Outdoor map tool
Golden Hour Map and Sun Direction Planner
Golden hour is a useful shorthand, not a fixed sixty-minute block. SunCarta shows solar altitude and direction continuously, allowing photographers to inspect when low-angle light reaches the actual side of a subject or location.
- Cost
- Free
- Account
- Not required
- Project data
- Browser-local
Loading the global map…
Click once to move the receiving point.
What this tool calculates
- Local sunrise, solar noon and sunset
- Continuous solar altitude and azimuth
- Low-angle light direction relative to streets and facades
- Approximate shadows from local buildings, walls and trees
How to use it
- 01
Place the subject
Mark the portrait position, building facade or landscape foreground rather than the parking area.
- 02
Aim the shot
Rotate the arrow toward the camera-facing direction you intend to use.
- 03
Scrub near the horizon
Move through the period before sunset or after sunrise and watch which obstructions intercept the light.
How to read the result
Low solar altitude
A lower angle generally produces longer shadows and warmer atmospheric color, but weather and air quality control the final appearance.
Front, side or back light
Compare the sun’s azimuth with the camera direction. A roughly 90° difference creates side light; 180° places the sun behind the camera-facing subject.
Limits you should know
- Clouds, haze, terrain horizons and temporary structures are not forecast.
- The tool calculates geometry, not color temperature or exposure settings.
- Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight are planned but not yet displayed.
Questions about this calculator
Is golden hour exactly one hour?
No. Its duration depends on latitude, season and the altitude range a photographer uses. SunCarta exposes the underlying angle instead of imposing one duration.
Can I plan a backlit photo?
Yes. Set the point and date, then compare the solar direction with the direction from camera to subject.
Methodology version 1.1 · Reviewed August 8, 2026