Paths of the Sun Simulator
This simulator allows you to simulate the path of the sun for any date during the year for
any latitude on the Earth. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the simulator –
most of the controls are fairly intuitive and similar to those in the preceding modules.
Practice using the yearly slider to move to different dates during the year.
Practice using the map to move to different latitudes during the year.
Note that the simulation lists the right ascension, declination, azimuth, and
altitude for the sun at all times.
Note that some advanced features such as the sidereal time, hour angle, equation
of time, and the analemma are available in a box in the lower left in this
simulation, but will not be covered in this guide.
Note that there are three different animation modes.
o If you select continuous, time will move forward in a natural fashion. You
may adjust the rate at which time passes using the animation speed slider.
You may modify this mode with the loop day check box which will cause
the sun’s motion for the current day to continually repeat.
o If you select step by day, time will leap forward in 24 hour increments
and the time of day will not change.
Special care should be taken to make sure that you understand what is being
simulated at all times. This is especially true in regard to discriminating between
the yearly and daily motion of the sun.
o Move to a middle United States Latitude like 35N. Click show ecliptic
and show month labels. This is the sun’s yearly path on the celestial
sphere and is denoted by a white circle in the simulator. Note that it
crosses the blue celestial equator on the equinoxes.
o Change your time to noon (12 pm) and animate the simulator in the step
by day mode. You can watch the changing meridinal altitude of the sun
throughout the year.
o Stop the simulation near the summer solstice. The simulator readout
should state “The horizon diagram is shown for an observer at latitude 35
on 21 June at 12:00 (12:00 pm)”. Think about what the sun’s path should
look like in the sky on that day.
o Now check show the sun’s declination circle which is a yellow circle in
the simulator. This is what the sun’s path in the sky would be on the
summer solstice. Note that this circle has the proper meridinal altitude
(78.8) and is a coaxial circle with the celestial equator (picture the
slinky).
NAAP – Motions of the Sun 3/6
Question 1: Set up the simulator for Lincoln, NE which has a latitude of 41 N. Complete
the following chart for the meridional altitude and the rising and setting azimuths for the
3 major paths of the sun. Note that the rising azimuth can be determined by dragging the
sun (dragging in time of day mode) and reading off the azimuth when the altitude is zero.
Date Meridional Rising Setting
Altitude Azimuth Azimuth
Summer Solstice
Autumnal Equinox
Winter Solstice
Now use the results from the table above to help you draw the 3 paths in the horizon
diagram below. Label each path.
Question 2: Suppose that you are visiting Lincoln, NE and on July 10 you wake up early
and note the rising azimuth of the sun. In which direction would the value change if you
measured it two weeks later?
NAAP – Motions of the Sun 4/6
Question 3: Note that the sun can never be at the zenith for Lincoln (lat = 41ºN)? How far
would you need to move on the Earth to find a latitude where the sun can be at the
zenith?
Question 4: Set up the simulator for Nordkapp, Norway which has a latitude of 71 N.
Complete the following chart for the meridional altitude and the rising and setting
azimuths for the 3 major paths of the sun.
Date Meridional Rising Setting
Altitude Azimuth Azimuth
Summer Solstice
Autumnal Equinox
Winter Solstice
Now use the results from the table above to help you draw the 3 paths in the horizon
diagram below. Label each path.
NAAP – Motions of the Sun 5/6
Question 5: Note that the sun doesn’t rise every day from Nordkaap. How far would you
need to move on the Earth to find a latitude where the sun does rise every day?
Question 6: The Paths of the Sun Simulator is also very useful for determining how long
the sun is above the horizon each day. Simply make sure that the option for dragging the
sun’s disk is set to time of day and drag the sun to the eastern/western horizon read the
clock to determine the time at which the sun rises/sets.
Latitude Date Rising Time Setting Time Total Time
June 21
0º Sept 21
Dec 21
June 21 4:35 19:35 15:00
41º Sept 21
Dec 21
June 21
66.5º Sept 21
Dec 21
June 21
90º Sept 21
Dec 21 Doesn’t rise Doesn’t set 0
Question 7: Based on your answers to the previous questions, is it best to refer to sunlight
as a seasonal or daily phenomena? Does this depend on latitude?
NAAP – Motions of the Sun 6/6
