Planetary Planner
Plan your planetary astronomoy and astrophotography sessions with precision using our astronomy calculator to see optimal viewing times and altitudes for planets throughout the year. Perfect for astronomers and astrophotographers to determine the best observation times based on your location. The calculator generates altitude data for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Below that, you'll see a top-down view of the solar system (not to scale) to show relative positioning throughout the year. This web app is free and open source.
Enter your location then choose the time you'd like to observe. You'll see how high the planets will be in the sky.
Planetary Planner: Altitude and Position Calculator
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Quick Start Guide
The Astronomy Weather Dashboard provides an easy way to check if conditions are favorable for astronomy and astrophotography at your location. Here's how to use it:
Set Your Location
- Click "Detect My Location" to automatically determine your position, or
- Enter your city, address, or location name in the search field
- Your coordinates will be displayed for verification
Select Time Settings
- Choose the year you want to plan for (current year plus next 3 years available)
- Use the time slider to select your preferred observation hour
- The graphs will automatically update to show planetary altitudes for your chosen time
Reading the Graphs
- Each planet has its own graph showing its altitude throughout the year
- The vertical axis shows altitude in degrees above horizon
- The horizontal axis shows months of the year
- Hover over any point to see exact altitude and date
- Higher altitudes generally mean better viewing conditions
Privacy Note
The plugin only requests location access when explicitly activated by the user. No location data is stored or transmitted beyond what's needed for immediate weather forecasting.
Technical Details
The calculator generates altitude data for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, providing a comprehensive tool for planning astronomical observations and astrophotography sessions.
Grab the code on GitHub: https://github.com/jagbanana/jg-planet-planner
Core Engine
- Utilizes the Astronomy-Engine JavaScript library for precise planetary position calculations
- Implements rigorous coordinate transformations from celestial to horizontal coordinates
- Accounts for proper motion, atmospheric refraction, and planetary orbits
Location Processing
- Converts geographic coordinates to astronomical observer positions
- Uses the OpenStreetMap Nominatim API for geocoding and reverse geocoding
- Handles location data in standard WGS84 coordinate system
Astronomical Calculations
- Computes topocentric positions (as seen from the observer's location)
- Calculates altitude angles accounting for: precession of the equinoxes, planetary orbital elements, local sidereal time, observer's latitude and longitude
Data Visualization
- Implements Chart.js for responsive, interactive graphs
- Provides real-time data updates when parameters change
- Optimizes performance by pre-calculating daily positions
Technical Stack
- WordPress integration using standard plugin architecture
- Bootstrap 5 for responsive layouts
- Vanilla JavaScript with jQuery for DOM manipulation
- Asynchronous data loading and calculation processes