Sun Path Map
Track solar direction at any address. Compare dates on one map, animate time and find alignment windows. Free sun-position planner for mobile and desktop.
Solar times, the sky view and date controls remain available.
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 Map: Sun Position, Dates & Alignment
SunCarta’s interactive sun-path map calculates where the sun is in the sky for the exact location, date and local time you choose. The map connects compass direction to the place itself, so east, west and a modeled obstacle are visible in the same frame.
Use this when: Use this as the starting point when you need the sun’s direction and height at a location, date and time. Choose a focused shadow, garden or solar-shading tool when that specific decision is primary.
When a different question is primary
Continue with the tool that fits your next decision.
How much sun reaches your house?
An address is a starting point. A window, balcony and garden bed need separate checks for direction and obstruction.
Follow the house sunlight worksheet and worked shadow example →What this tool calculates
- Solar azimuth, measured clockwise from true north
- Solar elevation (altitude) above the geometric horizon
- Local sunrise, solar noon and sunset
- Projected shadow direction and length for obstacles with known heights
How to use it
- 01
Choose a point
Search for a place, choose Use my location or choose Move pin and click the map. The time zone is selected from the coordinates.
- 02
Choose a date
Choose Compare dates to keep A and B on the same map. June and December shortcuts reveal seasonal differences; the daylight summary quantifies them.
- 03
Move through the day
Drag the time control or press Play time. The sun marker, compass direction and modeled shadows update together.
- 04
Check the surroundings
Context can sample a terrain horizon and import nearby buildings with tagged heights or explicitly labeled storey estimates. Review every obstacle and horizon assumption; missing data is not an unobstructed site.
How to read the result
Azimuth
Azimuth is the horizontal direction toward the sun, measured clockwise from true north: 90° is east, 180° is south and 270° is west.
Solar elevation
Solar elevation, also called altitude, is the sun’s angle above the geometric horizon. A low elevation makes long shadows; values below 0° mean the sun is below the horizon.
Limits you should know
- Solar position is airless solar-center geometry; standard sunrise and sunset include an atmospheric horizon convention. Actual terrain and weather can change what you see.
- Annual light describes the open sky, not hours of unblocked sun in a room or garden.
- Optional terrain sampling is coarse. Imported buildings are simplified screens with incomplete height coverage. Satellite imagery is a dated 2017 mosaic, not a live or rooftop-resolution photograph.
Questions about this calculator
Is the sun path based on magnetic north?
No. SunCarta uses true north. A phone compass may differ because it can display magnetic north and can be affected by nearby metal.
Why does the sun path change by season?
Earth’s axial tilt changes solar declination during the year, moving sunrise, sunset and the daily arc across the sky.
Can I see the sun path over my house?
Yes. Search the address, move the observing pin to the exact window or outdoor point, then choose a date and time. The map shows solar direction; use Context and a focused window or garden tool to test modeled blockers. A street address alone cannot tell how much direct sun reaches the property.
Can I compare summer and winter on the same map?
Yes. Compare dates overlays A and B at the same local clock time and reports the daylight difference. June is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Daylight-saving changes can change the UTC instant even when both local clocks match.
Can I find when the sun lines up with a landmark?
Find alignment lets you place a target, choose a solar elevation and search a date range. Each match includes a tolerance window and a closest instant. The target determines bearing, not the landmark height; terrain and clouds can still obstruct the view.
Methodology version 2.0 · Reviewed September 20, 2026