Solar Shadow Azimuth Calculator
Find the sun's azimuth and altitude for any latitude, longitude, date and time, then get the direction and length of the shadow cast by an object of a given height.
Input
Location
Positive north, negative south.
Positive east, negative west.
Date & Time
Your local time zone's offset from UTC, e.g. -5 for New York (EST), 5.5 for India.
Object
The shadow length comes out in the same unit you enter here.
Output
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| No data yet | |
More ways to use this tool
REST API
curl -X POST https://api.iotools.cloud/v1/tool/solar-shadow-azimuth-calculator \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"latitude": "40.7128",
"longitude": "-74.006",
"date": "2025-06-21",
"time": "12:00",
"utcOffset": "-4",
"objectHeight": "2"
}'Swap in your own key from your account. The tool's fields are the body — no wrapper.
Ask an AI agent
Use the IOTools `solar-shadow-azimuth-calculator` tool (Solar Shadow Azimuth Calculator) on this input:
YOUR_INPUT_HEREPaste this at any agent connected to the IOTools MCP server, then add your input.
Embed widget
<iframe
src="https://iotools.cloud/embed/solar-shadow-azimuth-calculator/"
width="100%" height="520" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" loading="lazy"
title="Solar Shadow Azimuth Calculator — iotools.cloud"
sandbox="allow-scripts allow-forms allow-same-origin allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"
allow="clipboard-write"
style="width:100%;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden"></iframe>
<script src="https://iotools.cloud/embed.js" async></script>Drop this into your own page — free, no key required, just a link back.
| Cost per API/MCP call | From 5 credits |
|---|---|
| Need more credits? | View pricing |
Also available with
Guides
Find where the sun is — and where a shadow will fall — for any place on Earth at any date and time. Enter a latitude, longitude, date, local time and UTC offset, plus the height of an object, and the calculator returns the sun's azimuth and altitude, the compass direction of the shadow and its length. Everything runs in your browser; your location never leaves the page.
How to use it
- Enter the location as decimal degrees: positive latitude is north, positive longitude is east.
- Pick the date and local time (24-hour HH:MM) and your UTC offset — e.g.
-5for New York in winter,-4in summer,5.5for India. - Set the object height. The shadow length is returned in the same unit you type.
Reading the results
- Sun azimuth is the compass bearing of the sun, measured clockwise from north (90° = east, 180° = south).
- Sun altitude is the angle of the sun above the horizon. Below 0° the sun has set and no shadow is cast.
- Shadow direction is always the sun's azimuth plus 180°.
- Shadow length = object height ÷ tan(altitude). Near sunrise and sunset the shadow grows very long.
Accuracy
The calculation uses the NOAA solar-position algorithm, accurate to a small fraction of a degree for modern dates. It ignores atmospheric refraction and terrain, so treat it as a planning aid for solar panels, building shading, photography and sundials rather than a survey instrument.