Sunset/Sunrise/Moonset/Moonrise/%Illumination

[BaD CrC]

Hi guys!

 

Do you know how are those calculated in DCS 2.5?

Are they consistent with the day/month/year the mission has been set or is it based on one particular year like in DCS 1?

Can we use the IRL calculations to determine them and is the % Illumination consistent in game with what it is IRL?

It is important for our NVG operations to define what will be this %illumination and setting up a date that match the required levels is kind of hit or miss.

Thanks.

[feefifofum]

I'm not sure about the illumination levels but the lunar phases should be accurately modeled by year now.

[BaD CrC]

Thanks feefifofum.

 

I guess the lunar phases should match the %illumination. I'll run a few tests. Our next NVG mission takes place this month 2018 (the 7th). So according to this, a 8.9% illumination should leave us with a pretty dark night.

Having the same mission around the 26th of the month would, in theory, allow us to fly without the NVG without any issues.

[kunterbunt]

You actually should use lunar calendar to plan the mission if you want a full moon. Works as expected.

[BaD CrC]

Yeah, I guess this is even simplier. Thanks kunterbunt.

[BaD CrC]

We had an NVG training last night which lasted a bit. Took off at 2200 local from Kutaisi. Around 2300, we witnessed a beautiful moonrise behind the mountain range with a nice full moon and illumination slowly increasing. I think this is the first time we were seeing that in DCS and we were all pretty much blown away. Not as spectacular as the new sunsets, but still gorgeous. I checked the IRL moonrise time and lunar phase in Kutaisi for the date of the mission (June 30th 2018) and it perfectly matched what we saw in game (I am not sure if illumination was exact but well, after pitch black flight, the scenery with full moon became much brighter).

Really impressed. This definitively adds an interesting dimension in NVG ops for helicopters.