Sun Path Diagram
Read solar azimuth and elevation on a polar sun-path diagram, explore a sky dome, compare seasonal dates and export a scalable SVG chart.
Your sky, from above
True north · geometric solar elevation
Light on this day
Europe/Lisbon · Select any event to move the map to that instant. Times are displayed to the minute; selection keeps the calculated instant.
Sunrise and sunset use an open horizon and atmospheric refraction. Dawn/dusk use the sun’s center at −6°, −12° and −18°. Golden light uses −4° to +6°: a planning convention, not a weather forecast. Calculation notes →
A different season. A different light.
Keep your place and jump through the year.
Find your alignment.
Choose what you want to see from Lisbon, Portugal.
1 Choose your target
The pin is where you stand. Mark the landmark or direction you want the sun to line up with.
2 Choose the light
Set precise angles and tolerance
3 Pick your date range
Select a map target first, or open precise angles to enter a direction.
The target sets a compass direction, not the height of a landmark. Windows show when the Sun’s center is within the selected angular tolerance. Terrain, buildings and weather are not included in this alignment search. Near-horizon geometry is not a guarantee of a visible sunrise.
Sun Path Diagram: Polar Sky Chart and Solar Dome
A sun-path diagram puts direction and height on one chart. The horizon is the outside ring; the zenith is the centre. SunCarta opens the Sky view for this task so you can follow the daily arc without confusing an angle in the sky with distance across a street.
Use this when: Use this when you need a readable sky chart or an exported diagram for a seasonal study. Use the map when the relationship to streets and measured obstacles is primary.
Inputs this tool uses
- Observer latitude, longitude and IANA time zone.
- A valid local date in 1900–2100 and an exact local time resolved to a UTC instant.
- A second date or place in Compare when seasonal or geographic differences matter.
What this tool calculates
- A daily sky path with true-north azimuth and geometric elevation
- A solar marker linked to the selected UTC instant
- Seasonal differences through the Compare view
- An exportable selected-day SVG diagram and CSV solar series
How the estimate is made
The polar chart maps clockwise true-north azimuth around the horizon and geometric solar-center elevation inward toward the zenith. Sky offers a dome and a polar alternative. Hourly labels use local civil time; UTC identifies repeated DST instants. The chart describes the open sky and does not automatically subtract terrain or buildings.
How to use it
- 01
Set the observer
Search for the location or enter its coordinates, then confirm its local time zone.
- 02
Read the rings
The outer ring is the horizon, and the centre is overhead. North is 0°, east 90°, south 180° and west 270°.
- 03
Compare and export
Inspect a second date in Compare. Return to the desired date and export its Sky diagram as SVG.
Worked example
At 90° azimuth and 30° elevation, look east and one-third of a right angle above the horizon. At 180° azimuth the point is south. In London, compare local noon near June and December solstices: the higher June arc is a solar calculation, not a report of clear weather.
How to read the result
Angular chart
The line is a sequence of directions in the sky. Its radius is elevation, not ground distance or a shadow length.
Polar cases
A path may stay above or below the horizon all day. Azimuth near the zenith or geographic poles is poorly conditioned and should not imply precise aiming.
What to do next
Open Sky, select the date, then move time to match the numeric readout with the plotted point. Use Compare for a second date and export the selected day as SVG; CSV retains UTC and local timestamps for an independent plot.
Limits you should know
- Open-horizon paths omit real terrain, clouds and automatic building geometry.
- A geometric centre below 0° can coexist with a visible refracted upper limb near sunrise or sunset.
- SVG exports one selected day; Compare is an interactive comparison, not a promised multi-date export.
Questions about this calculator
How do I read a polar sun-path diagram?
Read compass bearing around the outer circle and elevation toward its centre. The centre is 90° overhead; the horizon ring is 0°.
Can I download the diagram?
Yes. Export the selected day as a scalable SVG and use CSV for the underlying time series. The diagram is a calculation, not a site-observed sky record.
Methodology version 2.0 · Reviewed September 18, 2026