Alternative Time Systems for Home Assistant

A comprehensive Home Assistant integration providing 30+ alternative time systems from science, science fiction, fantasy, history, religion, and various cultures.

🎯 Overview

🌙 Lunar Time (Relativistic Moon time based on LTE440 ephemeris)
⭐ Stellar Distances (Real-time distances to stars & pulsars with accuracy data)
🪐 Solar System Tracker (Real-time planetary positions with visual maps)
🚀 Science Fiction (Star Trek, Star Wars, EVE Online, Warhammer 40K)
🧙 Fantasy Worlds (Tolkien, Elder Scrolls, Discworld, Warcraft)
🏛️ Historical Calendars (Maya, Egyptian, Attic, Roman, French Revolutionary)
🔴 Mars Colonization (Darian Calendar, Mars Time Zones)
🌏 Cultural Calendars (Islamic, Thai, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, Hindu, Ethiopian)
💻 Technical Formats (Unix, Hexadecimal, Julian Date, Swatch, TAI, UT1)
🎖️ Military Systems (NATO DTG in multiple formats)

✨ New in Version 2.5.2.180

🌙 Lunar Coordinate Time (TCL)

Actual lunar clock time based on the LTE440 Lunar Time Ephemeris.

Parameter	Value
Display	`14:30:45 TCL` (actual Moon time)
Daily Drift	~56.7 µs/day (Moon clock runs faster)
Accumulated	~1-2 ms since J2000.0 epoch
Accuracy	<0.15 ns until 2050
Scientific Basis	JPL DE440, IAU 2024 Resolution II

Features:

Shows actual TCL time (what a clock on the Moon would show)
Multiple display formats: Time, DateTime, Time+Drift, Drift only
Relativistic calculation (general + special relativity)
13 periodic variation terms from orbital mechanics
Based on peer-reviewed research (Lu, Yang & Xie, A&A 704, A76, 2025)

Reference: DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202557345

🌟 Available Time Systems

🌙 Lunar Time

Lunar Coordinate Time (TCL) 🆕

ID: lunar_tcl
Format: 14:30:45 TCL or 2026-01-24 14:30:45 TCL
Features:
- Actual lunar clock time (UTC + relativistic drift)
- Relativistic time dilation between Earth and Moon
- Based on LTE440 ephemeris (JPL DE440)
- Daily drift ~56.7 µs (Moon clock runs faster)
- Accumulated difference since epoch (currently ~1-2 ms)
- IAU 2024 Resolution II compliant
- Scientific reference: Lu, Yang & Xie (2025), A&A 704, A76
Display options: TCL Time, TCL DateTime, TCL+Drift, Daily Drift (µs), Accumulated (ms)
Update: Every 60 seconds

ESA Lunar Time (LTC)

ID: lunar_time
Format: LTC 14:30:45 | 🌓 Day 8
Features:
- ESA's proposed Lunar Time Coordinated system
- Lunar timezones (Apollo, Chang'e, Luna landing sites)
- Moon phase display
- Time dilation indicator (56 µs/day)
Update: Every 60 seconds

⭐ Stellar Distances

Stellar Distance Calculator

Real-time distances to notable stars and pulsars with measurement accuracy.

7 Stars:

Star	Distance	Accuracy	Note
Proxima Centauri	4.24 ly	±0.006%	Nearest star
Barnard's Star	5.95 ly	±0.007%	Fastest proper motion (10.3"/yr)
Scholz's Star	22.2 ly	±0.17%	Passed Oort Cloud 70,000 years ago
Ross 248	10.3 ly	±0.27%	Will be nearest in 36,000 years
Gliese 710	62.5 ly	±0.05%	Collision course - 10,600 AU in 1.35 Myr
Polaris	433 ly	±1.5%	North Star
Betelgeuse	723 ly	±18%	Supernova candidate

6 Nearest Pulsars:

Pulsar	Distance	Accuracy	Note
PSR J0437-4715	511 ly	±0.06%	Nearest millisecond pulsar (173 rot/sec)
PSR J0108-1431	424 ly	±13%	Oldest nearby (166 Myr)
Vela Pulsar	932 ly	±6%	Brightest radio pulsar
Geminga	815 ly	±32%	First gamma-ray pulsar
PSR B0656+14	940 ly	±10%	"Three Musketeers" pulsar
PSR B0950+08	906 ly	±8%	Old pulsar in Leo (17.5 Myr)

Features:

Real-time distance calculation using parallax + radial velocity
Measurement uncertainty (±%) for each object
Distance range (min-max) based on parallax error
Accuracy ratings: excellent / very good / good / moderate / uncertain
Data sources: Gaia DR3, VLBI parallax, Pulsar Timing

🪐 Solar System

Solar System Tracker

Features: Real-time planetary positions, visual orbit maps
Update: Hourly

🚀 Science Fiction

Stardate (Star Trek TNG)

Format: [41]XXX.X (e.g., [41]986.0)
Features: TNG-style calculation, configurable year offset
Update: Every 10 seconds

