Transmittance of transparent horizontal and tilted windows supporting large non-absorbing pendant droplets

•Light transfer through windows supporting large non-cap shaped pendant droplets was simulated.•Droplet shape was simulated accounting for gravitational and surface tension forces.•The transmittance of horizontal windows decreased with increasing droplet volume and contact angle.•The transmittance of tilted windows increased with increasing droplet volume and window tilt angle.•Maximum attainable pendant droplet volume was predicted as a function of droplet contact angle.