One way that the duration of "bright sunshine" is measured is through a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. It is comprised of a glass canister or sphere that directs sunlight onto a card that is treated with a special chemical. The sunlight burns or chars a mark onto the card. This marking, called a trace, is measured and converted into a duration of time. The term "bright sunshine" means that the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder is unable to work properly when the sun is going down or rising for the day, only when it is able to provide direct rays of sunlight.

With the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder, the card is changed one time each day. It is relatively accurate and provides a total duration of sunshine to the nearest tenth of an hour every day of the year. The sun changes elevation several times throughout the year, so there are three different cards that can be used. The cards are associated with the different seasons and are created to fit with the elevation of the sun.

Occasionally, the readings that are created with the sunshine recorder are hard to interpret; however, it has been used for years. Sometimes the traces or marks on the cards burn too deeply, making them a challenge to read. Interestingly, there are electronic versions of the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. The readings of these electronic models are usually much simpler to follow, making them a new favorite. The readings are converted to the Campbell-Stokes valuation, making the data easy to compare.

A new version of sunshine recorder is electronic solarimeter. It can read the intensity of solar radiation and expresses its data in watts per square meter. Solar radiation can be in one of two forms: direct or diffuse. If it is direct radiation, the radiation reaches the solarimeter directly from the sun. If it is diffuse radiation, it reaches the solarimeter after it is scattered by dust, particles in the atmosphere, and gas molecules. The readings are helpful for those interested in agriculture and changes in climate.

Scientists are always researching new ways to measure sunlight. The older sunshine recorder is quickly being replaced with newer, more sensitive devices, like the solarimeter. As the sunshine recorder becomes obsolete, some collectors and individuals interested in tracking the sun at home have begun their quest to purchase their own recorders. Prices vary depending on the quality and size of the device.