Star Wars Galactic Calendar

Format: 35:3:21 GrS | Taungsday | Expansion Week
Features: Galactic Standard Calendar, 10 months, 7 weeks, 5 days per week, 368-day year
Update: Hourly

EVE Online Time

Format: YC 127.03.15 14:30:45
Features: New Eden Standard Time, YC dating
Update: Every second

Warhammer 40K Imperial Dating

Format: 0.523.025.M42
Features: Check number, year fraction, millennium designation
Update: Every 5 minutes

🧙 Fantasy Calendars

Middle-earth Collection

Shire Calendar: Hobbit time with 7 meals
Calendar of Imladris: Elvish 6-season year
Calendar of Gondor: Númenórean system

Elder Scrolls (Tamriel)

Format: 4E 201, 17 Last Seed (Fredas)
Features: 8-day weeks, Divine blessings, Daedric influence
Update: Hourly

Discworld Calendar

Format: Century of the Anchovy, UC 25, 32 Offle
Features: Impossible dates (32nd of months), Guild influences, L-Space anomalies
Update: Hourly

World of Warcraft Calendar

Format: Year 35, Day of the Wisp, 4th of Deepwood
Features: Azeroth dates, seasonal events, moon phases
Update: Hourly

🏛️ Historical Calendars

Ancient Egyptian

Format: Dynasty 1 Year 25, 𓊖 15 Thoth
Features: Hieroglyphic numbers, 3 seasons, Nile status
Update: Hourly

Maya Long Count

Format: 13.0.12.1.15 | 8 Ahau | 3 Pop
Features: Long Count, Tzolk'in, Haab calendars
Update: Hourly

Roman Calendar

Format: a.d. XVII Kal. Ian. MMDCCLXXVIII A.U.C.
Features: Kalends, Nones, Ides system, Roman numerals, A.U.C. dating
Update: Hourly

Attic Calendar

Format: 5 histamenou Hekatombaion | Ol.700.2
Features: Archon years, Olympiad counting
Update: Hourly

French Revolutionary Calendar

Features: Decimal time (10 hours/day, 100 minutes/hour), Revolutionary months
Update: Every second

☪️ Religious Calendars

Islamic (Hijri) Calendar

Format: 15 Ramadan 1447 AH
Features: Tabular calculation, Arabic month names, Islamic holidays
Update: Hourly

Hebrew Calendar

Format: 15 Tishrei 5785
Features: Jewish holidays, Sabbath indication
Update: Hourly

Chinese Calendar

Format: 甲辰年十月十五 | Wood Dragon
Features: Lunar calendar, Zodiac animals, Heavenly stems & Earthly branches
Update: Hourly

🌍 Cultural Calendars

Suriyakati (Thai Buddhist)

Format: ๒๕ ธันวาคม ๒๕๖๘
Features: Buddhist Era (BE = CE + 543), Thai numerals
Update: Hourly

Minguo (Taiwan/ROC)

Format: 民國114年十二月二十五日
Features: Republic Era (Year 1 = 1912 CE)
Update: Hourly

Japanese Era Calendar

Format: 令和7年1月24日
Features: Imperial era names, Japanese holidays, Rokuyou
Update: Hourly

Hindu Panchang

Features: Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, festivals
Update: Hourly

Ge'ez (Ethiopian) Calendar

Format: 15 መስከረም 2017 or ፲፭ መስከረም ፳፻፲፯
Features: 13-month calendar, native Ge'ez script and numerals
Update: Hourly

🔴 Mars Time Systems

Darian Calendar

Format: Sol 15 Gemini 217
Features: 24 months, 668 sols per year
Update: Hourly

Mars Time with Zones

Format: 14:25:30 Olympus Mons | Sol 234/MY36
Features: 24 Mars timezones, mission sol tracking
Update: Every 30 seconds

💻 Technical Formats

Unix Timestamp

Format: 1735689600
Update: Every second

Swatch Internet Time

Format: @500.00
Features: 1000 .beats per day
Update: Every second

Hexadecimal Time

Format: A.F3.C8
Update: Every 5 seconds

Julian Date

Format: 2460678.50000
Update: Every 30 seconds

TAI (International Atomic Time)

Format: 2026-01-24T00:36:52 TAI
Features: Continuous atomic timescale, leap second history
Update: Every second

UT1 (Universal Time 1)

Format: 2026-01-24T00:43:31.767 UT1
Features: Earth rotation time, IERS API integration
Update: Configurable (5 min to 24 hours)

🎖️ Military Systems

NATO Date-Time Group

German Format: 241530AJAN26
US/UK Format: 241530Z JAN 26
Features: Multiple timezone designators, configurable formats

📦 Installation

Via HACS (Recommended)

Open HACS in your Home Assistant
Click the three dots → "Custom repositories"
Add URL: https://github.com/Lexorius/alternative_time
Select "Integration" as category
Click "Add"
Search for "Alternative Time Systems" and install
Restart Home Assistant

