Position of the Sun by speadsheet

Position of the Moon

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the Sun for a month the Sun for a year

Position of the Sun by Spreadsheet
for a day

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Select the table 'input':
Input (red frames): 1) date, month, year 2) geogr. latitude und longitude (eastern longitude positive) Don't modify any other cells.
The table calc performs the calculations, using a lot of auxiliary variables. It should be neglected.
Select elev az to see data and diagrams of elevation and azimuth.
Select E o T for data and diagrams of the Equation of Time.
Select declin dist to see data and diagrams of the declination and distance.
Select orbit to see data and a diagram of the ecliptic orbit.

Example: 1991, May 19 at 50°N, 10°E:

Sun position
altitude elevation azimuth Excel download

The value "elev" is not taking into account the atmospheric refraction.

Comparing the results "elev" (airless) of the spreadsheet with (4 decimal places) of HORIZONS Web-Interface
(NASA JPL) the mean absolute error is only (0,0034 ± 0,0022)°.

The refraction is calculated ("elev refr.") by
1.02/(60*tan(K*(elev+10.3/(elev+5.11))))

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The hours of sunrise and sunset are computed by interpolation
(upper limb, airless elevation -50'):

The times agree with MICA and USNO within 1 minute.

Sun position altitude
elevation azimuth Excel download

Azimuth is measured North(0°) -> East(90°) -> South(180°) -> West(270°) -> North (360°).

Comparing the azimuth results "az" of my spreadsheet with the 4 decimal values of HORIZONS Web-Interface
(NASA JPL) the mean absolute error is (0,0077 ± 0,0024)°.

Diurnal motion of the Sun on May 19 at 50°N, 10°E: