data/targets.py

"""Target catalog used by astronomy and the router.

Keep this as the single source of truth for target names, seasons, notes, and
the fixed RA/Dec values used by the offline Skyfield geometry path.

Phase 5: Added entries for all constellation-browser targets.
"""

TARGETS = [
    {
        "name": "Orion",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Winter",
        "ra_hours": 5.9167,
        "dec_degrees": 7.4,
        "aliases": ["orion", "orion nebula", "m42", "the hunter"],
        "notes": "Iconic winter constellation. Look for the belt, sword, and Great Orion Nebula (M42).",
    },
    {
        "name": "Pleiades (M45)",
        "type": "open cluster",
        "season": "Winter",
        "ra_hours": 3.79,
        "dec_degrees": 24.1,
        "aliases": ["pleiades", "m45", "seven sisters"],
        "notes": "The Seven Sisters. Stunning in binoculars or wide-field; best in dark skies.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Milky Way Core",
        "type": "galactic center",
        "season": "Summer",
        "ra_hours": 17.75,
        "dec_degrees": -29.0,
        "aliases": ["milky way", "galactic center", "galactic core"],
        "notes": "The galactic center region. Spectacular from truly dark sites; avoid bright moon.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Andromeda Galaxy (M31)",
        "type": "galaxy",
        "season": "Fall",
        "ra_hours": 0.712,
        "dec_degrees": 41.27,
        "aliases": ["m31", "andromeda galaxy"],
        "notes": "Our nearest major galaxy. Appears as a faint elongated cloud; best with averted vision.",
    },
    # --- Phase 5: Constellation browser targets ---
    {
        "name": "Ursa Major",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Year-round",
        "ra_hours": 10.67,
        "dec_degrees": 55.38,
        "aliases": ["ursa major", "big dipper", "great bear"],
        "notes": "Circumpolar from Nova Scotia. The Big Dipper's pointer stars lead to Polaris.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Cassiopeia",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Year-round",
        "ra_hours": 1.0,
        "dec_degrees": 60.17,
        "aliases": ["cassiopeia", "the queen", "cassio"],
        "notes": "The W-shaped queen circumpolar from Nova Scotia. Rich in open clusters.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Andromeda",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Fall",
        "ra_hours": 1.1,
        "dec_degrees": 38.5,
        "aliases": ["andromeda constellation", "chained maiden", "andromeda stars"],
        "notes": "Home to M31 — the nearest large galaxy visible to the naked eye.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Cygnus",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Summer",
        "ra_hours": 20.62,
        "dec_degrees": 44.0,
        "aliases": ["cygnus", "northern cross", "the swan"],
        "notes": "The Northern Cross. The Milky Way flows right through it — exceptional binocular field.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Lyra",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Summer",
        "ra_hours": 18.62,
        "dec_degrees": 36.9,
        "aliases": ["lyra", "the lyre", "vega"],
        "notes": "Tiny but brilliant; home to Vega (5th brightest star) and the Ring Nebula (M57).",
    },
    {
        "name": "Sagittarius",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Summer",
        "ra_hours": 19.0,
        "dec_degrees": -25.0,
        "aliases": ["sagittarius", "the archer", "teapot"],
        "notes": "Points toward the galactic core. More nebulae per square degree than any other region.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Scorpius",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Summer",
        "ra_hours": 16.9,
        "dec_degrees": -30.0,
        "aliases": ["scorpius", "scorpio", "the scorpion", "antares"],
        "notes": "Skims the southern horizon from NS. Antares is a red supergiant 700x the Sun's diameter.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Pegasus",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Fall",
        "ra_hours": 22.69,
        "dec_degrees": 20.0,
        "aliases": ["pegasus", "the winged horse", "great square"],
        "notes": "The Great Square of Pegasus is a useful sky-darkness gauge; count stars inside it.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Gemini",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Winter",
        "ra_hours": 7.0,
        "dec_degrees": 22.5,
        "aliases": ["gemini", "the twins", "castor", "pollux"],
        "notes": "Two bright twin stars above Orion. M35 is a fine naked-eye cluster in dark skies.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Taurus",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Winter",
        "ra_hours": 4.7,
        "dec_degrees": 15.87,
        "aliases": ["taurus", "the bull", "aldebaran", "hyades"],
        "notes": "Contains two showpiece clusters: Pleiades (naked-eye) and Hyades (V-shaped face).",
    },
    {
        "name": "Leo",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Spring",
        "ra_hours": 10.67,
        "dec_degrees": 13.0,
        "aliases": ["leo", "the lion", "regulus", "sickle"],
        "notes": "The Sickle shape is unmistakable. The Leo Triplet of galaxies is a binocular showpiece.",
    },
    {
        "name": "Boötes",
        "type": "constellation",
        "season": "Spring",
        "ra_hours": 14.43,
        "dec_degrees": 27.07,
        "aliases": ["bootes", "boötes", "the herdsman", "arcturus"],
        "notes": "Follow the Big Dipper's handle arc to reach brilliant Arcturus — a golden giant star.",
    },
]