Sun Position Calculator

This spreadsheet was developed by Bill Gottesman of Precision Sundials LLC for noncommercial use.
This spreadsheet may

calculate times of Solstices and Equinoxes, Solar Noon, and Sun position as defined by time, altitude, or azimuth. Refraction o
azimuth. In this spreadsheet, the term "True Altitude" means the effects of refraction have not been considered, and "Apparent
have been estimated.
By using this spreadseet, the user agrees to hold Bill Gottesman and Precision Sundials LLC harmless for any errors in this sp
suffered from relying on the results given by this spreadsheet.
The formulas used are from Astronomical Algorithms, 2nd edition, by Jean Meeus. Most calculations are based on Chapter 25
accuracy" method which is reported to be accurate to 1/100th of a degree, or about 3 seconds of time.
Except for the light yellow "data input" boxes, each sheet is locked to prevent you from accidentally corrupting the calculations.
view the method for calculation, you can unlock any sheet by selecting Tools > Protection > Unlock sheet, and entering the pas
sheet. To view hidden calculations, select columns "D" through "O", and then Format > Cells > Number > General.
Dark yellow boxes contain labels for inputting data

Put your data in the light yellow boxes
Dark red boxes contain labels for results
Light red boxes contain values of results
Caution: The Azimuth and Altitude sheets use an iterative method which can introduce
minor errors near solar noon, solar midnight, and unpredictably at other times. For best
accuracy, do not rely on these results until they have been confirmed with the Position Calc.
sheet, which uses a direct, non-iterative method.
Unlock Password is "instructions"
If Excel asks if it is OK to run Macros you must

say Yes for this spreadsheet to work
Azimut
West
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
use. This spreadsheet may not be sold. Spreadsheet pages

de, or azimuth. Refraction of the atmosphere affects altitude, but not
n considered, and "Apparent Altitude" means effects of refraction
mless for any errors in this spreadsheet, and any for consequences
ns are based on Chapter 25, "Solar Coordinates," and use the "low
me.
y corrupting the calculations. If you would like to edit any sheet, or

k sheet, and entering the password given near the bottom of each
mber > General.
North
Azimuth Definition
West
East
Eastward Azimuths
are Negative
(-)
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
South
Azimuth=0
Meeus, Chapt 27.

2007 Enter Year
-5 Enter Time Zone
e.g. Enter -5 for Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
Celestial Event
Date & Time
Spring Equinox (DST)
3/20/07 8:08:29 PM
Summer Solstice (DST)
6/21/07 2:07:13 PM
Autumnal Equinox (DST)
9/23/07 5:52:05 AM
Winter Solstice
12/22/07 1:08:51 AM
Per Meeus, accurate to within 1 minute of VSOP87 theory. Starting in 2007, Spring Equinox occurs during DST in USA.
(Unlock Password is "equinox")
e Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany

Date & Tim Date & Time
Equinox occurs during DST in USA.
Date & Tim
This sheet calculates times of Solar Noon for a given date and location.
Enter Time Zone
-5 e.g. Enter -5 for Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
Input Longitude
Degrees or Deg:Min:Sec
-73.22 (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)
#VALUE! Longitude
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Daylignt Savings?
#VALUE! (Confirms latitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:secon

10/8/2007
yes
Eot (Minutes:seconds)
Declination
Solar Noon
Unlock Password is "noon"
(Type "yes" or "no")

#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)
nfirms latitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds. West is negative)
#NAME?
#NAME?
(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA,

#NAME?
is negative)
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. U
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

#NAME?
This sheet calculates position of the sun at any given date and time.
Enter Time Zone
Input Latitude:
44.476 (Southern Latitudes are negative)
Input Longitude

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
5/1/1932
21:05:00
yes
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
#NAME?
Sun's Azimuth
True (Celestial) Altitude
of sun
Apparent (Refracted)
Altitude of sun
Latitude
#VALUE! (Confirms latitude and longitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds)
Longitude
#VALUE!
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
T Julian Centuries
Enter Time (HH:MM:SS)
#NAME?
Daylignt Savings?: Type "Yes" or "No"
#NAME?
Declination
Solar Time
EoT (minutes:seconds)
North
Theta in Degrees
#NAME?
#NAME?
(Unlock Password is "position")
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Omega (nutation factor)

#NAME?
#NAME?
Lo Mean Long
#NAME?
Azimuth Definition
West
East
Eastward Azimuths
are Negative
(-)
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
South
Azimuth=0
Omega (nutation factor)
M Mean Anomaly
#NAME?
True Longitude ()
#NAME?
Equation of Center (C)

#NAME?
app epsilon apparant

Lambda apparent longitude
#NAME?
o Obliquity of Ecliptic
#NAME?
app Declination apparent app RA apparent

#NAME?
#NAME? #NAME?
This sheet calculates the time and azimuth for a given date and altitude the sun. You can enter True or Apparent altitude.
Enter Time Zone
Input Latitude:
44.476 (Southern Latitudes are negative)
Input Longitude
#VALUE! Latitude
#VALUE! Longitude
5/31/2008
yes
7.8896602541
8
#VALUE! (Confirms latitude and longitude both in degrees and degre

