What is the difference between solar time and local time, and how does it impact solar position calculations?

Solar time, also known as apparent solar time, is the time based on the sun’s apparent position in the sky, whereas local time is the time zone-based time. The difference between solar time and local time is known as the equation of time, which varies throughout the year due to the Earth’s elliptical orbit around the sun. This difference must be accounted for when calculating solar position and predicting sunrise and sunset times to ensure accurate results.