Top 10 Best "Astronomical Algorithms" Books

Astronomical Applications are usually used to gleen formulas or algorithms used to compute times of sunrise, sunset, twilight, moonrise, and moonset.

Unfortunately there is no single formula that can be used to accurately predict times of these phenomena over an acceptably wide range of dates and places. The good news, though, is that algorithms to compute times of solar and lunar phenomena have been published in many places and are readily available.

Sun position is the calculation that has the most variation in its calculation. This is mainly due to the individual's need to know where the sun is. If it is for photovoltaic tracking of the sun, it needs to be more accurate than someone who is out to develop a cool new sundial. Large new solar facilities are looking for this information. It is critical to get highly accurate solar position algorithms for this task.

This Astronomical Algorithms lists a few resources for this information.

Calculating sun position is going to become more and more important as the demands for alternative energy, especially solar energy. There are many methods of tracking the sun, using shadows and gas bubbles, etc, but the most consistently reliable method is the mathematical algorithms developed over the past decades.

When solar was big in the 1980's many brilliant minds started tracking the sun mathematically to increase efficiency on the power plants, and one of those software engineers was John Clark Craig. He has now created a book which breaks down the highest accuracy solar position algorithm into each of its components so that the engineers who need it today can understand and implement it into the new facilities being constructed.

He then breaks down the application in which the sophisticated algorithms are required and the ones can get away with simpler algorithms.

So, whether you are creating the new state of the art solar facility to power a large city, creating a research facility to improve the state of the art or creating a sun dail or anything in between, this sun position algorithm book will help you accomplish your task.

The Definitive Guide to Astronomical Algorithms - Solar Position by John Clark Craig will be available on Amazon.com or BooksToBelieveIn.com by January 1, 2009. E-mail publisher@bookstobelievein.com to reserve your copy now.