Sky Camera Virtual Horizon Mask and Tracking Solar Disc

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,
• the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• comparing, by the processor, an apparent diameter of a solar disc with an expected diameter of the solar disc on a clear day;
• determining, by the processor, that the clear day exists in the camera image in response to the apparent diameter of the solar disc being similar to the expected diameter of the solar disc on the clear day;
• and
• determining, by the processor, that an overcast condition exists in the camera image in response to the apparent diameter of the solar disc being distorted.

A method comprising:

• determining, by a processor, that a solar disc is obstructed by an horizon based on solar disc coordinates and horizon coordinates,
• wherein a camera image is segmented into a first portion around a known position of the solar disc using the solar disc coordinates and a second portion of a remainder of a sky section containing the horizon using the horizon coordinates of the horizon;
• and
• establishing, by the processor, that a first location of the sky section is experiencing shadow conditions based on the determining.