libera_utils.geolocation.sub_solar_point#
- libera_utils.geolocation.sub_solar_point(target: SpiceBody, et: float, frame: SpiceFrame, observer: SpiceBody, *, abcorr='LT+S', method='NEAR POINT/ELLIPSOID')#
Computes the cartesian coordinates of the subsolar point at ephemeris time et.
- Parameters:
target (spice_utils.SpiceBody) – Body on which the sub point will be calculated (usually a planetary body).
et (float or numpy.ndarray) – Ephemeris time of observation.
frame (spice_utils.SpiceFrame) – Reference frame for returned vectors.
observer (spice_utils.SpiceBody) – The object from which to calculate the subsolar point (e.g. a spacecraft). A-B correction is applied based on the distance between observer and subsolar point.
abcorr (str) – String delineating what kind of A-B lighttime correction to perform. Default is ‘LT+S’.
method (str) – String specifying what kind of method to use to find the vector between the observer and the target. Default is NEAR POINT/ELLIPSOID, which uses the nearest point on the ellipsoid rather than drawing a line through the center of the ellipsoid.
- Returns:
Subsolar point on the ellipsoid surface in the specified reference frame, apparent epoch at that point (depending on specified light time correction), and vector from observer to subsolar point.
- Return type: