Scootercam Sun & Moon

WordPress plugin for displaying comprehensive sun and moon data including sunset/moonset beauty predictions, phase calendars, arc visualizations, and viewing information.

Description

This plugin provides detailed astronomical information with beautiful visualizations:

• Sunset/Moonset Predictions – AI-powered beauty scores (0-10) based on cloud cover, humidity, visibility, and moon phase
• Moon Phase Calendar – Visual timeline showing phases from last new moon to next new moon
• Sun & Moon Arcs – Real-time path visualizations showing current positions
• Viewing Information – Optimal viewing times, recommendations, and technical data
• Full Moon Data – Names, dates, and descriptions of last/next full moons

Installation

1. Upload the scootercam-sun-moon folder to /wp-content/plugins/
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
3. Ensure data files exist:
   • /home/scootercam/public_html/wx/moon_api_data.json
   • /home/scootercam/public_html/wx/predictor.json
4. Use shortcodes in your posts or pages

Shortcodes

Prediction Shortcodes

Sunset Beauty Score

[scootercam_sunset_score]

Displays tonight’s sunset quality prediction with score, rating, and contributing factors.

Moonset Beauty Score

[scootercam_moonset_score show_details="false"]

Displays tonight’s moonset quality prediction with moon phase and illumination data.

Options:

• show_details – Show/hide contributing factors (default: true)

Moon Data Shortcodes

Moon Phase Calendar

[scootercam_moon_calendar]

Displays 6-cell calendar showing moon phases from last new moon to next new moon, with “Now” indicator highlighting current position in the lunar cycle.

Current Moon Phase

[scootercam_moon_current]

Shows current phase name, illumination percentage, age in days, zodiac signs, and moonrise/moonset times.

Moon Viewing Information

[scootercam_moon_viewing]

Displays visibility rating, optimal viewing period, technical position data (altitude, azimuth, distance), and viewing recommendations.

Full Moon Data

[scootercam_full_moons]

Shows last and next full moons with traditional names and cultural descriptions.

Visualization Shortcodes

Sun Path Arc

[scootercam_sun_arc]

SVG visualization showing sun’s path across the sky with sunrise, solar noon, sunset times, and current position indicator.

Moon Path Arc

[scootercam_moon_arc]

SVG visualization showing moon’s path with moonrise/moonset times, current position, and phase graphic.

Dashboard

Complete Astronomy Dashboard

[scootercam_astronomy_dashboard]

Displays all components in a comprehensive, organized layout:

• Sunset and moonset predictions side-by-side
• Moon phase calendar
• Sun and moon arc visualizations
• Current moon phase and viewing information
• Full moon data

Data Files

The plugin requires two JSON data files:

moon_api_data.json

Contains comprehensive moon and sun data:

• Sun: sunrise, sunset, solar noon, day length
• Moon: phase, illumination, age, zodiac signs
• Moon events: moonrise, moonset, optimal viewing
• Upcoming phases: new moon, quarters, full moon with names/descriptions
• Technical data: altitude, azimuth, distance, phase angle

predictor.json

Contains beauty prediction scores:

• Sunset: score, rating, time, contributing factors
• Moonset: score, rating, time, moon data, contributing factors

Admin Interface

Access the plugin settings at Settings → Sun & Moon to:

• View all available shortcodes with examples
• Check data file status
• Preview all components with live data
• Test individual shortcodes

Styling

The plugin uses W3.CSS classes for styling. Color-coded score classes:

• 8-10: Green (Excellent/Outstanding)
• 6-7: Light Green (Good/Great)
• 4-5: Orange (Fair/Moderate)
• 0-3: Red (Poor)

File Structure

scootercam-sun-moon/
├── scootercam-sun-moon.php    # Main plugin file
└── README.md                   # This file

Requirements

• WordPress 5.0 or higher
• PHP 7.0 or higher
• W3.CSS loaded on your site (or similar CSS framework)
• Data files must be generated by your weather/astronomy scripts

Data File Locations

Default paths (can be modified in plugin code):

• Moon data: /home/scootercam/public_html/wx/moon_api_data.json
• Predictor data: /home/scootercam/public_html/wx/predictor.json

Changelog

1.0.0 – 2025-10-20

• Initial release
• Sunset/moonset beauty predictions
• Moon phase calendar with “Now” indicator
• Sun and moon arc visualizations
• Current moon phase details
• Moon viewing information with recommendations
• Full moon data with traditional names
• Complete astronomy dashboard
• Admin preview interface

Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests, visit scootercam.net

License

GPL v2 or later

Credits

Developed by ScooterCam Icon assets located at /assets/icons/

Screenshots

Sunset Prediction

Shows tonight’s sunset quality with contributing weather factors.

Moon Phase Calendar

Visual timeline of the lunar cycle with current position highlighted.

Sun & Moon Arcs

Real-time visualizations showing celestial paths across the sky.

Complete Dashboard

All components organized in a comprehensive astronomy view.

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Pro Tip: Use

for a complete astronomy page, or mix individual shortcodes for custom layouts!