"""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.", }, ]