Difference between revisions of "Light"

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(Eclipse: !apparent sizes of Kerbol and Mun; +images of partially/fully eclipse and the "outshine-effect" when there isn't any; +solar panels don't work when partially eclipsed;)
(Eclipse: *rewritten;)
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== Eclipse ==
 
== Eclipse ==
 
[[File:Sun eclipse by Kerbin.gif|thumb|left|Kerbin eclipses Kerbol]]
 
[[File:Sun eclipse by Kerbin.gif|thumb|left|Kerbin eclipses Kerbol]]
[[File:Kerbol shine.png|thumb|Shortly after Kerbin eclipsed Kerbol]]
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[[File:Kerbol shine.png|thumb|left|The same view shortly after the eclipse]]
[[File:Partially eclipsed solar panel.png|thumb|Partially eclipsed solar panel]]
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[[File:Partially eclipsed solar panel.png|thumb|A not working solar panel in Mun's partial shadow]]
  
There are also eclipses possible, where a celestial body passes in front of Kerbol blocking it fully or partially. As of {{Check version|0.21.1}} it doesn't get dark, but solar panels won't generate electricity. To determine how complete a body can eclipse Kerbol the distance and inclination from the viewed object and the eclipsing body relative to Kerbol are important. A body can fully eclipse Kerbol only if it is large and close enough to appear as large as Kerbol, which is expressed as [[w:Angular diameter|angular or apparent size]] which is how much of the view port is occupied by the body. From [[Kerbin]]'s surface the [[Mun]] has an apparent size of 1.91° and Kerbol has a size of about 2.2°, so the Mun can almost completely eclipse Kerbol. As both Kerbin and Mun don't have any inclination every time the Mun is in between Kerbin and Kerbol an eclipse occur. This is almost every orbit: As Kerbin is also orbiting Kerbol, the Mun has to move a little further to be between both bodies again resulting in the synodic period.
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Eclipses happen when a celestial body passes in front of Kerbol blocking it fully or partially. As of {{Check version|0.21.1}} it doesn't get dark if Kerbol is blocked by a body which isn't the source of the sphere of influence the craft is in. To determine how complete a body can eclipse Kerbol the distance and inclination from the viewed object and the eclipsing body relative to Kerbol are important. A body can fully eclipse Kerbol only if it is close enough to the observer to appear as large as Kerbol. This is expressed as [[w:Angular diameter|angular or apparent size]] which is how much of the view port is occupied by the body. From [[Kerbin]]'s surface the [[Mun]] has an apparent size of 1.91° and Kerbol has a size of about 2.2°, so the Mun can almost completely eclipse Kerbol. As both Kerbin and Mun don't have any inclination every time the Mun is in between Kerbin and Kerbol an eclipse occur.
  
Also partially eclipses render the solar panels useless.<sup>[''specify'']</sup>
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The synodic period determines the time a moon need to be at the same position relative to the planet and Kerbol. So in the case of Kerbin and Mun the time between two eclipses is the synodic period. If the orbit of the moon is inclined not every orbit an eclipse occurs, so that the time between two eclipses are a multiple of the synodic period.
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Partially and full eclipses will hide the outshine effect shown on the left.<sup>[''specify when it is partially'']</sup> As soon as the effect disappears and the moon or planet is visible in front of Kerbol, the solar panels aren't generate electricity.
  
 
== Intensity ==
 
== Intensity ==

Revision as of 09:40, 1 October 2013

This article is about light in general. For the electric light, see electric light.
The only natural source of light: Kerbol

Light makes celestial bodies and parts visible to the human eye and thus the player. There are two sources of light:

  • Natural
  • Artificial

There is currently only one natural source of light, which is Kerbol, the central star of the Kerbol System. It can power solar panels which generate electric charge. It is also possible to add artificial sources of light like electric lights to make parts of it visible while being in the shadow. All celestial bodies, except for Kerbol, throw a shadow behind them which is perceived as night when being on the surface.

Eclipse

Kerbin eclipses Kerbol
The same view shortly after the eclipse
A not working solar panel in Mun's partial shadow

Eclipses happen when a celestial body passes in front of Kerbol blocking it fully or partially. As of 0.21.1[outdated] it doesn't get dark if Kerbol is blocked by a body which isn't the source of the sphere of influence the craft is in. To determine how complete a body can eclipse Kerbol the distance and inclination from the viewed object and the eclipsing body relative to Kerbol are important. A body can fully eclipse Kerbol only if it is close enough to the observer to appear as large as Kerbol. This is expressed as angular or apparent size which is how much of the view port is occupied by the body. From Kerbin's surface the Mun has an apparent size of 1.91° and Kerbol has a size of about 2.2°, so the Mun can almost completely eclipse Kerbol. As both Kerbin and Mun don't have any inclination every time the Mun is in between Kerbin and Kerbol an eclipse occur.

The synodic period determines the time a moon need to be at the same position relative to the planet and Kerbol. So in the case of Kerbin and Mun the time between two eclipses is the synodic period. If the orbit of the moon is inclined not every orbit an eclipse occurs, so that the time between two eclipses are a multiple of the synodic period.

Partially and full eclipses will hide the outshine effect shown on the left.[specify when it is partially] As soon as the effect disappears and the moon or planet is visible in front of Kerbol, the solar panels aren't generate electricity.

Intensity

The intensity of the light varies depending on the distance. In the real-word it follows the inverse-square law, resulting in four times the intensity when halving the distance. But in Kerbal Space Program the intensity is following a spline curve of 3 piecewise cubics defined from 4 points:

Distance (m) Power Example
0 10×
13,599,840,256 Kerbin's orbit
68,773,560,320 0.5× Jool's semi-major axis
206,000,000,000 Almost 3x Jool's orbit

See also