Getting info like sunrise and sunset times

hamster · 11-24-2007, 06:22 AM

Hi Folks,

This might seem like a strange question but the more I use linux - the more it seems possible. When I login I like to have a fortune cookie read from /usr/games/fortune for example. Is it possible or does anyone know of any tool or small program that I could get and call to display today's sunrise and sunset times for the day - in text in the terminal like say fortune. Unusual I know but I am sure there are a few astronomy fans among you!

hamster · 11-24-2007, 06:52 AM

I came across a text based calendar called wyrd. I am going to try this - it seems what I need. Another tool called remind does the same thing - it is a running service. Let you know what I think!

matthewg42 · 11-24-2007, 10:25 AM

Not a command-line method, but sort of related so I volunteer the information for those directed here by the likes of google to whom it may be relevant:

GNU emacs has a daylight time function, available through the calendar:

Open a calendar buffer using:
Code:
```
M-x calendar
```
Press S (upper case s). You will be prompted for your longitude, latitude and timezone information.

You can permanently set your position data in your ~/.emacs file like this:

Code:

(setq calendar-latitude +53.950)
(setq calendar-longitude -1.083)
(setq calendar-location-name "York, England")

Timezone data should be taken from your system settings, but you can over-ride these by setting the variables: calendar-time-zone, calendar-standard-time-zone-name, calendar-daylight-time-zone-name.

hamster · 11-24-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewg42

Not a command-line method, but sort of related so I volunteer the information for those directed here by the likes of google to whom it may be relevant:

GNU emacs has a daylight time function, available through the calendar:

Open a calendar buffer using:
Code:
```
M-x calendar
```
Press S (upper case s). You will be prompted for your longitude, latitude and timezone information.

You can permanently set your position data in your ~/.emacs file like this:

Code:

(setq calendar-latitude +53.950)
(setq calendar-longitude -1.083)
(setq calendar-location-name "York, England")

Timezone data should be taken from your system settings, but you can over-ride these by setting the variables: calendar-time-zone, calendar-standard-time-zone-name, calendar-daylight-time-zone-name.

Thanks! That's a good tip, I'll try that.

leeeoooooo · 02-02-2010, 06:16 PM

I've got the same question, but I don't want to have to go through Emacs.

Yes, Emacs started talking dirty to me (in the very nicest way) when I learned it could give me a calendar but also moon phases and sunrise and sunset times...oooooh baby, you know what I like!

But what I'm looking for is something simpler I can add to my login sequence like fortune and pom (that give you the current phase of the moon).

Is there a simple command line utility that will spit out the sunrise and sunset for a given location and date (or today, this locale if not otherwise specified)?

I have an *old* Basic routine that I could modify for this, and I can probably find some other astronomical programs that I could twist to my purposes, but I don't want to reinvent another wheel.