Rotation / illumination diagram


In the Settings menu, check show object rotation/illumination. A rotation/illumination window opens showing the geocentric rotation, inclination, illumination, and variation of apparent size of the object. All information in this window is geocentric and in UT regardless of the selected location of the observer. The N(orth)– S(outh) directions are to the celestial poles, the E(ast) – W(est) directions are parallel to the celestial equator. Move the cursor over the visibility diagram and the rotation, inclination, illumination, and apparent size of the body are shown for the selected date and time. Moving the cursor horizontally shows principally rotation; moving the cursor vertically shows principally change of inclination, illumination, and apparent size. The information given in the window, which changes with the motion of the cursor, is (left column): date, time (UT to 0:04h), geocentric right ascension (to 0:01h) and declination (to 1'), elongation from the sun (to 0.1°), apparent diameter (to 0.1"), magnitude (to 0.1); (right column): position angle between the northern extremity of the axis of rotation and celestial pole measured from north through east (to 0.1°), phase angle, that is, the elongation of the earth from the sun measured at the center of the planet, the phase in percent illumination, and the planetocentric position of the earth: latitude north (+) and south (-) of the planet's equator, longitude to the east along the planet's equator with respect to the defined prime meridian of the planet. For Jupiter longitude is shown for systems I (equator), II (containing great red spot), and III (radio emissions and magnetic field); for Saturn longitude is shown for systems I (equator) and III (radio emissions and magnetic field). These differential rotations are also distinguished in the diagrams by arcs of meridians. For the sun, the position angle of the axis of rotation measured from north through east, the heliocentric position of the earth: latitude north (+) and south (-) of the solar equator, longitude to the east along the solar equator measured from the solar prime meridian. For the moon, the position angle of the axis of rotation and position angle of the midpoint of the bright limb measured from north through east, the colongitude, that is, the selenographic longitude of the morning terminator, phase angle (180° - elongation), phase in percent illumination, the selenographic position of the earth, which shows the librations of the central point of the lunar disc: in latitude to the north (+) and south (-), in longitude to east (+) and west (-).