On the Subject of The Eclipse

Every end of a time is another begun...

This module simulates the orbits of two celestial bodies (A and B) about a common origin. To solve the module, predict the eclipse of the bodies and set the module's time and viewfinder angle to when and where this will occur.

Reading Module Data

All numerical data on this module is converted into ternary, where black represents 0, grey represents 1, and white represents 2. Values are read through the colours of the buttons, North clockwise from most to least significant. The outer layer of buttons represents the integer part of the value, the inner layer represents the fractional value. For example, the svg in the top right reads 11012201.22210021, translating to about 3070.97638. The module initially shows a random number.

Units of angles are encoded in bendians instead of degrees or radians. To convert from bendians to radians, multiply by (2π/6561). To convert back, multiply by (6561/(2π)).

The module can display different types of information.

A: Celestial body A.

B: Celestial body B.

V: The module's viewfinder.

P: The power of any changes to other values, where the base is 3.

T: The time.

Nδ: The distance between the celestial body N and the origin.

Nθ: The angle celestial body N appears in the sky above the horizon (XY-plane).

Nφ: The angle celestial body N appears in the sky counter-clockwise (towards +Y) from the XZ-plane.

Interacting with the Module

The outer buttons will change the values accroding to the table below. The inner buttons will cause the module to display the associated values.

• Increasing/decreasing a non-P value will change it by 3^P.
• P will always change by 1 and cannot be less than -8 or greater then 7.
• Pressing a button to change Vθ or Vφ will also display that value.
• Pressing the center button will reset Vθ, Vφ, T, and P to zero.
• Attempting to set T to a negative value will set it to zero.
• All angular values will be kept within range of 0 to 6561 bendians.
• Attempting to display P will cause the button associated to 3^P to become white and all the other buttons to become black.
• The module may experience minor floating-point errors. These are minimal and can be ignored.

The module will never strike, and will automatically solve when T, Vθ, and Vφ are set in such a way that Aθ, Bθ, and Vθ are within 0.01 radians (10.44216 bendians) of eachother, and same with Aφ, Bφ, and Vφ.