Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Leicester, UK

How to research sun path for a specific site in Leicester — 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 2644668). 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 Leicester at 52.6386, -1.1317, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 60.8° at the June solstice, 37.4° at an equinox and 13.9° 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 2644668 in administrative area ENG, at 52.6386, -1.1317; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 60.8° at the June solstice, 37.4° at an equinox and 13.9° 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 Leicester?

Leicester is represented here at approximately 52.6386, -1.1317 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 Leicester 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.

Leicester monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylight
21 January-20.14°17.2°8.2 h
21 February-11.23°26.1°10.0 h
21 March-0.40°37.0°11.9 h
21 April+11.58°48.9°14.1 h
21 May+20.14°57.5°15.8 h
21 June+23.45°60.8°16.6 h
21 July+20.44°57.8°15.9 h
21 August+11.75°49.1°14.1 h
21 September-0.20°37.2°12.0 h
21 October-11.75°25.6°9.9 h
21 November-20.44°16.9°8.1 h
21 December-23.45°13.9°7.4 h

Month-by-month geometry interpretation

  • 21 January: approximate solar-noon altitude 17.2° (zenith angle 72.8°) and 8.2 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.8 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 February: approximate solar-noon altitude 26.1° (zenith angle 63.9°) and 10.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.8 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 March: approximate solar-noon altitude 37.0° (zenith angle 53.0°) and 11.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.9 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 April: approximate solar-noon altitude 48.9° (zenith angle 41.1°) and 14.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 2.1 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 May: approximate solar-noon altitude 57.5° (zenith angle 32.5°) and 15.8 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.8 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 June: approximate solar-noon altitude 60.8° (zenith angle 29.2°) and 16.6 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.8 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 July: approximate solar-noon altitude 57.8° (zenith angle 32.2°) and 15.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.7 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 August: approximate solar-noon altitude 49.1° (zenith angle 40.9°) and 14.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.8 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 September: approximate solar-noon altitude 37.2° (zenith angle 52.8°) and 12.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 2.1 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 October: approximate solar-noon altitude 25.6° (zenith angle 64.4°) and 9.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 2.1 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 November: approximate solar-noon altitude 16.9° (zenith angle 73.1°) and 8.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.8 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
  • 21 December: approximate solar-noon altitude 13.9° (zenith angle 76.1°) and 7.4 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.7 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.

Harth calculation for latitude 52.6386°: Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, and centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle. See NOAA's solar calculation details for fuller method context. This screening table excludes equation-of-time/civil-time conversion, atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions; it is not an hourly shading result.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames GB dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2644668). 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 Leicester establish?

The sun path record for Leicester establishes a reproducible discovery point at 52.6386, -1.1317 (GeoNames ID 2644668, 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 Leicester?

For the sun path record in Leicester, replace the 52.6386, -1.1317 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.

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