ESP 06- 2025

Solar Geometry

The study of the position of the sun in relation to buildings and spaces.

Altitude Angle

The angle between the sun and the horizon; it indicates how high the sun is in the sky.

Azimuth Angle

The angle along the horizon from the north to the sun's position, measured in degrees.

Passive Design

Architecture designed to use natural energy sources such as sunlight for heating and cooling.

Cosine Law

A principle stating that the intensity of solar radiation received by a surface is a function of the cosine of the angle of incidence.

Solar Access

The ability of a building or space to receive sunlight without obstruction.

Solar Window

The part of the sky dome where sunlight is effectively received between specific dates in the year.

Latitude

The geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface.

Solar Path Diagram

A graphical representation of the sun's trajectory in the sky throughout the year.

Sundial

A device that uses the position of the sun to tell the time of day.

Seasonal Changes

The variations in sun position, daylight, and temperature that occur as the earth orbits the sun.

Shading Devices

Architectural structures designed to block sunlight to reduce heat gain in buildings.

Tilt of the Earth's Axis

The angle at which Earth's axis tilts, affecting the intensity and duration of sunlight received in different seasons.

Vdara Death Ray

An incident where sunlight reflects off the Vdara Hotel's curvilinear façade creating excessive heat in a specific pool area.

Solar Noon

The time of day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.

Building Orientation

The positioning of a building in relation to the sun's path to maximize or minimize solar gain.

Sky Dome

The representation of the entire sky that an observer can see from a particular location.

Altitude and Azimuth Coordinates

The two angles used to describe the sun's position in the sky.

Tropic of Cancer

The latitude 23.5° North where the sun is directly overhead during the summer solstice.

Tropic of Capricorn

The latitude 23.5° South where the sun is directly overhead during the winter solstice.