Reference/API

astroplan Package

astroplan is an open source (BSD licensed) observation planning package for astronomers that can help you plan for everything but the clouds.

It is an in-development Astropy affiliated package that seeks to make your life as an observational astronomer a little less infuriating.

• Code: astropy/astroplan

• Docs: https://astroplan.readthedocs.io/

Functions

download_IERS_A([show_progress])	Download and cache the IERS Bulletin A table.
is_always_observable(constraints, observer, ...)	A function to determine whether targets are always observable throughout time_range given constraints in the constraints_list for a particular observer.
is_event_observable(constraints, observer, ...)	Determines if the target is observable at each time in times, given constraints in constraints for a particular observer.
is_observable(constraints, observer, targets)	Determines if the targets are observable during time_range given constraints in constraints_list for a particular observer.
max_best_rescale(vals, min_val, max_val[, ...])	rescales an input array vals to be a score (between zero and one), where the max_val goes to one, and the min_val goes to zero.
min_best_rescale(vals, min_val, max_val[, ...])	rescales an input array vals to be a score (between zero and one), where the min_val goes to one, and the max_val goes to zero.
months_observable(constraints, observer, targets)	Determines which month the specified targets are observable for a specific observer, given the supplied constraints.
moon_illumination(time[, ephemeris])	Calculate fraction of the moon illuminated.
moon_phase_angle(time[, ephemeris])	Calculate lunar orbital phase in radians.
observability_table(constraints, observer, ...)	Creates a table with information about observability for all the targets over the requested time_range, given the constraints in constraints_list for observer.
stride_array(arr, window_width)	Computes all possible sequential subarrays of arr with length = window_width
time_grid_from_range(time_range[, ...])	Get linearly-spaced sequence of times.

Classes

AirmassConstraint([max, min, boolean_constraint])	Constrain the airmass of a target.
AltitudeConstraint([min, max, ...])	Constrain the altitude of the target.
AstroplanWarning	Superclass for warnings used by astroplan
AtNightConstraint([max_solar_altitude, ...])	Constrain the Sun to be below horizon.
Constraint()	Abstract class for objects defining observational constraints.
EclipsingSystem(primary_eclipse_time, ...[, ...])	Define parameters for an eclipsing system; useful for an eclipsing binary or transiting exoplanet.
FixedTarget(coord[, name])	Coordinates and metadata for an object that is "fixed" with respect to the celestial sphere.
GalacticLatitudeConstraint([min, max])	Constrain the distance between the Galactic plane and some targets.
LocalTimeConstraint([min, max])	Constrain the observable hours.
MissingConstraintWarning	Triggered when a constraint is expected but not supplied
MoonIlluminationConstraint([min, max, ephemeris])	Constrain the fractional illumination of the Earth's moon.
MoonSeparationConstraint([min, max, ephemeris])	Constrain the distance between the Earth's moon and some targets.
NonFixedTarget([name, ra, dec, marker])	Placeholder for future function.
Observer([location, timezone, name, ...])	A container class for information about an observer's location and environment.
ObservingBlock(target, duration, priority[, ...])	An observation to be scheduled, consisting of a target and associated constraints on observations.
OldEarthOrientationDataWarning	Using old Earth rotation data from IERS
PeriodicEvent(epoch, period[, duration, name])	A periodic event defined by an epoch and period.
PhaseConstraint(periodic_event[, min, max])	Constrain observations to times in some range of phases for a periodic event (e.g.~transiting exoplanets, eclipsing binaries).
PlotBelowHorizonWarning	Warning for when something is hidden on a plot because it's below the horizon
PlotWarning	Warnings dealing with the plotting aspects of astroplan
PrimaryEclipseConstraint(eclipsing_system)	Constrain observations to times during primary eclipse.
PriorityScheduler(*args, **kwargs)	A scheduler that optimizes a prioritized list.
Schedule(start_time, end_time[, constraints])	An object that represents a schedule, consisting of a list of Slot objects.
Scheduler(constraints, observer[, ...])	Schedule a set of ObservingBlock objects
Scorer(blocks, observer, schedule[, ...])	Returns scores and score arrays from the evaluation of constraints on observing blocks
SecondaryEclipseConstraint(eclipsing_system)	Constrain observations to times during secondary eclipse.
SequentialScheduler(*args, **kwargs)	A scheduler that does "stupid simple sequential scheduling".
Slot(start_time, end_time)	A time slot consisting of a start and end time
SunSeparationConstraint([min, max])	Constrain the distance between the Sun and some targets.
Target([name, ra, dec, marker])	Abstract base class for target objects.
TargetAlwaysUpWarning	Target is circumpolar
TargetNeverUpWarning	Target never rises above horizon
TimeConstraint([min, max])	Constrain the observing time to be within certain time limits.
TransitionBlock(components[, start_time])	Parameterizes the "dead time", e.g. between observations, while the telescope is slewing, instrument is reconfiguring, etc.
Transitioner([slew_rate, ...])	A class that defines how to compute transition times from one block to another.

Class Inheritance Diagram

astroplan.plots Package

astroplan.plots contains functions for making plots of commonly-used quantities in observation planning (e.g., airmass vs. time), using astroplan and Matplotlib.

Functions

plot_airmass(targets, observer, time[, ax, ...])	Plots airmass as a function of time for a given target.
plot_altitude(targets, observer, time[, ax, ...])	Plots altitude as a function of time for a given target.
plot_finder_image(target[, survey, ...])	Plot survey image centered on target.
plot_parallactic(target, observer, time[, ...])	Plots parallactic angle as a function of time for a given target.
plot_schedule_airmass(schedule[, show_night])	Plots when observations of targets are scheduled to occur superimposed upon plots of the airmasses of the targets.
plot_sky(target, observer, time[, ax, ...])	Plots target positions in the sky with respect to the observer's location.
plot_sky_24hr(target, observer, time[, ...])	Plots target positions in the sky with respect to the observer's location over a twenty-four hour period centered on time.