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- Reference/API

# 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: https://github.com/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 `constriants`.
`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
`test`([package, test_path, args, plugins, ...]) | Run the tests using py.test.
`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.
`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.
`Transitioner`([slew_rate, ...]) | A class that defines how to compute transition times from one block to another.

### Class Inheritance Diagram

digraph inheritance2c68e5bcb2 { bgcolor=transparent; rankdir=LR; size="8.0, 12.0"; "AirmassConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.AirmassConstraint.html#astroplan.AirmassConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the airmass of a target."]; "AltitudeConstraint" -> "AirmassConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "AltitudeConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.AltitudeConstraint.html#astroplan.AltitudeConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the altitude of the target."]; "Constraint" -> "AltitudeConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "AstroplanWarning" [URL="../api/astroplan.AstroplanWarning.html#astroplan.AstroplanWarning",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Superclass for warnings used by astroplan"]; "AstropyWarning" -> "AstroplanWarning" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "AstropyWarning" [fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",tooltip="The base warning class from which all Astropy warnings should inherit."]; "AtNightConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.AtNightConstraint.html#astroplan.AtNightConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the Sun to be below ``horizon``."]; "Constraint" -> "AtNightConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "Constraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.Constraint.html#astroplan.Constraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Abstract class for objects defining observational constraints."]; "EclipsingSystem" [URL="../api/astroplan.EclipsingSystem.html#astroplan.EclipsingSystem",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Define parameters for an eclipsing system; useful for an eclipsing binary or"]; "PeriodicEvent" -> "EclipsingSystem" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "FixedTarget" [URL="../api/astroplan.FixedTarget.html#astroplan.FixedTarget",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Coordinates and metadata for an object that is \"fixed\" with respect to the"]; "Target" -> "FixedTarget" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "GalacticLatitudeConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.GalacticLatitudeConstraint.html#astroplan.GalacticLatitudeConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the distance between the Galactic plane and some targets."]; "Constraint" -> "GalacticLatitudeConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "LocalTimeConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.LocalTimeConstraint.html#astroplan.LocalTimeConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the observable hours."]; "Constraint" -> "LocalTimeConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "MoonIlluminationConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.MoonIlluminationConstraint.html#astroplan.MoonIlluminationConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the fractional illumination of the Earth's moon."]; "Constraint" -> "MoonIlluminationConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "MoonSeparationConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.MoonSeparationConstraint.html#astroplan.MoonSeparationConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the distance between the Earth's moon and some targets."]; "Constraint" -> "MoonSeparationConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "NonFixedTarget" [URL="../api/astroplan.NonFixedTarget.html#astroplan.NonFixedTarget",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Placeholder for future function."]; "Target" -> "NonFixedTarget" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "Observer" [URL="../api/astroplan.Observer.html#astroplan.Observer",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="A container class for information about an observer's location and"]; "ObservingBlock" [URL="../api/astroplan.ObservingBlock.html#astroplan.ObservingBlock",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="An observation to be scheduled, consisting of a target and associated"]; "OldEarthOrientationDataWarning" [URL="../api/astroplan.OldEarthOrientationDataWarning.html#astroplan.OldEarthOrientationDataWarning",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Using old Earth rotation data from IERS"]; "AstroplanWarning" -> "OldEarthOrientationDataWarning" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "PeriodicEvent" [URL="../api/astroplan.PeriodicEvent.html#astroplan.PeriodicEvent",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="A periodic event defined by an epoch and period."]; "PhaseConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.PhaseConstraint.html#astroplan.PhaseConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain observations to times in some range of phases for a periodic event"]; "Constraint" -> "PhaseConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "PlotBelowHorizonWarning" [URL="../api/astroplan.PlotBelowHorizonWarning.html#astroplan.PlotBelowHorizonWarning",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Warning for when something is hidden on a plot because it's below the horizon"]; "PlotWarning" -> "PlotBelowHorizonWarning" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "PlotWarning" [URL="../api/astroplan.PlotWarning.html#astroplan.PlotWarning",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Warnings dealing with the plotting aspects of astroplan"]; "AstroplanWarning" -> "PlotWarning" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "PrimaryEclipseConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.PrimaryEclipseConstraint.html#astroplan.PrimaryEclipseConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain observations to times during primary eclipse."]; "Constraint" -> "PrimaryEclipseConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "PriorityScheduler" [URL="../api/astroplan.PriorityScheduler.html#astroplan.PriorityScheduler",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="A scheduler that optimizes a prioritized list. That is, it"]; "Scheduler" -> "PriorityScheduler" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "Schedule" [URL="../api/astroplan.Schedule.html#astroplan.Schedule",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="An object that represents a schedule, consisting of a list of"]; "Scheduler" [URL="../api/astroplan.Scheduler.html#astroplan.Scheduler",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Schedule a set of `~astroplan.scheduling.ObservingBlock` objects"]; "Scorer" [URL="../api/astroplan.Scorer.html#astroplan.Scorer",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Returns scores and score arrays from the evaluation of constraints on"]; "SecondaryEclipseConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.SecondaryEclipseConstraint.html#astroplan.SecondaryEclipseConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain observations to times during secondary eclipse."]; "Constraint" -> "SecondaryEclipseConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "SequentialScheduler" [URL="../api/astroplan.SequentialScheduler.html#astroplan.SequentialScheduler",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="A scheduler that does \"stupid simple sequential scheduling\". That is, it"]; "Scheduler" -> "SequentialScheduler" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "Slot" [URL="../api/astroplan.Slot.html#astroplan.Slot",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="A time slot consisting of a start and end time"]; "SunSeparationConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.SunSeparationConstraint.html#astroplan.SunSeparationConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the distance between the Sun and some targets."]; "Constraint" -> "SunSeparationConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "Target" [URL="../api/astroplan.Target.html#astroplan.Target",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Abstract base class for target objects."]; "TargetAlwaysUpWarning" [URL="../api/astroplan.TargetAlwaysUpWarning.html#astroplan.TargetAlwaysUpWarning",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Target is circumpolar"]; "AstroplanWarning" -> "TargetAlwaysUpWarning" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "TargetNeverUpWarning" [URL="../api/astroplan.TargetNeverUpWarning.html#astroplan.TargetNeverUpWarning",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Target never rises above horizon"]; "AstroplanWarning" -> "TargetNeverUpWarning" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "TimeConstraint" [URL="../api/astroplan.TimeConstraint.html#astroplan.TimeConstraint",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Constrain the observing time to be within certain time limits."]; "Constraint" -> "TimeConstraint" [arrowsize=0.5,style="setlinewidth(0.5)"]; "TransitionBlock" [URL="../api/astroplan.TransitionBlock.html#astroplan.TransitionBlock",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="Parameterizes the \"dead time\", e.g. between observations, while the"]; "Transitioner" [URL="../api/astroplan.Transitioner.html#astroplan.Transitioner",fillcolor=white,fontname="Vera Sans, DejaVu Sans, Liberation Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans",fontsize=10,height=0.25,shape=box,style="setlinewidth(0.5),filled",target="_top",tooltip="A class that defines how to compute transition times from one block to"]; }

## 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`.