Moon Elevation Calculator

Calculate the elevation angle of the moon above the horizon based on your location and the current time.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Moon Elevation

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The elevation angle will be displayed here.

Calculation Formula

Elevation = arcsin(sin(latitude) × sin(solar_declination) + cos(latitude) × cos(solar_declination) × cos(hour_angle))

Where:
latitude: Your geographical latitude
solar_declination: Declination angle of the moon
hour_angle: Hour angle of the moon

Moon Elevation Calculator Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Moon Elevation Calculator and understand its working principles.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your geographical latitude in degrees (positive for Northern Hemisphere, negative for Southern Hemisphere).
  2. Enter your geographical longitude in degrees.
  3. Set the date and time in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). If you have local time, you can convert it to UTC by adding or subtracting hours based on your time zone.
  4. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the moon's elevation.

Understanding Moon Elevation

The moon's elevation angle is the angle between the horizontal plane and the center of the moon as viewed from Earth. It ranges from -90° (moon below horizon) to +90° (moon at the zenith). A positive elevation means the moon is above the horizon, while a negative value means it's below the horizon.

Working Principle

This calculator uses a simplified astronomical model to estimate the moon's position. The calculation takes into account:

  • Your geographical location (latitude and longitude)
  • The current date and time (UTC)
  • The moon's position in its orbit (simplified moon age calculation)
  • The moon's declination (its angle north or south of the celestial equator)
  • The hour angle (the angle between the moon and the solar meridian)

Important Notes

This calculator provides a simplified approximation of the moon's elevation. For more accurate results, especially for precise astronomical observations, you should use specialized software or algorithms that incorporate detailed lunar ephemerides.

The calculation assumes a flat Earth model and does not account for atmospheric refraction, which can affect the apparent position of celestial bodies.