Wikipedia:WikiProject Astronomical objects/Infoboxes

The example on the far right is the recommended table format for minor planets. It is generated by the {{Infobox Planet}} template. The template has an optional astron argument whose default value is helion; this allows its use to describe asteroid moons, as in the S/2000 (1998 WW₃₁) 1 example.

Urhixidur wrote a nifty Windows tool (AstOrb Browser) that can greatly facilitate preparation of these. The most recent version can be downloaded from http://www.bigfoot.com/~D.U.Thibault (at the bottom of the page, under the heading "Delphi 7 and Wikipedia"). Since version 1.4.4, it uses the {{Infobox Planet}} format instead of {{Minor Planet}}. It also automatically generates the footers mentioned below, and integrates the necessary diacriticals.

Some values require special attention, as they are not filled in by AstOrb Browser, or are filled in using default values (the default Diameter, Albedo and Density can be overridden, and will revise the dependent values accordingly):

• The discoverer and discovered values can be obtained from the "Discovery" link, or from the List of asteroids.
• The alt_names link should be followed to reach the MPC query form, whence you can obtain the alternative designations (for 61 Danaë, you'd enter "(61)").
• The mp_category is defaulted to "Main belt", and should be changed as appropriate.
• The dimensions can be replaced by more accurate/recent values, supplying the reference (this value should be entered in AstOrb Browser in order to recompute the mass, gravity and escape velocity accordingly).
• The mass, surface_grav and escape_velocity should be marked with a ? if the density and/or dimensions are guesswork.
• The guesswork albedo, should whenever possible be replaced by a more accurate/recent value, supplying the reference, as was done here (you should use <ref> instead of <sup>, however).

A few short-hand templates are useful when dealing with asteroids with provisional designations. They are Template:mp, Template:mpl, Template:mpl-, Template:mpm, and Template:mpm-:

• mpl ("minor planet link") is used to write a link, like so {{mpl|(15874) 1996 TL|66}} = (15874) 1996 TL₆₆, whilst
• mp ("minor planet") saves you from typing  if you'd rather not: {{mp|(15874) 1996 TL|66}} = (15874) 1996 TL₆₆.
• mpl- is used with numbered asteroids that have kept (so far) their provisional designations: {{mpl-|15760|1992 QB|1}} = 1992 QB₁ instead of (15760) 1992 QB₁.
• mpm ("minor planet moon") is used to write a link to a minor planet's moon (where the minor planet is known by a provisional designation), such as S/2000 (1998 WW₃₁) 1, which is written {{mpm|S/2000 (1998 WW|31|) 1}}.
• mpm- ("minor planet moon") writes just the name, without the link (e.g. S/2000 (1998 WW₃₁) 1, which is written {{mpm-|S/2000 (1998 WW|31|) 1}}).

[edit] Footers

• Template:MinorPlanets Footer - Minor planets
  • Template:MinorPlanets Navigator - Minor planet sequential navigator
  • Template:PeriodicComets Navigator - Periodic comet sequential navigator
  • Template:Trans-Neptunian dwarf planets - Large Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs)
    • Template:TNO - Small list of TNO-related topics

Particularly useful are {{MinorPlanets Navigator}} and {{MinorPlanets Footer}}. Scroll down beyond the table to the right to see examples of these.

[edit] Comets

9P/Tempel; Tempel 1

Nucleus imaged by the Deep Impact impactor
Discovery
Discovered by:	Ernst Wilhelm Leberecht Tempel
Discovery date:	April 3, 1867
Alternate designations:	9P/1867 G1; 1867 II; 9P/1873 G1; 1873 I; 1873a 1879 III; 1879b 9P/1967 L1; 1966 VII 9P/1972 A1; 1972 V; 1972a 1978 II; 1977i 1983 XI; 1982j 1989 I; 1987e1 1994 XIX; 1993c
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch:	March 6, 2006
Aphelion distance:	4.737 AU
Perihelion distance:	1.506 AU
Semi-major axis:	3.122 AU
Eccentricity:	0.5175
Orbital period:	5.515 a
Inclination:	10.5301°
Last perihelion:	July 5, 2005
Next perihelion:	2011

As discussed above, comets might be served better by a different template. Here is a suggestion for {{Comet}} we can toy with until we are happy with it. Awolf002 00:23, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Stars

