Welcome. The Python scripts in this repository allow the user to perform conversions between three astronomical coordinate systems: -celestial (right ascension & declination) -telescope (azimuth and altitude) -galactic (galactic longitude and latitude)
The Astropy module is required. Install this using: $ pip install astropy It is important to make sure that a recent version of numpy is installed.
For background on Astropy, see their website and examples: https://www.astropy.org/ https://docs.astropy.org/en/stable/generated/examples/coordinates/plot_obs-planning.html#sphx-glr-generated-examples-coordinates-plot-obs-planning-py
The programs below provide a simple GUI for observers to use for real-time conversions between galactic and telescope coordinates.
cc-to-aa.py
#Purpose: GUI converts celestial coordinates to alt-az coordinates
#Example: python cc-to-aa.py
#Note: Uses current clock time
gc-to-aa.py
#Purpose: GUI converts galactic coordinates to alt-az coordinates
#Example: python gc-to-aa.py
#Note: Uses current clock time
aa-to-gc.py
#Purpose: GUI converts alt-az coordinates to galactic coordinates
#Example: python aa-to-gc.py
#Note: Uses current clock time
The converter program below allows for command-line conversions in the tty window. The user also has the option of choosing between clock time and a day/time of their choosing.
converter.py
#Purpose: Performs coordinate conversions between galactic, celestial and telescope
#Usage: 1-gc:aa, 2-gc:cc, 3-cc:aa, 4-cc:gc, 5-aa:gc, 6-aa:cc
#Example: python converter.py -f 1 -glong 180 -glat 5
#Example: python converter.py -f 2 -glong 180 -glat 5
#Example: python converter.py -f 3 -ra 12:20:00 -dec 40.5
#Example: python converter.py -f 4 -ra 12:20:00 -dec 40.5
#Example: python converter.py -f 5 -alt 45 -az 60
#Example: python converter.py -f 6 -alt 45 -az 60
#Notes: Program uses clock time from Pi (but there is option to enter manually)
Finally, the scripts below create various plots that are useful for planning observations.
plot-gc.py
#Purpose: Creates scatter plot of glat vs glong over 24 h period for a constant alt-az
#Example: python plot_gc.py -alt 70 -az 180
#Notes: Actual start date and time do not matter
plot-gc-interval.py
#Purpose: Creates scatter plot of glat vs glong for observing time period specified by user #Usage: python plot_gc.py -az 180 -alt 70 -day 2021-09-25 -time 09:00 -hours 8.5
plot-alt.py
#Purpose: Creates scatter plot of altitude vs time for specified object, over 24 hours
#Purpose: Includes altitudes of the sun and moon
#Example: python plot-alt.py -glong 180 -glat 0
#Notes: Altitudes of sun and moon are always at az=180 degrees. Object azimuth may be different
plot-altaz.py
#Purpose: Creates scatter plot of altitude vs azimuth for specified object, over 24 hours
#Usage: python plot-altaz.py -glat 0 -glong 180
#Notes: User must enter Latitude, longitude, and time zone in script. Day and time do not matter.
plot-sun.py
#Purpose: Creates scatter plot of GALLAT vs GALLON for sun over 12-month period.
#Example: python plot-sun.py
#Note: Be sure to input the latitude, longitude. Date and time do not matter.