Sun Position

Contains functions for declination, solar longitude, radius vector, equation of time, times of sunrise and sunset, sun angles and azimuths.

Version 2.0 (136 KB)
808 Downloads
(2)
25 Jun 2021

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Uses the distance function from the MATLAB Mapping Toolbox to calculate the arc distance to the sub-solar location. Includes checkSizes function from my general function library.
EarthEphemeris - Returns the solar declination, Earth-Sun radius vector (distance in astronomical units), solar longitude, and optionally the equation of time.
sunang - Returns cosine of sun angle, its azimuth (0 south, + east), and airmass (path length accounting for Earth curvature). Optionally accounts for refraction.
sunRiseSet - Times of sunrise and sunset.
sunslope - Cosine of illumination angle on slope

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Cite As

Jeff Dozier (2026). Sun Position (https://se.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/74939-sun-position), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

Acknowledgements

Inspired: Topographic Horizons

Categories

Find more on Geodesy and Mapping in Help Center and MATLAB Answers

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General Information

MATLAB Release Compatibility

  • Compatible with R2014b and later releases

Platform Compatibility

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
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Version Published Release Notes
2.0

cleaned up internal folder structure
1.2.2

MATLAB functions calculate azimuths clockwise from North. My convention has been to use counter-clockwise from south, positive east, negative west. I added a function to let the user choose which convention to use.
1.2.1

No change in the code. Added an image showing the Global Daylight example.
1.2

Updated one of the examples
1.1.1

uploaded correct version
1.1

removed call to today(), I didn't realize it was in the Financial Toolbox, thanks to Christie for reminder to use clock() instead. Also fixed a glitch in PlotSolarPath.
1.0