<p><a href="http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?CGISESSID=f5439cd5581088af3a5e7bbe99a0549d&amp;s_type=1#top" rel="nofollow">Here</a> you can choose your target body and center of observation. If you want cartesian coordiantes use "Vector Table".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-20T19:38:33.473Z
2016-02-20T19:38:33.473Z
Yukterez
<p>I think the answer to your question is the game Universe Sandbox 2. With such a software I think it would be pretty easy to obtain what you want.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-20T19:37:07.147Z
Universe Sandbox is commercial, you can also use the free Celestia and Stellarium
Yukterez
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-28T17:25:23.873Z
It looks interesting, and I thank you for sharing. What I'm really looking for is an appropriate data set and exercise for teaching students about astronomy and a programming language at the same time.
ThisClark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-22T15:13:41.170Z
2015-12-22T15:13:41.170Z
Nico
<p>As a data visualization task, I'd like to plot some celestial bodies in 3D coordinate space. I assumed there would be a lot of databases where celestial bodies are recorded along with an XYZ coordinate relative to our sun. As I ponder more on it I begin to realize other features, for example how is the axis of alignment achieved and agreed upon?</p>

<p>Given the below data set, is it clear what system is in use and how I may interpret it in a way that gives me an XYZ I can begin plotting?</p>

<p><a href="https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1TZ3eoWstpR8d0O2-eqoz3VFDsLwSSzNA5wX4LxE" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1TZ3eoWstpR8d0O2-eqoz3VFDsLwSSzNA5wX4LxE</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-25T02:16:06.977Z
Actually, I did this with wires and foam balls from Michaels. I find it much easier to use Galactic Coordinates. Also, check out this website https://kisd.de/~krystian/starmap/.
Jack R. Woods
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-25T03:39:04.717Z
Sorry, I just saw your data set and saw that you are plotting galaxies in 3D not stars. As mentioned, you just need RA, Dec and distance to make a 3D plot in "polar coordinates". It takes a little math to translate this to XYZ
Jack R. Woods
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-22T08:34:54.330Z
The data you link doesn't seem to have a distance, only RA & Dec (which are angular co-ordinates in our sky, from our position.) So you can't build a 3-D representation from this alone. You probably need to find star or galaxy surveys with distance or parallax estimates. Maybe the Hipparcos data set? (Stars only.)
Andy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-24T00:28:02.397Z
@Andy I will learn more about these types of coordinates - thank you. What do the RA & Dec coordinates reveal from my perspective? I should be able to plot them in a flat 2D sky model?
ThisClark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-24T08:19:21.273Z
That's right, RA and Dec are the angular co-ordinates on the inside of an imaginary  "celestial sphere".  So they give the position seen from Earth and if you can work out the maths for some sort of projection, can be used to draw star charts.
Andy
<coordinate>
A beginner project in plotting celestial bodies in 3D coordinate space
ThisClark
# A beginner project in plotting celestial bodies in 3D coordinate space

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-22)

As a data visualization task, I'd like to plot some celestial bodies in 3D coordinate space. I assumed there would be a lot of databases where celestial bodies are recorded along with an XYZ coordinate relative to our sun. As I ponder more on it I begin to realize other features, for example how is the axis of alignment achieved and agreed upon?

Given the below data set, is it clear what system is in use and how I may interpret it in a way that gives me an XYZ I can begin plotting?

<https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1TZ3eoWstpR8d0O2-eqoz3VFDsLwSSzNA5wX4LxE>

**Tags:** coordinate

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The data you link doesn't seem to have a distance, only RA & Dec (which are angular co-ordinates in our sky, from our position.) So you can't build a 3-D representation from this alone. You probably need to find star or galaxy surveys with distance or parallax estimates. Maybe the Hipparcos data set? (Stars only.)  
> **username_0**: @username_2 I will learn more about these types of coordinates - thank you. What do the RA & Dec coordinates reveal from my perspective? I should be able to plot them in a flat 2D sky model?  
> **username_2**: That's right, RA and Dec are the angular co-ordinates on the inside of an imaginary  "celestial sphere".  So they give the position seen from Earth and if you can work out the maths for some sort of projection, can be used to draw star charts.  
> **username_1**: Actually, I did this with wires and foam balls from Michaels. I find it much easier to use Galactic Coordinates. Also, check out this website https://kisd.de/~krystian/starmap/.  
> **username_1**: Sorry, I just saw your data set and saw that you are plotting galaxies in 3D not stars. As mentioned, you just need RA, Dec and distance to make a 3D plot in "polar coordinates". It takes a little math to translate this to XYZ  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-02-20. Score: 1

[Here](http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?CGISESSID=f5439cd5581088af3a5e7bbe99a0549d&s_type=1#top) you can choose your target body and center of observation. If you want cartesian coordiantes use "Vector Table".


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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-12-22. Score: 0

I think the answer to your question is the game Universe Sandbox 2. With such a software I think it would be pretty easy to obtain what you want.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It looks interesting, and I thank you for sharing. What I'm really looking for is an appropriate data set and exercise for teaching students about astronomy and a programming language at the same time.  
> **username_3**: Universe Sandbox is commercial, you can also use the free Celestia and Stellarium  

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