convert Modified Julian Date

I am importing a .dat file that has MJD in the form of "55743.21235" and if converted in Excel (by taking the cell-50813) is 06/30/11 05:05:47. This is cummlative file with years worth of data but each quarter, I am only interested in the current quarter(i.e. Oct 01, 2011-Dec 31, 2011).

How can I convert/change each of the MJDs (in a single column of over +1000 MJDs) that I import into the more meaningful form of 'dd:mmm:yyyy' or 'mmm:dd:yyyy'? Once the conversion is complete, the user will be queried to select a time frame, or quarter, of interest. The HH:MM:SS aren't required. Thanks, Kate

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

The difference between datenum('06/30/11 05:05:47') (your proposed translation) and 55743.21235, is 678941

However, datenum('Nov 17, 1858,00:00') is 678942, which is a one day difference compared to your proposal.

The Nov 17, 1858 00:00 date is listed in Wikipedia, and the 678942 offset is exactly that needed to properly convert the example MJD 49987 to September 27, 1995, as documented in the US Naval Observatory web site

The evidence would seem to suggest that your calculations are off by exactly one day, and that Fangjun's calculations are correct.

[Kate L.]

works perfectly...thank you!

mjd = data(1:end,1) %mjd in the form 55743.21235

mjdconv = mjd+678942

datestr(mjdconv)

Answer 2

[Fangjun Jiang]

You can use datestr(),datenum() and datevec() function. Try this:

a=now;
b=datestr(a)
c=datevec(a)

According to Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_day, the epoch (commencing time) of MJD is 00:00 November 17, 1858, Wednesday. So,

d = 55743.21235;
MJD_epoch='Nov 17, 1858,00:00';
datestr(d+datenum(MJD_epoch))
ans =
01-Jul-2011 05:05:47

I am not sure why it's still off one day (according to you). Are you sure you got the correct day?

[Kate L.]

Thank you and this does work but not correctly for the MJD given in the question. It returns a date of 13-Aug-0152 05:05:47 (vice 30 Jun 11).

I believe it may be the difference in the way MATLAB references the date/year, 0000? How do I deal w/ this type of MJD?

[Fangjun Jiang]

You mentioned an offset of 50813?

a=55743.21235;

b=a-50813;

datestr(a)

datestr(b)

[Fangjun Jiang]

datestr() and datenum() can specify pivot year too. See the document.