Sun Exposure Calculator
See when the sun is actually visible at your location, accounting for terrain.
Select Location
Sun Window
Horizon Profile & Sun Path
Understanding Sun Exposure & Terrain
Standard sunrise and sunset times only account for the astronomical horizon - when the sun crosses the theoretical flat horizon at sea level. In reality, mountains, hills, and even buildings can significantly delay your local sunrise and advance your sunset.
This tool calculates the horizon profile for any location using 90-meter resolution elevation data. It samples terrain in all directions out to 10km, finding the highest obstruction angle for each compass bearing. Then it compares the sun's path to this terrain profile to determine exactly when the sun becomes visible.
Use Cases
Photography
Know exactly when golden hour light will hit your location. Plan sunrise/sunset shoots with confidence.
Outdoor Activities
Plan hikes, climbs, or ski tours knowing when sun will warm up shaded areas or when shade returns.
Solar Planning
Understand solar exposure for panels, gardens, or passive solar design in mountainous terrain.
Real Estate
Evaluate how much direct sunlight a property receives accounting for nearby terrain.
How It Works
- You select a location on the map or enter coordinates
- We load terrain elevation tiles for the surrounding 10km area (~38m resolution)
- For 72 directions, we sample 15 points and calculate the maximum elevation angle to the horizon
- We compare the sun's position throughout the day to this terrain profile
- The result shows when the sun rises above and drops below your actual visible horizon