Solar & Daylight Data
Sun Path: Markham, Canada
How to research sun path for a specific site in Markham — 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 CA dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 6066513). Regulatory starting point: [Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications). 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 Markham at 43.8668, -79.2663, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 69.6° at the June solstice, 46.1° at an equinox and 22.7° 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 6066513 in administrative area 08, at 43.8668, -79.2663; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 69.6° at the June solstice, 46.1° at an equinox and 22.7° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.3 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 Markham?
Markham is represented here at approximately 43.8668, -79.2663 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?
- 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 sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Markham site remain authoritative.
Markham monthly solar geometry check for sun path
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 26.00° | 9.248 h | 2.051 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 34.91° | 10.534 h | 1.433 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 45.73° | 11.948 h | 0.975 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 57.71° | 13.514 h | 0.632 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 66.27° | 14.752 h | 0.440 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 69.58° | 15.286 h | 0.372 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 66.57° | 14.799 h | 0.433 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 57.89° | 13.538 h | 0.628 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 45.93° | 11.974 h | 0.968 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 34.38° | 10.462 h | 1.462 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 25.69° | 9.201 h | 2.079 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 22.68° | 8.714 h | 2.393 |
Markham solar-geometry fingerprint at 43.8668, -79.2663
- Markham, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 26.00°, zenith 64.00°, geometric daylight 9.248 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.051.
- Markham, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 34.91°, zenith 55.09°, geometric daylight 10.534 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.433.
- Markham, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 45.73°, zenith 44.27°, geometric daylight 11.948 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.975.
- Markham, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 57.71°, zenith 32.29°, geometric daylight 13.514 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.632.
- Markham, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 66.27°, zenith 23.73°, geometric daylight 14.752 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.440.
- Markham, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 69.58°, zenith 20.42°, geometric daylight 15.286 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.372.
- Markham, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 66.57°, zenith 23.43°, geometric daylight 14.799 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.433.
- Markham, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 57.89°, zenith 32.11°, geometric daylight 13.538 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.628.
- Markham, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 45.93°, zenith 44.07°, geometric daylight 11.974 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.968.
- Markham, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 34.38°, zenith 55.62°, geometric daylight 10.462 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.462.
- Markham, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 25.69°, zenith 64.31°, geometric daylight 9.201 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.079.
- Markham, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 22.68°, zenith 67.32°, geometric daylight 8.714 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.393.
Harth computed the Markham fingerprint for latitude 43.8668° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -79.2663° 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.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
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- Sun Path: Toronto, Canada
- Sun Path: Vaughan, Canada
- Sun Path: Etobicoke, Canada
- All solar & daylight data guidance for Canada
- Climate Design Data: Markham, Canada
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames CA dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 6066513). Regulatory starting point: Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority. 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.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the sun path record for Markham establish?
The sun path record for Markham establishes a reproducible discovery point at 43.8668, -79.2663 (GeoNames ID 6066513, administrative area 08) and a Canada 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 Markham?
For the sun path record in Markham, replace the 43.8668, -79.2663 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code of Canada plus provincial, territorial, and municipal adoption. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
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