Precise Solar Position Data for Any Location

Sun Position API.

Calculate the precise position of the sun in the sky for any location and time. Get altitude (elevation angle), azimuth (compass direction), and other solar geometry data essential for solar energy calculations, shadow analysis, photography planning, and architectural design.

Get your free API key Read the docs

Free tier, no card< 200ms responses99.9% uptime SLA

GET/v1/sunpositionlive

query

Response200 OK · sample

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "date": "01-22-2026",
    "time": "14:30",
    "coordinates": {
      "latitude": 37.7749,
      "longitude": -122.4194
    },
    "sun": {
      "altitude": 0.13571365568367633,
      "azimuth": 0.9137156885643708
    }
  }
}

Sample response · verify to run one live call, no signup

How it works

Sun Position API

Real-time sun altitude and azimuth for any coordinates
Precise solar geometry calculations with millisecond accuracy
Solar noon, day length, and twilight timing data
Works worldwide with any latitude and longitude

1
Send one request
A single authenticated GET with the location you care about — no SDK required.
```
GET /v1/sunposition?query=…
x-api-key: your_key
```
2
We do the aggregation
Each request pulls from multiple upstream sources and computes the derived fields for you.
3
Get clean JSON back
One structured object, typically under 200 ms — ready to render.
```
{ date, time, coordinates, … }
```

The response

Everything in a single call.

/v1/sunpositionapplication/json

date"01-22-2026"

time"14:30"

coordinateslatitude, longitude

sunaltitude, azimuth

Use cases

What developers build with it.

Real applications shipping on this endpoint today — each with the numbers that made it worth wiring up.

See every use case

Solar Panel Positioning & Energy Optimization

Our Sun Position API provides real-time altitude and azimuth data that powers solar tracking systems and helps calculate optimal fixed panel angles. Integrate directly with your monitoring systems for maximum efficiency.

Optimize panel angles for up to 25% more energyPower solar tracking systems in real-timePlan installations with year-round sun path data

Up to 25%more energy generation

Real-timetracking data

< 100msAPI response time

Photography Golden Hour & Shadow Planning

Get precise sun altitude and azimuth for any location and time. Plan when and where to shoot for the perfect light angle, predict shadow directions, and never miss golden hour again.

Know exact sun position for any shoot locationPlan shadow directions for architectural shotsCalculate golden hour timing precisely

Plan aheadfor any location

Precise timingfor golden hour

Shadow predictionfor composition

Architectural Shadow Analysis

Feed precise sun position data into your design tools and simulations. Calculate shadow lengths, predict natural lighting patterns, and ensure buildings meet daylighting requirements.

Accurate shadow studies for any locationOptimize natural lighting in designsMeet building code daylighting requirements

Preciseshadow calculations

Year-roundsun path analysis

Any locationworldwide coverage

Start coding

Call it in your language.

Copy a working request, or install a typed SDK. Same endpoint, same key.

const res = await fetch("https://api.apiverve.com/v1/sunposition?lat=37.7749&lon=-122.4194&date=01-16-2026&time=14%3A30", {
  headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" },
});
const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

Included in your key

One subscription, the whole precise solar position data for any location stack.

Every related API ships with your key — no separate plans, no extra keys, one bill.

See pricing

8APIs in this bundle

99.9%uptime SLA

The bundle

sunpositionYou’re hereSunrise & Sunset moonposition moonphases Moonrise & Moonset Weather Forecast worldtime planetpositions

No code required

Wire it into the tools you already run.

Ready-made recipes for Zapier, Make, and n8n — trigger on an event, and the data lands where your team works.

Google Sheets

Log sun position for a location hourly

WhenScheduled hourly

ThenGet sun position → append row

Slack

Morning sun position briefing

WhenScheduled daily (morning)

ThenGet sun position → post to channel

Airtable

Build a sun position log for multiple sites

WhenScheduled hourly

ThenGet sun position → create record

Notion

Log daily sun data to a Notion database

WhenScheduled daily

ThenGet sun position → create database item

Salesforce

Add sun position data to solar opportunity records

WhenNew opportunity created

ThenGet sun position → update custom field

GitHub

Add sun position data to new issues

WhenNew issue opened

ThenGet sun position → add comment

Browse all integrations

Learn

Understand the data behind the API.

Understanding Sun Position

Learn how solar altitude and azimuth work for any location.

Optimizing Solar Panels

How to use sun position data for maximum solar energy generation.

Questions about the API

How accurate is the sun position data?

Our calculations are based on established astronomical algorithms and are accurate to within 0.01 degrees. This precision is suitable for professional applications like solar panel optimization and architectural shadow analysis.

What coordinates format do you accept?

We accept decimal degrees for latitude (-90 to 90) and longitude (-180 to 180). For example, New York City is lat=40.7128, lon=-74.0060.

Can I get sun position for a specific date and time?

Yes, you can pass an optional datetime parameter to get the sun position for any date and time, past or future. If not specified, we return the current sun position.

What is the difference between altitude and azimuth?

Altitude is the angle of the sun above the horizon (0° at horizon, 90° directly overhead). Azimuth is the compass direction to the sun (0° north, 90° east, 180° south, 270° west).

Do you provide sunrise and sunset times?

The Sun Position API focuses on the current position. For sunrise/sunset times, use our dedicated Sunrise/Sunset API which provides detailed twilight data including civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight times.

Is the API suitable for solar energy calculations?

Absolutely. Our sun position data is used by solar energy companies to optimize panel angles, predict energy generation, and plan installations. The altitude and azimuth data is perfect for these calculations.

How do I calculate shadow length?

We provide a shadowLength field which gives the relative shadow multiplier based on sun altitude. Multiply an object's height by this value to get its shadow length. When the sun is at 45°, shadows equal object height.

Does the API account for atmospheric refraction?

Yes, our calculations include standard atmospheric refraction corrections, which is why the sun appears slightly higher near the horizon than its geometric position.