#VALUE!
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
#NAME?
True (Celestial) Altitude in degs (Entering an True Altitude automatically adjusts
Apparent (Refracted) Altitude
the Apparant Altitude, and vice-verca)
Caution: This Altitude sheet uses an iterative method which can introduce minor errors near solar noon, solar midnight, and
unpredictably at other times. For best accuracy, do not rely on these results until they have
been confirmed with the Position
#VALUE!
Calc. sheet, which uses a direct, non-iterative method.
#VALUE!
The sun reaches a given altitude twice a day (but only once for solar
noon and solar midnight). Some altitudes are never reached in a
given day.
AM
PM
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Declination (degs)
Azimuth (degs)
Civil Time
Unlock Password is "altitude"
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
can enter True or Apparent altitude.

; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
. USA, are negative)

nd longitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds)

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
the Apparant Altitude, and vice-verca)

Apparant
Altitude,
near solar noon,the
solar
midnight,
and and vice-verca)North
have been confirmed with#VALUE!
the Position
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth Definition
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
West
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
East
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Eastward Azimuths
are Negative
(-)
Westward Azimuths
are positive
(+)
South
Azimuth=0
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
This sheet calculates the time and altitude for a given date and azimuth the sun.
Enter Time Zone
Input Latitude:
45 (Southern Latitudes are negative)
Input Longitude
#VALUE! Latitude
#VALUE! Longitude
10/8/2007 Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
yes
#VALUE! (Confirms latitude and longitude both in degrees and degrees:mi

#VALUE!

0 Azimuth in degs
#NAME?
Caution: This Azimuth sheet uses an iterative method which can introduce minor errors near solar noon, solar
midnight, and unpredictably at other times. For best accuracy, do not rely on these results until they have been
confirmed with the Position Calc. sheet, which uses a direct, non-iterative
method. #VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
The sun is at this azimuth once, twice, or never
on a given day, depending on date and location
Time 1
-------------------------------------------------
Declination (degs)
True Altitude (degs)
Civil Time
Unlock Password is "azimuth"
Time 2
-------------------------------------------------
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
on a given day
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
------------------------#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
; 0 for London; +1 for Germany
. USA, are negative)

nd longitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds)

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
zimuth
degs
errorsinnear
solar noon, solar
in degs
se results untilAzimuth
they have
been
d.
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
North
#VALUE!
Azimuth Definition
#VALUE!
on a given day, depending

West on date and location
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Westward#VALUE!
Azimuths
#VALUE!
are positive
#VALUE!(+)
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Eastward
Azimuths
#VALUE!
are Negative
#VALUE!
(-)
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
on a given day, depending on date and loc

East
#VALUE!
South
Azimuth=0
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

#VALUE!
on a given day, depending on date and

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
Azimuth in degs
#VALUE!

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
True (Celestial) Altitude in Apparent (refracted) Altitude

Difference due to refraction
degrees
in degrees
In D:M:S (in degrees)
In D:M:S:
0.5
0.9167318148
0:55:00
0.4167318148
0:25:00
Apparent (refracted)
Altitude in degrees
True (Celestial) Altitude in

Difference due to refraction
degrees
In D:M:S (in degrees)
In D:M:S:
1
0.5945146236
0:35:40
0.4054853764
0:24:20
Unlock Password is "refraction"

Sun Position Calculator

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This spreadsheet was developed by Bill Gottesman of Precision Sundials LLC for noncommercial use.

This spreadsheet may

Dark yellow boxes contain labels for inputting data

If Excel asks if it is OK to run Macros you must

use. This spreadsheet may not be sold. Spreadsheet pages

y corrupting the calculations. If you would like to edit any sheet, or

Meeus, Chapt 27.

(Unlock Password is "equinox")

e Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany

Equinox occurs during DST in USA.

Date & Tim

#VALUE! (Confirms latitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:secon

(Type "yes" or "no")

Eastern Time Zone; 0 for London; +1 for Germany

of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

nfirms latitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds. West is negative)

(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA,

(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

-73.221 (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

(Unlock Password is "position")

Omega (nutation factor)

Omega (nutation factor)

Equation of Center (C)

app epsilon apparant

app Declination apparent app RA apparent

-73.221 (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

#VALUE! (Confirms latitude and longitude both in degrees and degre

Unlock Password is "altitude"

can enter True or Apparent altitude.

. USA, are negative)

nd longitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds)

the Apparant Altitude, and vice-verca)

(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

-73.22 (Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

#VALUE! (Confirms latitude and longitude both in degrees and degrees:mi

Daylignt Savings?: Type "Yes" or "No"

Unlock Password is "azimuth"

; 0 for London; +1 for Germany

. USA, are negative)

nd longitude both in degrees and degrees:minutes:seconds)

on a given day, depending

on a given day, depending on date and loc

on a given day, depending on date and location

on a given day, depending on date and

(Longitudes west of Greenwich, e.g. USA, are negative)

on a given day, depending on date and location

True (Celestial) Altitude in Apparent (refracted) Altitude

True (Celestial) Altitude in

Unlock Password is "refraction"

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