The astronomical Almanac takes account of refraction and solar radius :
rise time and set time must be calculated for the solar limb , not for the
center.

Best regards

Alberto Nicelli
Italy (45,5 N : 7,50 E)

> ----------
> From:         reto ambrosini[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent:         venerdì 20 marzo 1998 20.01
> To:   [email protected]
> Subject:      cos(T)=-tan(lat)*tan(decl)
> 
> Hello All !
> 
> I tried to calculate the sunrise time with the formula
> 
> cos(T)=-tan(lat)*tan(decl)
> 
> I took the datas from the astronomical Almanac, here is an 
> example for the 3. of september  1998 at latitude +46
> 
> Sun declination : 7 42 13.5  = 7.704 deg
> Rise time             : 5h23m
> Set time               : 18h35m
> Day length          : 13h12m
> 
> T=arccos(-tan(46)*tan(7.704))=98.05 deg =6.537 hours
> 
> Calculated rise time     : 12-6.537 = 5.463h = 5h27m47s
> Calculated set time      : 12+6.537= 18.54h = 18h32m13s
> Calculated day length : 6.537*2 = 13.07 h = 13h04m25s
> 
> As you see there is a difference between the calculated datas 
> and the datas of the nautical almanac, the difference in the day 
> length is about 8 minutes (2 degrees!) that's quite a lot.
> 
> Why do I have such a difference? 
> Did I do some wrong calculation or is this formula only 
> approximative?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Reto Ambrosini
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> 
> 
> 

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