Sun Path & Solar Angles for Phoenix, AZ

Direct answer

Computed solar-noon altitudes for Phoenix (latitude ~33.4 degrees N) at the solstices and equinox, and what they mean for overhang sizing and west-facade heat control. A key reference is latitude: ~33.4 degrees N; check the cited source, edition, units, and applicability before using it for design, compliance, procurement, or approval. Latitude is ~33.4 degrees N; Phoenix, Arizona. Summer solstice noon is ~80.0 degrees; sun nearly overhead. Equinox noon is ~56.6 degrees; 90 - latitude. Phoenix sits at roughly 33.4 degrees north, a hot-arid climate where the design priority is keeping direct sun off glass in summer while still using the sun's low winter path. The solar-noon altitudes below are computed from latitude and declination and are approximate.

Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-14 · Updated 2026-08-17.

Which solar conditions control the result?

Phoenix sits at roughly 33.4 degrees north, a hot-arid climate where the design priority is keeping direct sun off glass in summer while still using the sun's low winter path. The solar-noon altitudes below are computed from latitude and declination and are approximate.

Computed solar-noon altitudes

Each value follows noon altitude = 90 - |latitude - declination|. The ~46.9 degree swing between the solstices is what makes fixed south shading effective here.

Design implications

• South facade — overhangs work. With the summer sun near 80 degrees, a modest horizontal overhang shades south glazing through the hottest months, while the ~33 degree winter sun passes beneath it to reach the glass. Size the projection to the two solstice angles.
• West facade — the hard problem. Low late-afternoon sun drives peak cooling loads through west glass. Overhangs are nearly useless against it; use vertical fins, external screens, low-SHGC glazing, or reduce west glass area.
• East facade — morning gain. Similar low-angle geometry to the west but coincident with cooler morning air, so it is usually a lesser priority.
• Roof and horizontal glazing. Near-overhead summer sun makes skylights and horizontal glazing significant heat sources; treat them carefully in an arid, high-irradiance climate.

Take it into design with real terrain

These angles describe the sky; the shadows that actually fall on your building also depend on neighbors, terrain, and orientation. Place your massing on the real Phoenix site in Harth to see the computed sun in context — how a west screen performs at 5 p.m. in June, or where a low winter sun reaches interior floors — then refine shading against a full-year study.

See understanding sun-path diagrams to visualize the full annual path, and solar altitude and azimuth explained for the underlying geometry.

Phoenix south-overhang sizing worksheet

For a vertical south-facing window, a first-pass noon shadow depth uses projection = vertical shade distance ÷ tan(solar altitude). With Phoenix latitude 33.45° N and the declination-only solar-noon method stated in the source note:

The 1.06-foot summer result is a geometry check, not a final overhang. Test the full occupied-hour range, facade azimuth, overhang offset, glass height, daylight, surrounding obstructions and the local horizon. NOAA’s solar calculator is the external verification reference; document coordinates, time zone, dates and calculation method with any exported dataset.

Where can you explore related guidance?

• Explore all solar data guidance
• Understanding Sun-Path Diagrams
• Solar Altitude and Azimuth Explained

Sources and method

NOAA Solar Calculator / standard solar geometry equations. Noon altitude computed as 90 - |latitude - declination| for Phoenix latitude ~33.4 degrees N, declination +23.44 / 0 / -23.44. Values are approximate and ignore atmospheric refraction, the equation of time, and local horizon obstructions. Official references: NOAA solar calculation details.

Source links

• gml.noaa.gov