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)

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 new Axes 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 an Time 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

targetFixedTarget

The celestial body of interest.

observerObserver

The person, telescope, observatory, etc. doing the observing.

timeTime

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 an Time object with multiple instances in time (e.g. Time(['2000-1-1', '2000-1-2'])) will show positions plotted at the exact times specified.

axAxes or None, optional.

The Axes object to be drawn on. If None, uses the current Axes.

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.

Returns

An Axes object (ax) with a map of the sky.

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.).