skymap - overlay a starchart

  skymap[/qual] filename

The skymap command reads in a list of star positions and overlays them on the current image. The default will open a connection to the HEASARC database and retrieve all the stars in its optical catalog. Using the /db= qualifier will restrict the search to one catalog.

Other opitions include reading an ascii file with the first line containing the equinox year (e.g. 1950) and on each following line the RA and DEC in decimal degrees. The SIMBAD source lists provided in FITS format by the US ROSAT data center can be read in using the /RFITS_SIMBAD qualifier.

skymap/color=n

Change the color used for the overlay.

skymap/file_input=file

Enter the filename via a qualifier.

skymap/labels

Overlay the source name too (/rfits_simbad only).

skymap/browse_dcoord

Read in a list of star positions from a file created within BROWSE (the HEASARC on-line database software), using the command dcoord/deg/full.

skymap/rfits_simbad

Read in a the SIMBAD source list that is provided by the US ROSAT data center. This is an ASCII FITS table.

skymap/size_of_symbol=n

Change the default symbol size used.

skymap/symbol=n

Change the default symbol used.

skymap/width_of_symbol=n

Change the width of the symbol used.

skymap/print_off

Print on the screen for each source in the catalogue, the x pixel y pixel and the offset in arcmin from the center of the detector.

skymap/class

Write on the image the class string if found in the file which contains the catalogue positions.

skymap/dbase=databasename

Connects to the HEASARC database system on legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov and makes a search cone and returns a file containing a list of coordinates of all sources found within the field of view of the current image. Using the /label and /class qualifiers will display respectively the name or class of the object. Use the /old qualifier to avoid repeating the query.

To obtain a list of valid databases logon into the xray account on legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov and type browse. Good databases to start with are OPTICAL, XRAY, ROSID, and RADIO.

skymap/old

Uses the results obtained from previous searches using the /dbase qualifier.

Example:

 
skymap/rfits/file=rosat.fits            ! read in a rosat simabd file
 
skymap/file=browse.txt                  ! read in a browse file.
 
skymap/db=optical/label                 ! overlay all the sources in
                                       ! the optical catalogue