Solar Navigation Helper
Use the sun hour-angle and declination to derive cardinal direction — without a compass.
Inputs
Result
A natural placement between the calculator and the explanation.
What this solves — and what it doesn't
No compass? No problem — the sun’s position in the sky tells you direction. At solar noon the sun is due south (in the northern hemisphere) or due north (southern hemisphere); at 6 am it’s east; at 6 pm it’s west. Between those, you can compute azimuth from latitude, date, and time. This tool gives you that azimuth so you can stand a stick in the ground, watch the shadow, and orient.
How to read the result
Enter your latitude and the local clock time. The result is the sun’s compass bearing and a cardinal direction. Combine with the fact that shadows point away from the sun to derive your bearings.
The trick: solar noon is not always 12:00 clock time. Equation of time can shift it by up to ±15 minutes.
Limitations
- Doesn’t apply near the poles (above 66.5 degrees) where the sun circles.
- Doesn’t model atmospheric refraction at very low sun angles.
- Equation of time ignored for simplicity; accuracy is ~±5 degrees.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this really?
Within ~5 degrees in mid-latitudes at mid-day. Worse near sunrise/sunset. Don’t use for precision navigation.
Does it work in the southern hemisphere?
Yes — flip directions. The sun is to the North at solar noon south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
What about a watch?
Analog watch: point hour hand at the sun; south is the bisector between hour hand and 12 (in northern hemisphere). A stick is more accurate.