Solar & Daylight Data
Sun Path: Sydney, Australia
How to research sun path for a specific site in Sydney — 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 AU dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/AU.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2147714). 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.
Direct answer
For Sydney at -33.8678, 151.2073, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 32.7° at the June solstice, 56.1° at an equinox and 79.6° 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 2147714 in administrative area 02, at -33.8678, 151.2073; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 32.7° at the June solstice, 56.1° at an equinox and 79.6° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 9.7 hours in June to 14.3 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 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 Sydney?
Sydney is represented here at approximately -33.8678, 151.2073 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 Sydney site remain authoritative.
Which related searches does this primary location record cover?
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.
Sydney monthly solar geometry check for sun path
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 76.3° | 13.9 h |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 67.4° | 13.0 h |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 56.5° | 12.0 h |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 44.6° | 10.9 h |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 36.0° | 10.1 h |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 32.7° | 9.7 h |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 35.7° | 10.1 h |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 44.4° | 10.9 h |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 56.3° | 12.0 h |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 67.9° | 13.1 h |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 76.6° | 13.9 h |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 79.6° | 14.3 h |
Month-by-month geometry interpretation
- 21 January: approximate solar-noon altitude 76.3° (zenith angle 13.7°) and 13.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.4 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 February: approximate solar-noon altitude 67.4° (zenith angle 22.6°) and 13.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.9 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 March: approximate solar-noon altitude 56.5° (zenith angle 33.5°) and 12.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.0 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 April: approximate solar-noon altitude 44.6° (zenith angle 45.4°) and 10.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.1 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 May: approximate solar-noon altitude 36.0° (zenith angle 54.0°) and 10.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.8 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 June: approximate solar-noon altitude 32.7° (zenith angle 57.3°) and 9.7 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.4 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 July: approximate solar-noon altitude 35.7° (zenith angle 54.3°) and 10.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.3 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 August: approximate solar-noon altitude 44.4° (zenith angle 45.6°) and 10.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.9 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 September: approximate solar-noon altitude 56.3° (zenith angle 33.7°) and 12.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.1 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 October: approximate solar-noon altitude 67.9° (zenith angle 22.1°) and 13.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.1 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 November: approximate solar-noon altitude 76.6° (zenith angle 13.4°) and 13.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.9 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 December: approximate solar-noon altitude 79.6° (zenith angle 10.4°) and 14.3 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.3 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
Harth calculation for latitude -33.8678°: 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.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
- Sun Path: Pittwater, Australia
- Sun Path: Blacktown, Australia
- Sun Path: Central Coast, Australia
- Sun Path: Wollongong, Australia
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames AU dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2147714). Regulatory starting point: Australian Building Codes Board and the applicable state or territory 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 Sydney establish?
The sun path record for Sydney establishes a reproducible discovery point at -33.8678, 151.2073 (GeoNames ID 2147714, administrative area 02) and a Australia 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 Sydney?
For the sun path record in Sydney, replace the -33.8678, 151.2073 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.
Related pages
- Sun Path: Sutton, UK
Sun Path for Sutton: source-led evidence, applicability and project QA checklist.
- Sun Path: Swansea, UK
Sun Path for Swansea: source-led evidence, applicability and project QA checklist.
- Sun Path: Swords, Ireland
Sun Path for Swords: source-led evidence, applicability and project QA checklist.
- Sun Path: Taiping, Malaysia
Sun Path for Taiping: source-led evidence, applicability and project QA checklist.
- Sun Path: Tarlac City, Philippines
Sun Path for Tarlac City: source-led evidence, applicability and project QA checklist.
- Sun Path: Tauranga, New Zealand
Sun Path for Tauranga: source-led evidence, applicability and project QA checklist.