Abstract：The energy of electromagnetic radiation which is accepted by most detectors using as Remote Sensing comes mainly from the reflection of the earth surface to solar radiation energy.This reflection is related to the relative positions between the sun and the earth. Then the solar angles which represent the relative positions is quite important in the research of Remote Sensing.This paper gives a detailed and whole method for calculating the solar angles, such as solar right ascension, solar declination, solar hour angle,solar vertical angle, solar zenith angle, and so on.The main idea for the method depends on the theory and method of celestial mechanics. At first, it is neccessary solving six elements of orbit argument of perigee of mean spring equinox (ω), mean anomaly (M), eccentricity (e), major axis of orbit (α), mean obliquity (i) ,and right ascension of ascending node(Ω), Then mean solar right ascension and mean solar declination are gained by solving Kepler eqduation on the basis of the six elements of orbit. True solar right ascension and true solar declination are computed by correcting nutations and precessions of mean solar right ascension and mean solar declination. The calculating of solar hour angle is that the sidereal time is firstly computed, and then the sidereal time minus solar right ascension is solar hour angle. The formula for computing solar vertical angle (h) is sin (h)=sin (δ)×sin+ cos (δ)×cos×cos (t) given solar declination (δ), solar hour angle (t), and the latitude of earth surface . Finally, ninety degrees minus solar vertical angles solar zenith angle.At last in the paper, there are some examples about the application of these solar angles on the research of Remote Sensing.
谈小生, 葛成辉. 太阳角的计算方法及其在遥感中的应用[J]. 国土资源遥感, 1995, 7(2): 48-57.
Tan Xiaosheng, Ge Chenghui. A METHOD FOR CALCULATING SOLAR ANGLES AND ITS APPLICATION ON REMOTE SENSING. REMOTE SENSING FOR LAND & RESOURCES, 1995, 7(2): 48-57.
1995, Vol. 7 
