Calculate Lunar Phase

moonphase.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
"""
moonphase.py - Calculate Lunar Phase
Author: Sean B. Palmer, inamidst.com
Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_phase#Lunar_phase_calculation
"""

import math, decimal, datetime
dec = decimal.Decimal

def position(now=None): 
   if now is None: 
      now = datetime.datetime.now()

   diff = now - datetime.datetime(2001, 1, 1)
   days = dec(diff.days) + (dec(diff.seconds) / dec(86400))
   lunations = dec("0.20439731") + (days * dec("0.03386319269"))

   return lunations % dec(1)

def phase(pos): 
   index = (pos * dec(8)) + dec("0.5")
   index = math.floor(index)
   return {
      0: "New Moon", 
      1: "Waxing Crescent", 
      2: "First Quarter", 
      3: "Waxing Gibbous", 
      4: "Full Moon", 
      5: "Waning Gibbous", 
      6: "Last Quarter", 
      7: "Waning Crescent"
   }[int(index) & 7]

def main(): 
   pos = position()
   phasename = phase(pos)

   roundedpos = round(float(pos), 3)
   print "%s (%s)" % (phasename, roundedpos)

if __name__=="__main__": 
   main()

I actually did that at first until I realized that some phases of the moon are between 0% to 50%. I need a more exact percentage. We use night vision googles that amplify light by 6000 times. The moon is the primary source of light for amplification. So when were flying the percent tells how well we are going to see. Hope that makes sense lol

It does and while this wasn’t my script it’s a challenge worthy figuring out. My 1st instinct is the print lunations and see what that value is.

Actually I believe roundedpos is your lunation %. I get .09 for today which seems ~.01 accurate

I added print(f"{pos: .2%}" + " illuminated") after the current print

Perfect!!! Thanks so much that's exactly what I needed! Your amazing! I appreciate it :)

You know actually I'm not super sure its very accurate. I just printed around 12.4 % but according to this site https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/@4313572 for our area its 16.1 percent. Any idea why I have such a disconnect between these two?

My tide app tells me it’s 28% waxing. I believe there are a few different formulas for calculating lunation. All use some fixed time from the past to calculate from. I suppose if you need accuracy to the 1°, a different formula may be required. If you find one I’d be happy to help implement in this script.

You could always go a different route & make an api call to get the reported lunation. That could also get you visibility for closest weather station and any other details you might need. If worried about connectivity, store it in LocalStorage in the browser. I’m not sure how you are using the script though.