Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Dudley, UK

How to research sun path for a specific site in Dudley — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames GB dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/GB.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2650839). Regulatory starting point: [UK and devolved building-control authorities](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents). 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.

Direct answer

For Dudley at 52.5000, -2.0833, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 60.9° at the June solstice, 37.5° at an equinox and 14.1° 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 2650839 in administrative area ENG, at 52.5000, -2.0833; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 60.9° at the June solstice, 37.5° at an equinox and 14.1° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 7.4 hours in December to 16.6 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 sun path record.

Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

What must be verified for Dudley?

Dudley is represented here at approximately 52.5000, -2.0833 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 sun path 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 sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Dudley site remain authoritative.

This primary route consolidates the location evidence needed for Sun Path, Solar Altitude & Azimuth, Solar Shading Design, Daylight & Orientation. A narrower route should be released only when it adds a materially different official source, calculation, process, threshold or worked example.

Dudley monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°17.36°8.194 h3.198
21 February-11.23°26.27°10.001 h2.026
21 March-0.40°37.10°11.930 h1.322
21 April+11.58°49.08°14.065 h0.867
21 May+20.14°57.64°15.806 h0.634
21 June+23.45°60.95°16.590 h0.555
21 July+20.44°57.94°15.875 h0.626
21 August+11.75°49.25°14.098 h0.862
21 September-0.20°37.30°11.965 h1.313
21 October-11.75°25.75°9.902 h2.074
21 November-20.44°17.06°8.125 h3.259
21 December-23.45°14.05°7.410 h3.996

Dudley solar-geometry fingerprint at 52.5000, -2.0833

  • Dudley, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 17.36°, zenith 72.64°, geometric daylight 8.194 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.198.
  • Dudley, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 26.27°, zenith 63.73°, geometric daylight 10.001 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.026.
  • Dudley, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 37.10°, zenith 52.90°, geometric daylight 11.930 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.322.
  • Dudley, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 49.08°, zenith 40.92°, geometric daylight 14.065 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.867.
  • Dudley, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 57.64°, zenith 32.36°, geometric daylight 15.806 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.634.
  • Dudley, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 60.95°, zenith 29.05°, geometric daylight 16.590 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.555.
  • Dudley, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 57.94°, zenith 32.06°, geometric daylight 15.875 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.626.
  • Dudley, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 49.25°, zenith 40.75°, geometric daylight 14.098 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.862.
  • Dudley, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 37.30°, zenith 52.70°, geometric daylight 11.965 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.313.
  • Dudley, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 25.75°, zenith 64.25°, geometric daylight 9.902 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.074.
  • Dudley, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 17.06°, zenith 72.94°, geometric daylight 8.125 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.259.
  • Dudley, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 14.05°, zenith 75.95°, geometric daylight 7.410 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.996.

Harth computed the Dudley fingerprint for latitude 52.5000° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -2.0833° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames GB dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2650839). Regulatory starting point: UK and devolved building-control authorities. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sun path record for Dudley establish?

The sun path record for Dudley establishes a reproducible discovery point at 52.5000, -2.0833 (GeoNames ID 2650839, administrative area ENG) and a United Kingdom source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Dudley?

For the sun path record in Dudley, replace the 52.5000, -2.0833 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under Building Regulations and nation-specific Approved Documents or technical handbooks. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

Design for your site's sun.Render it on your 3D model.