{{tag>time calendar}}

===== Astronomical Time and Calendar =====
This simulation covers the astronomical times and calendar systems. From this simulation, one can understand the difference between sidereal and synodic times by using the position of a prominent object such as the Moon moving around the Earth.

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~~ Important/key tasks to be completed for this simulation ~~
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  * Identify a student who will lead the development of this simulation.
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~~ Technical Aspects of the simulation: prerequisites, products, etc. ~~
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=== Prerequisites ===
 * ''SkyTracker'' from the Virtual Night Sky model. This module will be the starting point.
  * A Python script controlling the incremental time for simulating a celestial object. For example, we can skip the time by a lunar synodic time while looking toward the Moon to see it change in position against the background object. 
These are technical prerequisites (3D model components) to create this simulation.

=== Newly created components from this simulation ===
These are newly created components (functions, materials, cameras, etc.) from this topic simulation.
  * Python script (time_calendar.py)
        A script controlling the simulation by using a set of different time increments (i.e., sidereal day, a synodic month, a sidereal month, etc. See [[https://youtu.be/xieq30VV3DM?si=xLNO6Z_Lli9TLm84|Dr. Hall's Stellarium-based video]] for various scenarios of using this simulation.

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~~ Astronomical/Astrophysical Concepts ~~
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  * Sidereal & synodic day/month/year
  * Precession
  * Leap year
  * Gregorian & Julian dates
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~~ Scenes created in the simulation ~~
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**TBA**
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