AstronomicalData

• AstronomicalData includes data on planets, moons, stars, and galaxies, as well as other astronomical objects.

• Astronomical objects can be specified by their standard names such as "Jupiter", "Sun", "Sirius", or by catalog designations such as "M42" and "NGC1704".

• AstronomicalData["tag"] gives the standardized name for the astronomical object specified by "tag".

• AstronomicalData[] gives a list of all available objects.

• AstronomicalData["Classes"] gives a list of available classes of objects.

• AstronomicalData["Properties"] gives a list of all properties available for any class of object.

• AstronomicalData[n, ...] gives properties of the n planet in the solar system.

• AstronomicalData["class"] gives a list of objects in the specified class.

• Major classes of solar system objects include:

• Additional classes for solar system objects include:

• Major classes for stars include:

• Additional classes for stars include: "MainSequenceStar", "ClassOStar", "ClassAStar", etc., "WhiteDwarf", "Subdwarf", "NormalGiant", "BrightGiant", "Supergiant", "WolfRayetStar".

• Classes based on catalogs include: "BayerObject", "FlamsteedObject", "GlieseObject", "HDObject", "HipparcosObject", "HRObject", "SAOObject".

• Possible classes for deep-sky objects include:

• Additional classes for galaxies include: "SpiralGalaxy", "EllipticalGalaxy", "BarredSpiralGalaxy", "IrregularGalaxy".

• Classes based on catalogs include: "MessierObject", "ICObject", "NGCObject".

• For "MilkyWay", positional properties refer to the center of the galaxy.

• AstronomicalData[name, "class"] gives True or False depending on whether the object corresponding to name is in the specified class.

• AstronomicalData[name, "Classes"] gives a list of the classes in which the object corresponding to name appears.

• AstronomicalData[name, "ObjectType"] gives the basic type of object corresponding to name, including "Planet", "PlanetaryMoon", "Star", "Galaxy".

• Absolute location and coordinate properties supported for all objects include:

• All quantities are specified in SI units, except as noted otherwise.

• Some properties are available only for solar system objects.

• Positions are given in FK5 heliocentric coordinates in the equinox of the date used.

• For time-varying properties, the precision of results decreases away from the current time.

• AstronomicalData["name", {"prop", date}] gives properties for a particular date and time in the current default time zone. The date can be specified in any format supported by DateList.

• The option TimeZone->z specifies the time zone to assume for both input and output.

• The default setting for TimeZone is $TimeZone.

• The following properties give position information for objects in the sky at a particular location on the Earth:

• The default location on Earth to assume is given by the value of $GeoLocation.

• AstronomicalData["name", {"prop", date, {lat, long}}] specifies a location with particular latitude and longitude, given in degrees, with eastern longitudes positive.

• Intrinsic mechanical properties include:

• Shape and rotational properties include:

• Optical and other electromagnetic properties include:

• Positional and orbital properties for solar system objects include:

• Minor planets in addition support the following properties:

• Comets in addition support the following properties:

• Orbital elements are intended as averages for the current epoch, but may be based only on particular observations.

• Properties of relevance to stars include:

• Properties of relevance to deep-sky objects include:

• Name and type properties include:

• Catalog identifier properties include:

• Additional properties include:

• AstronomicalData["name", "property", "ann"] gives various annotations associated with a property. Typical annotations include: