SWAS Coordinate/Object Name 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 , SIMBAD and a dedicated SWAS name resolver to look up coordinates for astronomical objects by name. The SWAS name resolver is necessary because a substantial fraction of the source names used by SWAS are not resolved through SIMBAD or NED. (The SWAS nomenclature can be seen by hitting the "Select Spectra From Table of Sources" link on the Main Page).

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, then to the SWAS name resolver 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):

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.