# Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Melbourne, Australia

> How to research solar altitude & azimuth for a specific site in Melbourne — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

- Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-melbourne-au/
- Last updated: 2026-09-02
- Data source: 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 2158177). 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/).

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Location reference | -37.8140, 144.9633 (GeoNames ID 2158177; replace with surveyed project coordinates) |
| Administrative area | 07 (GeoNames snapshot code; confirm the competent local jurisdiction) |
| Regulatory starting point | National Construction Code plus state and territory variations (country-level context only; identify the competent local authority) |
| June-solstice solar-noon check | 28.8° (declination-only geometry; not an hourly obstruction model) |
| Equinox solar-noon check | 52.2° (declination-only geometry) |
| December-solstice solar-noon check | 75.6° (declination-only geometry; verify civil time and horizon) |
| Approximate daylight range | 9.4–14.6 hours (representative 21st-day geometry (June to December); excludes refraction and terrain) |

## Direct answer

For Melbourne at -37.8140, 144.9633, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 28.8° at the June solstice, 52.2° at an equinox and 75.6° 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 2158177 in administrative area 07, at -37.8140, 144.9633; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 28.8° at the June solstice, 52.2° at an equinox and 75.6° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 9.4 hours in June to 14.6 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 solar altitude and azimuth record.

*Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.*

## What must be verified for Melbourne?

Melbourne is represented here at approximately **-37.8140, 144.9633** 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?

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.

| 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 Melbourne site remain authoritative.

## Melbourne monthly solar geometry check for solar altitude & azimuth

| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 21 January | -20.14° | 72.32° | 14.205 h | 0.319 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 63.41° | 13.181 h | 0.500 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 52.59° | 12.042 h | 0.765 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 40.61° | 10.780 h | 1.166 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 32.05° | 9.795 h | 1.597 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 28.74° | 9.377 h | 1.824 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 31.74° | 9.758 h | 1.616 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 40.43° | 10.761 h | 1.174 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 52.39° | 12.021 h | 0.770 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 63.94° | 13.239 h | 0.489 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 72.63° | 14.242 h | 0.313 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 75.64° | 14.623 h | 0.256 |

## Melbourne solar-geometry fingerprint at -37.8140, 144.9633

- **Melbourne, 21 January:** declination -20.14°, noon altitude 72.32°, zenith 17.68°, geometric daylight 14.205 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.319.
- **Melbourne, 21 February:** declination -11.23°, noon altitude 63.41°, zenith 26.59°, geometric daylight 13.181 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.500.
- **Melbourne, 21 March:** declination -0.40°, noon altitude 52.59°, zenith 37.41°, geometric daylight 12.042 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.765.
- **Melbourne, 21 April:** declination +11.58°, noon altitude 40.61°, zenith 49.39°, geometric daylight 10.780 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.166.
- **Melbourne, 21 May:** declination +20.14°, noon altitude 32.05°, zenith 57.95°, geometric daylight 9.795 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.597.
- **Melbourne, 21 June:** declination +23.45°, noon altitude 28.74°, zenith 61.26°, geometric daylight 9.377 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.824.
- **Melbourne, 21 July:** declination +20.44°, noon altitude 31.74°, zenith 58.26°, geometric daylight 9.758 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.616.
- **Melbourne, 21 August:** declination +11.75°, noon altitude 40.43°, zenith 49.57°, geometric daylight 10.761 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.174.
- **Melbourne, 21 September:** declination -0.20°, noon altitude 52.39°, zenith 37.61°, geometric daylight 12.021 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.770.
- **Melbourne, 21 October:** declination -11.75°, noon altitude 63.94°, zenith 26.06°, geometric daylight 13.239 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.489.
- **Melbourne, 21 November:** declination -20.44°, noon altitude 72.63°, zenith 17.37°, geometric daylight 14.242 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.313.
- **Melbourne, 21 December:** declination -23.45°, noon altitude 75.64°, zenith 14.36°, geometric daylight 14.623 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.256.

Harth computed the Melbourne fingerprint for latitude -37.8140° with the Cooper declination approximation, `90° - |latitude - declination|` at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and `1 / tan(altitude)` shadow ratio. Longitude 144.9633° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See [NOAA's solar calculation details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html). Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

## Where can you explore related guidance?

- [Explore all solar data guidance](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data.md)
- [Sun Path: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-melbourne-au.md)
- [Solar Shading Design: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-shading-design-melbourne-au.md)
- [Daylight & Orientation: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/daylight-orientation-melbourne-au.md)
- [Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Melbourne City Centre, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-melbourne-city-centre-au.md)
- [All solar & daylight data guidance for Australia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/australia.md)
- [House Construction Cost Planning: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-melbourne-au.md)
- [Office Construction Cost Planning: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-melbourne-au.md)
- [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-melbourne-au.md)
- [School Construction Cost Planning: Melbourne, Australia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-melbourne-au.md)

## Sources and method

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 2158177). 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/).

### Source links

- [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/AU.zip)

- [ncc.abcb.gov.au](https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/)

- [gml.noaa.gov](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html)

- [midcdmz.nrel.gov](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What does the solar altitude and azimuth record for Melbourne establish?

The solar altitude and azimuth record for Melbourne establishes a reproducible discovery point at -37.8140, 144.9633 (GeoNames ID 2158177, administrative area 07) and a Australia 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 Melbourne?

For the solar altitude and azimuth record in Melbourne, replace the -37.8140, 144.9633 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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