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API Reference — Topocentric Locations

class skyfield.toposlib.Topos(latitude=None, longitude=None, latitude_degrees=None, longitude_degrees=None, elevation_m=0.0, x=0.0, y=0.0)

A vector function that knows the position of a place on Earth.

The constructor needs:

  • Either an Angle for the latitude or else a plain float latitude_degrees providing the angle in degrees.
  • Either an Angle for the longitude or else a plain float longitude_degrees providing the angle in degrees.
  • Optionally, the elevation_m of the location, in meters above mean sea level on a WGS-84 globe. If not specified, the location will be assumed to sit at exactly sea level.

The center of a topos object is always 399, the center of gravity of the Earth, so every call to the at(t) method of a topos object returns a Geocentric position.

Once the object has been created, here are its attributes and methods:

latitude

An Angle object specifying the latitude of the topocentric position.

longitude

An Angle object specifying the longitude of the topocentric position.

elevation

A Distance object specifying the elevation of the topocentric position above mean sea level on a WGS-84 globe.

center

The integer 399, which identifies this topocentric position’s vector as having its origin at the center of the Earth.

itrf_xyz()

Return this location as an (x,y,z) vector in the ITRF frame.

Returns a 3-element Distance object.