Find the sunrise and sunset direction for your selected date and location. The tool shows compass bearings at the horizon, the Sun’s current direction and its direction near the highest point of the selected day.
Solar results
How to read a sun azimuth
Azimuth measures direction around the horizon, clockwise from true north. North is 0° or 360°, east is 90°, south is 180° and west is 270°. For example, a bearing of 110° places the Sun south of due east; 300° places it north of due west.
The compass label is a convenient description of the bearing. Use the degree value when lining up a photograph, window or landscape feature. A magnetic compass can differ from true north because of magnetic declination; a phone’s compass settings and calibration also matter.
Does the Sun always rise in the east?
Generally yes, but east describes a broad part of the horizon. Around the equinoxes, sunrise is close to due east and sunset close to due west in many locations. They are not fixed at exactly 90° and 270° throughout the year.
Around June, sunrise and sunset shift toward the northern side of the horizon where those events occur. Around December, they shift toward the southern side. The amount of movement depends strongly on latitude. At high latitudes, some dates have no sunrise or sunset to assign a bearing to.
Use direction to choose a viewpoint
– Select the place and the date of your visit, rather than relying on today’s bearing for a future trip. – Read the sunrise or sunset direction and check for a clear horizon along that line. – Consider where your subject sits relative to the Sun: facing the Sun produces a different image from having it behind you. – Check the golden-hour window if you want low-angle light before or after the horizon event.
A bearing describes the Sun’s direction, not whether a building will cast shade on a particular spot. For that question, combine azimuth with solar altitude and the height and position of the obstruction. The sun position page explains those two angles.
Current direction versus a selected date
The Sun now card follows the present moment at the selected coordinates. Sunrise, sunset and solar-noon bearings follow the selected calendar date. If you choose a future date, do not interpret the current card as the Sun’s position at an arbitrary hour on that future day.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Sun rise in the northeast?
Yes. Sunrise can occur north or south of east depending on the date and latitude. The exact bearing in the tool is more useful for planning than a general east-facing description.
Is the Sun always in the south at noon?
No. In much of the Northern Hemisphere outside the tropics it is generally south at solar noon; in much of the Southern Hemisphere it is generally north. Within the tropics the noon direction can change seasonally, and a near-overhead Sun makes a horizontal bearing less useful.
Are these magnetic or true compass bearings?
They are measured from true north. If you use a magnetic compass, account for the local difference between magnetic and true north. Do not assume the two directions are interchangeable.
Why is the sunrise direction missing?
There may be no sunrise on the selected local date. During midnight sun or polar night, a sunrise bearing cannot be assigned to an event that does not occur. Check day length and the detailed twilight times for context.