Where can I find equatorial coordinates of celestial objects?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter e2m2a
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding equatorial coordinates of celestial objects such as double stars, nebulae, clusters, galaxies, and planets. Participants are seeking recommendations for websites or programs that provide this information, particularly those that allow users to select specific objects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about websites that provide equatorial coordinates for various celestial objects, emphasizing the need for a single source for convenience.
  • Another participant suggests Wikipedia as a good resource and mentions that Google searches can quickly yield the required coordinates.
  • A participant reiterates the importance of having a single website for convenience, suggesting the possibility of creating a favorites folder for multiple sites.
  • Some participants recommend programs like Starry Night and Stellarium, which offer maps of the night sky and allow users to obtain coordinates by interacting with the interface.
  • A warning is issued about a potential virus detected by antivirus software when visiting the Night Sky website.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express different preferences for obtaining equatorial coordinates, with some favoring websites and others suggesting software programs. No consensus is reached on a single best resource.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not specify the completeness or reliability of the suggested resources, and there is no discussion of the specific types of celestial objects that may be covered by each resource.

e2m2a
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Does anyone know some good websites that give the equatorial coordinates of celestial objects: double stars, nebulae, clusters, galaxies,planets,etc.? Especially any that allow you to first pick the object. For example, I put in the Andromeda galaxy and it tells me its equatorial coordinates.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Wikipedia is pretty good for this IMO. Otherwise, a Google search will usually find the coordinates very quickly. Is there a particular reason you want the data to be on a single website?
 
ideasrule said:
Is there a particular reason you want the data to be on a single website?

Convenience. Much easier to go to just one website to get a general catalog than having to go to multiple sites to look up different celestial objects.

But then I guess I could create a favorite folder where I put every website in.

Thanks for the info.
 
There's a program called Starry Night ( with a free open-source counterpart called Stellarium). They show you a map of the night sky at a given time and place. You can put the cursor on an object to get its coords, or search on an object. They are both pretty nice programs.
 
phyzguy said:
There's a program called Starry Night ( with a free open-source counterpart called Stellarium). They show you a map of the night sky at a given time and place. You can put the cursor on an object to get its coords, or search on an object. They are both pretty nice programs.

Thanks for the info.

Warning! Just went to the Night Sky website and my Avast software detected and blocked a virus!
 
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