Plots shadows through google earth?

tigerstyle · 16 May 2011 at 16:31

Is it possible (with a known fixed location, eg my house) to plot how the shadows will fall throughout the day?

I know my house is currently diagonally south/north facing, was hoping I'd be able to see how badly the south wall is in the sun. In this example nothing is around my house providing shade.

I thought maybe google earth might have some tool that can do similar?

Red and White · 16 May 2011 at 16:32

look out the window?

FNGsam · 16 May 2011 at 16:32

Red and White said:
look out the window?

LOL

Gilly · 16 May 2011 at 16:33

I seriously doubt it. They'd have to have many, many pictures of the same space to show that. There simply wouldn't be enough storage in the world to provide that.

PhillyDee · 16 May 2011 at 16:34

Depends what time of the year as well. Summer shadows are a lot smaller due to the sun being higher in the sky.

Dunks · 16 May 2011 at 16:35

You can work it out yourself if you know the height of said wall/building.

asim18 · 16 May 2011 at 16:36

Red and White said:
look out the window?

This is actually the most sensible idea.

fidget · 16 May 2011 at 16:37

You can use The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) to do just this.

Download the PC version free here: http://photoephemeris.com/ - there is also a (paid for) iPhone app.

tigerstyle · 16 May 2011 at 16:38

Hmmmm I don't mean pictures, but if I input my house is X metres high, it can plot something?

I simplified it as my house for the question, but actually I meant a building 2000Miles north of the equator in India, is that going to make a big difference?

fidget · 16 May 2011 at 16:39

Yes ^^ does this

Did you actually try the app?

tigerstyle · 16 May 2011 at 16:44

dude, you gave me a minute before posting our follow up!

I'm looking now

Dave M · 16 May 2011 at 16:45

tigerstyle said:
Hmmmm I don't mean pictures, but if I input my house is X metres high, it can plot something?

I simplified it as my house for the question, but actually I meant a building 2000Miles north of the equator in India, is that going to make a big difference?

You need the angle of the sun in the sky (elevation), that app looks like an easy way of doing that, there may be free online services to do it.

Once you have the angle, you have the 2 measurements (height of the wall and distance to where you want to enjoy the sun) and a little bit of maths. Some form of trig I guess.

Dunks · 16 May 2011 at 16:46

Just simple pythagoras.

Dave M · 16 May 2011 at 16:50

Dunks said:
Just simple pythagoras.

I'm not sure that will help, he knows the height of the wall and can find the elevation of the sun in the sky (angle) and wants to find out the other side of the right angle (the floor in shadow). That's trig.

aspirins · 16 May 2011 at 16:54

Red and White said:
look out the window?

You could also stand in the garden if it's a nice day.

FNGsam · 16 May 2011 at 16:59

aspirins said:
You could also stand in the garden if it's a nice day.

dude its an internet forum, as if we would get up and leave the comp, someone might be wrong on the internet in the time it takes to walk outside and back again.. :mad:

tigerstyle · 16 May 2011 at 17:02

fidget said:
Yes ^^ does this

Did you actually try the app?

That is the nifty tool I was looking for, kinda worked out what I wanted.
Will be useful in the future too, cheers

ojrules · 16 May 2011 at 19:15

google sketchup can do this as far as i know