12:00 | +0° | 88.67° | 180.00° |
| 21 August | 14:00 | +30° | 60.69° | 270.75° |
| 21 August | 16:00 | +60° | 31.53° | 275.90° |
| 21 September | 08:00 | -60° | 29.09° | 97.67° |
| 21 September | 10:00 | -30° | 57.43° | 111.76° |
| 21 September | 12:00 | +0° | 76.71° | 180.00° |
| 21 September | 14:00 | +30° | 57.43° | 248.24° |
| 21 September | 16:00 | +60° | 29.09° | 262.33° |
| 21 October | 08:00 | -60° | 25.51° | 110.04° |
| 21 October | 10:00 | -30° | 51.23° | 128.57° |
| 21 October | 12:00 | +0° | 65.16° | 180.00° |
| 21 October | 14:00 | +30° | 51.23° | 231.43° |
| 21 October | 16:00 | +60° | 25.51° | 249.96° |
| 21 November | 08:00 | -60° | 22.16° | 118.81° |
| 21 November | 10:00 | -30° | 45.34° | 138.20° |
| 21 November | 12:00 | +0° | 56.47° | 180.00° |
| 21 November | 14:00 | +30° | 45.34° | 221.80° |
| 21 November | 16:00 | +60° | 22.16° | 241.19° |
| 21 December | 08:00 | -60° | 20.90° | 121.74° |
| 21 December | 10:00 | -30° | 43.14° | 141.05° |
| 21 December | 12:00 | +0° | 53.46° | 180.00° |
| 21 December | 14:00 | +30° | 43.14° | 218.95° |
| 21 December | 16:00 | +60° | 20.90° | 238.26° |
How to use the Chennai angle matrix
The matrix fixes latitude 13.0878° and records longitude 80.2785°, but its clock column is apparent solar time rather than civil time. Convert the project date and longitude with a reviewed solar-position implementation before transferring an angle into a model. Azimuth is clockwise from true north. Rows below the geometric horizon are retained to make the screening limit visible; refraction, terrain and obstructions can change observed sunrise and sunset.
Harth calculated this solar altitude & azimuth matrix with the Cooper declination approximation and spherical altitude/azimuth equations. It is a reproducible comparison asset, not a surveyed horizon or construction setting. Refine it with the NREL Solar Position Algorithm.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
- Sun Path: Chennai, India
- Solar Shading Design: Chennai, India
- Daylight & Orientation: Chennai, India
- Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Kallakurichi, India
- All solar & daylight data guidance for India
- Climate Design Data: Chennai, India
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames IN dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 1264527). Regulatory starting point: Bureau of Indian Standards and the applicable state or urban local body. 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.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the solar altitude and azimuth record for Chennai establish?
The solar altitude and azimuth record for Chennai establishes a reproducible discovery point at 13.0878, 80.2785 (GeoNames ID 1264527, administrative area 25) and a India source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.
What must be replaced before using this solar altitude and azimuth workflow for a project in Chennai?
For the solar altitude and azimuth record in Chennai, replace the 13.0878, 80.2785 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code of India plus state and urban-local-body rules. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
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