Manual Installation

Download the alternative_time folder from the repository
Copy to /config/custom_components/
Restart Home Assistant

⚙️ Configuration

Via User Interface (Config Flow 2.5)

Go to Settings → Devices & Services
Click Add Integration
Search for Alternative Time Systems
Follow the configuration wizard:
- Step 1: Name your instance
- Step 2: Select categories (Technical, Historical, Cultural, Space, etc.)
- Step 3: Choose calendars from each category
- Step 4: Configure calendar-specific options

🎨 Architecture

Standardized Calendar Format

Each calendar follows the unified CALENDAR_INFO structure:

Metadata: ID, version, icon, category, accuracy
Multi-language: Names and descriptions in 12 languages
Calendar Data: Months, weeks, special dates, events
Configuration Options: Customizable per calendar
Update Intervals: Optimized for each calendar type

Supported Languages

🚀 Performance Optimization

Category	Update Interval	Calendars
Real-time	1 second	Unix, Swatch, TAI
Near real-time	5-10 seconds	Hexadecimal, Stardate
Time-based	30-60 seconds	Mars Time, Julian Date, Lunar Time
Date-based	1 hour	Calendar systems, Stellar Distances
Event-based	5 minutes	Warhammer 40K

📈 Version History

v2.5.2.180 (Current)

🌙 Lunar Coordinate Time (TCL): New plugin lunar_tcl.py showing actual lunar clock time
🕐 TCL Time Display: Shows what time it would be on the Moon (14:30:45 TCL)
⏱️ LTE440 Ephemeris: Based on JPL DE440, scientific accuracy <0.15 ns until 2050
📊 Daily drift: ~56.7 µs/day (Moon clock faster than Earth)
📈 13 periodic terms: Annual (~1.65 ms), monthly (~126 µs), and 11 minor terms
🔬 Scientific basis: Lu, Yang & Xie (2025), Astronomy & Astrophysics 704, A76
📐 IAU compliant: IAU 2024 Resolution II (LCRS/TCL standard)
🌙 ESA Lunar Time: Updated config options with emoji labels for landing sites
🛠️ Config Flow Fix: Fixed dropdown labels for select options

v2.5.2.170

⭐ Stellar Distances Calculator: Real-time distances to 7 stars & 6 pulsars
📊 Measurement Accuracy: Uncertainty percentages for all objects
📏 Distance Ranges: Min-max based on parallax errors
🎯 Accuracy Ratings: excellent/very good/good/moderate/uncertain
📡 Data Sources: Gaia DR3, VLBI, Pulsar Timing

v2.5.2.165

🕐 TAI: International Atomic Time
🌍 UT1: Universal Time 1 with IERS API
✝️ Ge'ez Calendar: Ethiopian calendar with native script
🪐 Solar System: Improved positioning

v2.5.0

⚡ Complete Architecture Rewrite
🎨 Standardized Calendar Format
🌍 Multi-language Support (12 languages)
📁 Category-based Organization
⚙️ Enhanced Config Flow with plugin options

Previous Versions

v1.6.0: Tamriel, Egyptian, Discworld calendars
v1.5.0: EVE Online, Shire, Imladris calendars
v1.4.0: Mars time systems
v1.3.0: Asian calendars, Attic calendar
v1.2.0: NATO time formats
v1.1.0: Maya calendar, async improvements
v1.0.0: Initial release

🛠️ Development

Adding a New Calendar

Create calendars/your_calendar.py
Follow the standardized format (see existing calendars)
Include CALENDAR_INFO dictionary with all metadata
Implement sensor class extending AlternativeTimeSensorBase
Test thoroughly

Minimal Calendar Template

CALENDAR_INFO = {
    "id": "your_calendar",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "icon": "mdi:calendar",
    "category": "technical",
    "update_interval": 3600,
    "name": {
        "en": "Your Calendar",
        "de": "Dein Kalender",
        # ... other languages
    },
    "description": {
        "en": "Calendar description",
        "de": "Kalenderbeschreibung",
        # ... other languages
    },
    "config_options": {
        "option_key": {
            "type": "boolean",
            "default": True,
            "label": {"en": "Option Label", "de": "Optionsbeschriftung"},
            "description": {"en": "Option description", "de": "Optionsbeschreibung"}
        }
    }
}

🐛 Troubleshooting

Calendar Not Appearing

Check Home Assistant logs for errors
Verify the calendar file is in the correct directory
Ensure CALENDAR_INFO['id'] matches the filename

Options Not Saving

Check that your calendar has config_options defined
Verify the option types are supported (text, number, boolean, select)
Review logs for configuration errors

Wrong Language Displayed

Check Home Assistant language settings
Verify translations exist for your language
Fallback to English if translation missing

📄 License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details.

📮 Support

Bug Reports: GitHub Issues
Feature Requests: Open a GitHub issue with [Enhancement] tag

🔗 Links

Version 2.5.2.180

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