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:

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 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.

ax : Axes or None, optional.

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

style_kwargs : dict or None, optional.

A dictionary of keywords passed into scatter to set plotting styles.

north_to_east_ccw : bool, 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.

grid : bool, 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_horizon : bool, optional

If False, don’t show warnings when attempting to plot targets below the horzion.

style_sheet : dict 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.).