SOLAR APPLET

The dates, time, and global coordinates are preset near the winter solstice in Mountain View, California. Change them if desired and click on the "Calculate!" Button. More discussion below.

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Latitude is positive in the Northern Hemisphere. The results azimuth and elevation will appear in the text area. Zero degrees azimuth is due South for Northern latitudes. A negative azimuth is clockwise from due South . After 180 degrees it reverts to positive angles. The solar declination used in the calculations is accurate to one percent only, thus the results are approximately the same accuracy. The plot shows the hourly positions of the sun during the day, with the "sun" at the current hour. Some additonal helpful information: Tropic of Cancer is 23d27m N. Tropic of Capricorn is 23d27m S. Arctic Circle is 66d33m N. Antarctic Circle is 66d33m S. Some of the plots will appear counterintuitive!

Reference: Solar energy handbook Jan F. Kreider, and Frank Kreith. McGraw-Hill, c1981.

pjpfeiffer...................................................................................June 1999.