plot_sky¶
- astroplan.plots.plot_sky(target, observer, time, ax=None, style_kwargs=None, north_to_east_ccw=True, grid=True, az_label_offset=<Quantity 0. deg>, warn_below_horizon=False, style_sheet=None)[source]¶
Plots target positions in the sky with respect to the observer’s location.
If a
Axes
object already exists, plots an additional target position on top. Otherwise, creates a newAxes
object with a sky plot.Can pass in a scalar
Time
object (e.g.Time('2000-1-1')
) or an array of length one (e.g.Time(['2000-1-1'])
) to get plot at one instance in time. If pass in anTime
object with multiple instances of time (e.g.Time(['2000-1-1 20:00:00', '2000-1-1 20:30:00'])
), target’s position will be shown at each of these times.For examples with plots, visit the documentation of Sky Charts.
- Parameters
- target
FixedTarget
The celestial body of interest.
- observer
Observer
The person, telescope, observatory, etc. doing the observing.
- time
Time
If pass in an
Time
object with just one instance in time, whether it be a scalar or an array (e.g.Time('2000-1-1')
,Time(['2000-1-1'])
,[Time('2000-1-1')]
),plot_sky
will return plot at one instance in time. If pass in anTime
object with multiple instances in time (e.g.Time(['2000-1-1', '2000-1-2'])
) will show positions plotted at the exact times specified.- ax
Axes
or None, optional. The
Axes
object to be drawn on. If None, uses the currentAxes
.- style_kwargsdict or None, optional.
A dictionary of keywords passed into
scatter
to set plotting styles.- north_to_east_ccwbool, optional.
True by default, meaning that azimuth is shown increasing counter-clockwise (CCW), or with North at top, East at left, etc. To show azimuth increasing clockwise (CW), set to False.
- gridbool, optional.
True by default, meaning that grid is drawn.
- az_label_offset
~astropy.units.degree
, optional. DANGER: It is not recommended that you change the default behavior, as to do so makes it seem as if N/E/S/W are being decoupled from the definition of azimuth (North from az = 0 deg., East from az = 90 deg., etc.). An offset for azimuth labels from the North label. A positive offset will increase in the same direction as azimuth (see
north_to_east_ccw
option).- warn_below_horizonbool, optional
If
False
, don’t show warnings when attempting to plot targets below the horzion.- style_sheetdict or
None
(optional) matplotlib style sheet to use. To see available style sheets in astroplan, print astroplan.plots.available_style_sheets. Defaults to the light theme.
- target
- Returns
- An
Axes
object (ax) with a map of the sky.
- An
Notes
- Using
Time
objects: See Astropy documentation for more details.
Coordinate defaults:
Altazimuth (local horizon) coordinate system. North is always at top of plot, South is always at the bottom, E/W can be right or left depending on the
north_to_east_cw
option.Altitude: 90 degrees (zenith) is at plot origin (center) and 0 degrees (horizon) is at plot edge. This cannot be changed by user.
Azimuth: 0 degrees is at North (top of plot), 90 degrees at East, etc. DANGER: Azimuth labels can be changed by user via the
az_label_offset
option, but it is not recommended, as to do so makes it seem as if N/E/S/W are being decoupled from the definition of azimuth (North from az = 0 deg., East from az = 90 deg., etc.).