read_object_list

msumastro.header_processing.patchers.read_object_list(directory=None, input_list=None, skip_consistency_check=False, check_radius=20.0, skip_lookup_from_object_name=False)

Read a list of objects from a text file.

Parameters

directorystr

Directory containing the file. Default is the current directory, .

input_liststr, optional

Name of the file or URL of file. Default value is obsinfo.txt. If the name is a URL the directory argument is ignored.

skip_consistency_checkbool optional

If True, skip checking whether objects on the list have unique coordinates given check_radius.

check_radiusfloat, optional

Match radius, in arcminutes. Objects on the list must be separated by an angular distance greater than this for the list to be self-consistent.

skip_lookup_from_object_namebool, optional

Set to True to skip lookup of coordinates from Simbad if RA/Dec are not in the object file.

Notes

There are two file formats; one contains just a list of objects, the other has an RA and Dec for each object.

In both types any lines that start with # are ignored and treated as comments.

File with list of objects only:

• Object coordinates are determined by lookup with Simbad. You should make sure the object names you use are known to simbad.

• The first non-comment line MUST be the word object and only the word object. It is case sensitive; Object or OBJECT will not work.

• Remaining line(s) are name(s) of object(s), one per line. Case does not matter for object name.

• Example:

  # my list is below
  object
  m101
  sz lyn
  # the next object is after this comment
  RR LYR
  

File with object name and position:

• RA and Dec must be J2000.

• RA must be given in hours, though it can be either sexagesimal (e.g. 19:25:27.9) or decimal (e.g. 19.423861).

• Dec must be given in degrees, though it can be either sexagesimal (e.g. 42:47:3.69) or decimal (e.g. 42.7843583)

• The first non-comment line MUST be these words: object,RA,Dec. These are column headings for your file. It is not case sensitive; for example, using DEC instead of Dec will work.

• Each remaining line should be an object name, object RA and Dec. Case does not matter for object name.

• Example:

  # my list with RA and Dec
  # RA and Dec are assumed to be J2000
  # RA MUST BE IN HOURS
  # DEC MUST BE IN DEGREES
  object,RA,Dec
  m101,14:03:12.583, +54:20:55.50
  # note that the leading sign for the Dec is optional if Dec is
  # positive
  sz lyn,08:09:35.748, 44:28:17.61
  # You can mix sexagesimal and decimal RA/Dec.
  RR Lyr, 19.423861,42.7843583