This repository is a compilation of space / astronomy related tools, libraries and software. Libraries and packages have a dedicated focus on Python. Further, all tools that are listed here shall have an Open Source license (or be at least Freeware; but anything that is not Open Source will be flagged accordingly...).
If applicable, a YouTube link to my channel is provided that gives a quick introduction or tutorial on the corresponding software or library.
| Library | Description | YouTube Link |
|---|---|---|
| astroML | Python Astronomy Machine Learning. If this combination is something for you, well, then this is the library to go. astroml has been derived and created by the authors of the book "Statistics, Data Mining, and Machine Learning in Astronomy". The book figures and corresponding scripts are open accessible and give one a first impression of the covered topics. | Link |
| astropy | THE Python package with a large set of astronomy-related tools. astropy is widely used in the professional astronomy and astrophysics community for miscellaneous scientific and engineering tasks and use cases. Several data source can be accessed; cosmology as well as astro-statistics sub-modules are integrated; and astronomy-specialized visualization functions are also part of this package. Additionally, so called affiliated packages are listed that are partly listed and described here, too. |
TBD |
| jdcal | Basic package that contains conversion functionalities between Gregorian and Julian calendar format as well as (Modified) Julian Date (JD). | TBD |
| healpy | How can one "divide" the sky or a map? Especially, if one wants to compute and visualize e.g. densities of objects? There are several ways, like considering the haversine metric. NASA introduced a package called HEALPix, short for: Hierarchical Equal Area isoLatitude Pixelization (of a sphere). The idea: Dividing a sphere in "pixels" that cover the same surface area. healpy is the Python implementation of this package. | TBD |
| Lightkurve | "Time domain astronomy / astrophysics" is covered with this library. Lightkurve provides functions, tools and small tutorials on how to analyse light-curves of stars, galaxies and / or planets. One can work on any light-curve even, however this package provides and easy-access API to NASA’s Kepler and TESS space telescope data. If you want to know how to determine the transit of an exoplanet in front of its host-start, Lightkurve is the way to go. | TBD |
| poliastro | Astrodynamics in our Solar System can easily be done with this library. Whether one wants to plot and analyze Near-Earth Objects or the trajectory of the Tesla Roadster in space, or more sophisticated computations like the Tisserand-Parameter change during a fly-by: poliastro has analytical and numerical capabilities for astro-dynamical questions. | Link |
| Skyfield | A high-level API to compute the positions of celestial objects like stars, planets or satellites. Skyfield has the functionality to load and interpret SPICE kernels and can be used to calculate geo-location-depending events like Solar or Lunar eclipses as well as planet rises or moon phases. Different coordinate systems and osculating elements can be considered to get a detailed understanding of asteroids and comets, too. | TBD |
| specutils | specutils is an astropy associated package that provides API to analyze spectral data. It is an expert tool for scientists to fit spectral lines, conduct data reduction and so on. | TBD |
| SunPy | SunPy is like the "astropy" for Solar Physics and research. This OpenSource package focuses on helio-physics and enables one to analyze miscellaneous Sun-related topics like Flares, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) or Sunspots. Further, similar to astropy, a list of affiliated packages is provided, too. | TBD |
| Online Tool | Description | YouTube Link |
|---|---|---|
| Global CTX Mosaic of Mars | This tool is a "Mars Globe" application with a high-resolution of around 5 meters / pixel. The tool allows one to "visit" iconic places like Olympus Mons or Valles Marineris, as well as the locations where the rovers landed ( their corresponding paths). Additionally, the site provides information on how to download and handle all data for free. | Link |