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Solar Noon Formula:
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Solar noon is the moment when the Sun appears highest in the sky, crossing the local meridian. It's not necessarily at 12:00 on the clock due to time zones and daylight saving time adjustments.
The calculator uses the solar noon formula:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for the difference between your local longitude and the standard meridian of your time zone, with an additional adjustment for daylight saving time.
Details: Knowing the exact solar noon time is important for astronomy, photography, solar energy planning, gardening, and understanding the true solar time at your location.
Tips: Enter your longitude in degrees (negative for west, positive for east). Select whether daylight saving time is in effect. For UK locations, longitude is typically negative (west of prime meridian).
Q1: Why is solar noon different from clock noon?
A: Clock time is based on time zones that cover large areas, while solar noon depends on your exact longitude within that time zone.
Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a good approximation, but the equation of time (due to Earth's elliptical orbit and axial tilt) can cause variations of up to 16 minutes throughout the year.
Q3: What longitude should I use for my location in the UK?
A: For London, use approximately -0.13°. For other UK locations, find your exact longitude using GPS or online maps.
Q4: Does this work for all locations worldwide?
A: Yes, the formula works globally. Just ensure you use the correct longitude and DST setting for your location.
Q5: Why is the DST adjustment necessary?
A: Daylight saving time shifts the clock forward by one hour, so we need to account for this artificial time change in our calculation.