Calculadora de Azimute e Elevação

The Azimuth and Elevation Calculator determines the position of a celestial object in the sky based on the observer's latitude, the object's declination, and the hour angle. Azimuth is the horizontal angle measured from north, while elevation (or altitude) is the angle above the horizon. The main formula for elevation is sin(h) = sin(lat)·sin(δ) + cos(lat)·cos(δ)·cos(H), where h is elevation, lat is latitude, δ is declination, and H is the hour angle.

This tool is useful for amateur astronomers, students, and enthusiasts who want to locate stars, planets, or satellites. For example, when planning an observation, you can input the celestial coordinates and your location to know exactly where to look in the sky. It is also used to calculate the Sun's position for solar panel installation or to determine the best visibility time for a satellite.

Important precautions: declination and hour angle must be in the same coordinate system (usually decimal degrees). Latitude should be positive for the northern hemisphere and negative for the southern. Note that the calculated azimuth may need adjustments depending on the convention (true or magnetic north). Additionally, the formula assumes no atmospheric refraction, which can cause small errors near the horizon.

For accurate results, use updated values of declination and hour angle, which vary over time. Online tools like this simplify the calculation, but it is always good to verify with reliable astronomical software. This calculator is especially useful for beginners in astronomy who want to understand celestial geometry in a practical way.