Solar Tab-Page
This Tab-Page shows the Gray Line, Sun Position, Sun Track, Sun Analemma, and Moon Position for the Current Date/Time, or a Custom UTC Date/Time entered with the Selector.
If 'Now' is selected, enabled Solar Features will auto-update every 5 minutes. The Date/Time Selector value will reflect this
To use the Date/Time Selector manually, click the 'Custom' radio-button. You can then click an item in the selector: Month, Date, Year, Hour, Minutes, or Seconds, and then use the Up/Down arrows to change the value.
The 'Gray Line' controls add an overlay to the map that shows those parts of the earth that are in daylight and those parts that are in darkness for the Date and Time selected in the Date/Time Selector. The term 'Gray Line' refers to what is known as the 'Terminator': the line that marks the boundary between darkness and daylight. Knowledge of the Gray Line position is very useful for low-band operating, when special propagation effects exhibit themselves.
For the most comprehensive Gray Line toolkit available to date, please see the Global Overlay Mapper (Link will open in your Browser) program, which includes animated gray-line maps, and tables that list answers to some complex questions relating to your home location and selectable DX locations: 01/ When Location A is at Sunrise, and Location B is in Darkness, over 1 Year. 02/ When Location A is at Sunset, and Location B is in Darkness, over 1 Year. 03/ Mutual GrayLine for Location A and Location B, over 1 Year. 04/ Mutual Darkness for Location A and Location B, over 1 Year. 05/ Which Countries have Sunrise Or Sunset whilst Location A is in Darkness, on Selected Date? 06/ Which Countries are in Darkness whilst Location A is at Sunrise or Sunset, on Selected Date? 07/ Which Countries have Sunrise Or Sunset whilst Location A is at Sunrise, on Selected Date? 08/ Which Countries have Sunrise Or Sunset whilst Location A is at Sunset, on Selected Date? 09/ World Sunrise/Sunset Times for all Countries, on Selected Date. 10/ All-year Sun Calendar for Location A. 11/ All-year Sun Calendar for Location B.
You can plot the Sun and Moon positions on the map by checking the relevant boxes. The Moon icon also shows the current lunar-phase.
The Sun Track shows the path that the Sun will take over the next 24 hours, for the selected date.
The Sun Analemma shows the path that the Sun will take over the next 365 days, for the selected time. To understand how the Sun Analemma works, turn it and the Sun Position on, then select a Custom Date on the Date/Time Selector. Change the month or date whilst leaving the time at the same value, then click 'Refresh the Map'.