Constraints Wishlist

When planning observations of your favorite targets, what constraints do you consider? Note: we're only looking for constraints that can be calculated analytically, for consideration for inclusion in the astroplan package (currently in development).

• Altitude constraints (i.e. imposed by telescope)
  • i.e.: above 10 deg and below 85 deg altitude
• Airmass constraints
  • i.e.: observable between airmass of 1 and 2
• Horizon map
  • i.e.: map obstructions to views of the sky in particular directions due to trees, buildings, other domes, for example.

• Nighttime constraints
  • i.e.: between civil/nautical/astronomical (-6/-12/-18 deg) twilights
• Between local-time hours
  • i.e.: between 7pm and 10pm local time for all nights in December
• In first half/second half of night
  • i.e.: can I schedule this observation into a first half in September?

• Moon separation
  • i.e.: Moon must be separated from target by >30 deg
• Moon illumination fraction
  • i.e.: Moon illumination fraction must be <0.5
  • Moon duration options – have an option that allows moon above the brightness limit for a short period of time
    • i.e.: moon illumination <0.5 for at least 3 hours
• Sun separation (for non-optical observers)

• Moon-planet separation
  • Use jplephem to get coordinates for moons and planets at particular times (use case: observe Titan).
• Planet phase

• Standard star availability
  • Given a catalog?
• Generalized periodic events
  • Inputs: epoch (t0), period, event duration. (can be useful for eclipsing binaries, transiting exoplanets, variable stars...)
  • Ability to specify constraint in terms of phase

• By magnitude (store this and other metadata on FixedTarget)