diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 3ffd787c71..3e95648c42 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -630,12 +630,12 @@ void RenderingManager::sunDisable(bool real)
     }
 }
 
-void RenderingManager::setSunDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction, bool is_moon)
+void RenderingManager::setSunDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction, bool is_night)
 {
     // direction * -1 (because 'direction' is camera to sun vector and not sun to camera),
     if (mSun) mSun->setDirection(Vector3(-direction.x, -direction.y, -direction.z));
 
-    mSkyManager->setSunDirection(direction, is_moon);
+    mSkyManager->setSunDirection(direction, is_night);
 }
 
 void RenderingManager::setGlare(bool glare)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
index d4b85133d9..9f029c1b91 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ public:
 
     void setAmbientColour(const Ogre::ColourValue& colour);
     void setSunColour(const Ogre::ColourValue& colour);
-    void setSunDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction, bool is_moon);
+    void setSunDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction, bool is_night);
     void sunEnable(bool real); ///< @param real whether or not to really disable the sunlight (otherwise just set diffuse to 0)
     void sunDisable(bool real);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
index 454ed88209..f6287de5ef 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
@@ -767,14 +767,14 @@ void SkyManager::setStormDirection(const Vector3 &direction)
     mStormDirection = direction;
 }
 
-void SkyManager::setSunDirection(const Vector3& direction, bool is_moon)
+void SkyManager::setSunDirection(const Vector3& direction, bool is_night)
 {
     if (!mCreated) return;
     mSun->setPosition(direction);
     mSunGlare->setPosition(direction);
 
     float height = direction.z;
-    float fade = is_moon ? 0.0 : (( height > 0.5) ? 1.0 : height * 2);
+    float fade = is_night ? 0.0 : (( height > 0.5) ? 1.0 : height * 2);
     sh::Factory::getInstance ().setSharedParameter ("waterSunFade_sunHeight", sh::makeProperty<sh::Vector2>(new sh::Vector2(fade, height)));
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp
index 70251f4901..6950dbab34 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         void setStormDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction);
 
-        void setSunDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction, bool is_moon);
+        void setSunDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction, bool is_night);
 
         void setMasserDirection(const Ogre::Vector3& direction);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
index a74c247681..7a36d6ac73 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include "weather.hpp"
 
+#include <cmath>
+
 #include <components/esm/weatherstate.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
@@ -427,29 +429,35 @@ void WeatherManager::update(float duration, bool paused)
     else
         mRendering->getSkyManager()->sunEnable();
 
-    // sun angle
-    float height;
+    // Update the sun direction.  Run it east to west at a fixed angle from overhead.
+    // The sun's speed at day and night may differ, since mSunriseTime and mNightStart
+    // mark when the sun is level with the horizon.
+    {
+        // Shift times into a 24-hour window beginning at mSunriseTime...
+        float adjustedHour = mHour;
+        float adjustedNightStart = mNightStart;
+        if ( mHour < mSunriseTime )
+            adjustedHour += 24.f;
+        if ( mNightStart < mSunriseTime )
+            adjustedNightStart += 24.f;
 
-    //Day duration
-    float dayDuration = (mNightStart - 1) - mSunriseTime;
+        const bool is_night = adjustedHour >= adjustedNightStart;
+        const float dayDuration = adjustedNightStart - mSunriseTime;
+        const float nightDuration = 24.f - dayDuration;
 
-    // rise at 6, set at 20
-    if (mHour >= mSunriseTime && mHour <= mNightStart)
-        height = 1 - std::abs(((mHour - dayDuration) / 7.f));
-    else if (mHour > mNightStart)
-        height = (mHour - mNightStart) / 4.f;
-    else //if (mHour > 0 && mHour < 6)
-        height = 1 - (mHour / mSunriseTime);
+        double theta;
+        if ( !is_night ) {
+            theta = M_PI * (adjustedHour - mSunriseTime) / dayDuration;
+        } else {
+            theta = M_PI * (adjustedHour - adjustedNightStart) / nightDuration;
+        }
 
-    int facing = (mHour > 13.f) ? 1 : -1;
-
-    bool sun_is_moon = mHour >= mNightStart || mHour <= mSunriseTime;
-
-    Vector3 final(
-            (height - 1) * facing,
-            (height - 1) * facing,
-            height);
-    mRendering->setSunDirection(final, sun_is_moon);
+        Vector3 final(
+            cos( theta ),
+            -0.268f, // approx tan( -15 degrees )
+            sin( theta ) );
+        mRendering->setSunDirection( final, is_night );
+    }
 
     /*
      * TODO: import separated fadeInStart/Finish, fadeOutStart/Finish