Bug - Solar panels generate power while the sun is blocked by Minmus

[Confuzzzled]

Even though the sun is blocked by Minmus, the solar panels still generate power.

The only mods I have running are Mechjeb and TAC life support, but I am posting this in unmodded because I think I have also seen this in an unmodded game.

I would add a screenshot, but it seems it is only possible to insert an image from an URL.

[arachnidan]

Also happened to me, but I have too many mods so i don't know.

[Sonny_Jim]

Can you right click the solar panel and provide a screenshot of the information?

[surge]

No, because I'm not allowed to.

I'll try to describe it to you though:

Completely black arena... took me a while to find the solar cell (this particular craft has no lights):

HUD:

------

Altitude: 000166m

Atmosphere: left limit??!!

Vertical change: 0

Gear Down

Lights Off

Brakes Off

NAVBALL:

-----------

Surface: 0.0m/s

10/58 degrees.

HDG: 58

G: <0.2

Throttle: 0

RCS off

SAS off

Solar Cell right clicked:

---------------------------

SP-L 1x6 Photovoltaic Panels

Sun Exposure: 1.00

Energy Flow: 1.71

Status: Direct Sunlight

Retract Panels <button>

Neither you nor I can see which way the solar panel is facing. As I said.. it's just black!

[Move to bugs]

Edited May 16, 2015 by surge

[sal_vager]

Sort of a bug, mostly a limitation of the engine, planets don't actually block the "light" at all, to get around this when KSP thinks you're not able to see the sun it turns the light off.

This is not reliable when at dawn or dusk, or when a mountain blocks the sun, it should stop a little after nightfall though.

[ezfox]

I can provide a screenshot of the bug.

On Kerbin all is working as expected. On Minmus the panels produce full energy even at midnight. I didnt try on other celestial bodies so far.

The panels turn in the direction of the sun (to the bottom) and light is even blocked by a tank below the solar panel that is used as the base structure.

Screenshot:

Edited May 19, 2016 by ezfox

[bewing]

Yes, well, it's been in the bugtracker a very long time: http://bugs.kerbalspaceprogram.com/issues/1129

[surge]

This probably explains why I sometimes see shadows of rocks even though I cant for the life of me, find the actual rock causing them. Meh.