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Coordinate / Object Lookup

Instructions

This service combines two functions into a single interface. The first is provide transformations of coordinates from one system to all others. The second is to make use of NED and SIMBAD to look up coordinates for astronomical objects by name.

The same input field is used for either and the service dynamically determines its content. If the input field contains a string which can be interpreted as a coordinate representation, it is used as such. If not, the string is sent first to NED, then to SIMBAD to attempt name resolution. The range of name formats acceptable is set by those projects.

Coordinates entered into the interface allow for all information to be contained in a single string. The parser is very forgiving, so all of the following are valid (and give the results you would expect):

  • 17h 44m 34s -27d 59m 13s Equtorial J2000
  • 17h44m34s -27d59m13s
  • 00h42m44.3s +41d16m08s b1950
  • 00:42:44.3 -41:16:08
  • 00 42 44.3 -41 16 08 b1983
  • 004244.3 -411608
  • 17h -27d Equ J2000
  • 17h -27d
  • 34.5565 54.2321 gal
  • 34. 54. ecl
Putting all the information in one field has the advantages that cutting and pasting from other sources can be done quickly and data entry in general can be performed without moving back and forth between the keyboard and mouse.

This same entry field appears in many other IRSA services where coordinates are required.