Is there a computer program that can predict when the sun sets on any date?
Monday, April 9th, 2007
Ansgar asked:
Is there a computer program that can predict the exact time the sun will set from any location on earth at any date? I understand that elevation and whether the horizon is “distorted” by, say, a mountain plays a role. But if the computer program just uses a perfect sphere for the Earth but can predict the actual movement of the Earth in space in relation to the sun I would already be very impressed. If this is hard to model then how big (in seconds) are the expected inaccuracies.
Is there a computer program that can predict the exact time the sun will set from any location on earth at any date? I understand that elevation and whether the horizon is “distorted” by, say, a mountain plays a role. But if the computer program just uses a perfect sphere for the Earth but can predict the actual movement of the Earth in space in relation to the sun I would already be very impressed. If this is hard to model then how big (in seconds) are the expected inaccuracies.
