Solar Coaster vs World Natural Time

Solar Coaster provides accurate position, time, motion and eclipse information for Earth's nearest star, Sol, our Sun, and nearest celestial body, Luna, our Moon. Information includes 3D movement graphs, upcoming eclipses and their circumstances, rise and set times, positions, distances and velocities, moon phase, illumination and crescent rotation. Solar Coaster automatically updates its state every minute, or you can examine minutes randomly. The simulation uses a local horizontal coordinate system when displaying information, which essentially means that your current position is the center of the Universe and all calculated values are relative to you. Sun and Moon positions are also available in equatorial coordinates. Solar Coaster stores enough onboard astronomical data to keep it running through the year 2100 AD, which means that all calculations can be performed locally without the need of a network connection — useful while in the wild chasing an eclipse. Algorithms are accurate at all longitudes, and latitudes between -61° south and +60° north (roughly speaking, locations outside the Polar regions). Of course, you must have Location Services enabled and allow Solar Coaster to access your position for accurate simulation results, and to properly detect eclipses visible at your location. You can also allow Notification Center to keep you informed when those eclipses will occur. Solar Coaster comes in various flavors: for iOS a native App; and for macOS a native App, Screen Saver and Web App.

Noon is, should be, the moment when the Sun is at its highest point. Far from that, in places like Spain or Alaska -during summer- that happens two hours later, just because governments establish artificial times that differ more than 2 hours from reality. Some logical and practical reasons are behind. However, 2 hours of difference (!) with the real natural time may be too much. Knowing what actual time is it now is insightful. That helps to understand that differences in daily routines among different countries are not such. But that's not all. Experiencing the link between longitude and time helps to understand some basic maths of those people how navigated through the seas without mobiles, GPSs, or any other electronics. The longitude gives us the Sun Time; likewise, the Sun Time lets us know the longitude.  It explains why ancient ships always had two essential pieces: a clock and a sun clock: because the difference between both gives us the longitude, while the length of the shadow at noon lets us calculate the latitude.  You can practice the same navigation technique by yourself: use this app while traveling or walking and observe: the artificial time shift -the difference between the official and the natural time- varies with your position! This application will help you guide yourself according to the natural time, with the same Sun that drove humanity for dozens of centuries. Apple Watch App is included.