[edit] Starbox tree

Alpha Centauri

The position of Alpha Centauri.
Observation data Epoch J2000
Constellation (pronunciation)	Centaurus
Right ascension	14h 39m 36.2s
Declination	-60° 50′ 8.2″
Apparent magnitude (V)	-0.01
Characteristics
Spectral type	G2 V
U-B color index	0.24
B-V color index	0.65
Variable type	N/A
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	21.6 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: -3678.19 mas/yr Dec.: +481.84 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	747.23 ± 1.17 mas
Distance	4.38 ly (1.33 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	4.40
Details
Mass	1.10/0.91 M☉
Radius	1.23/0.87 R☉
Luminosity	1.57/0.51 L☉
Temperature	5,800/5,300 K
Metallicity	130-230% Sun
Rotation	?
Age	5-6 × 109 years
Visual binary orbit
Companion	Alpha Centauri B
Period (P)	79.92 yr
Semimajor axis (a)	17.515"
Eccentricity (e)	0.516
Inclination (i)	79.24°
Longitude of the node (Ω)	204.87° (ascending)°
Periastron epoch (T)	1955.56
Other designations
α1 Cen, CP -60° 5483 A, Gliese 559A, FK5 538, HD 128620, HIP 71683, HR 5459, LHS 50, SAO 252838, YPC 3309.00

This table is composed of the following sub-templates:

• {{Starbox begin}}
• {{Starbox image}}
• {{Starbox observe}}
• {{Starbox character}}
• {{Starbox astrometry}}
• {{Starbox visbin}}
• {{Starbox detail}}
• {{Starbox catalog}}
• {{Starbox end}}

References: [4] [5] [6]

[edit] Short star template

• {{starbox short}}

This template is for stubby star articles, and should be replaced with the full template when the article is expanded.

[edit] Footers

Obsolete:

• Template:ConstellationsListedByPtolemy - Ptolemy's constellations
• Template:ConstellationList - Modern constellations
  • Template:ConstellationsRoyerAltered - Constellations altered by Augustin Royer in 1679

Replaced by:

• Template:navconstel
• Template:navconstel-historic

[edit] Extrasolar planets

• {{Extrasolar Planet}}

[edit] Supernovae

SN 1987A
1987A supernova remnant near the center
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
Supernova type	IIp (unusual)
Remnant type	unknown
Host Galaxy	Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)
Constellation	Dorado
Right ascension	05h 35m 49.942s (1950)
Declination	−69° 17′ 57.60″ (1950)
Galactic coordinates	unknown
Discovery Date	24 February 1987 (23:00 UTC) [7]
Peak magnitude (V)	+3
Distance	{{{distance}}}
Physical characteristics
Progenitor	Sanduleak −69° 202 a
Progenitor type	B3 supergiant
Colour (B-V)	+0.085
Notable features	The closest recorded sn. since invention of telescope

Template: {{Supernova }}

This is a table template that should be used for supernovae. It automatically assigns the article to Category:Supernovae.

[edit] Open Clusters

Template: {{Cluster}}

Sample table for M22. Please modify and improve as needed.

The template is for open clusters.

[edit] Globular Clusters

NGC 6656
Core of Messier 22
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Class	VII
Right ascension	18h 36m 18s
Declination	−23° 53′ 58″
Distance	10.4 kly ()
Apparent magnitude (V)	5.1
Apparent dimensions (V)	32.0″
Physical characteristics
Mass	kg (105 to 106 M)
VHB	14.2
Other designations	Messier 22
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters
This box: view • talk • edit

Template: {{Globular cluster}}

Sample table for M22. Please modify and improve as needed.

The template is for globular clusters.

[edit] Galaxies

Template: {{Galaxy}}

This example table should be edited and used for galaxies.

Notes: Please see List of galaxies to find galaxies that do not yet have infoboxes/factsheets.
Please categorise your galaxy in a subcategory of Category:Galaxies

[edit] Galaxy cluster

Template: {{Galaxy cluster}}

This example table should be edited and used for galaxy groups, clusters, and superclusters. It automatically assigns the article to Category:Galaxy clusters.

The sample data for this group was taken from the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) on 2006-09-18. However, NED may not be the best reference for all galaxy groups. It can be reliably used for compact groups such as the one in this example, and it can be used reliably for most Abell clusters and other moderate and high-redshift clusters, but it should be used cautiously (if used at all) for nearby galaxy groups such as the M81 Group.

[edit] Quasar

3C 273
Quasar 3C 273, with its jet
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension	12h 29m 06.7s[2]
Declination	+02° 03′ 09″[2]
Redshift	47,469 ± 20 km/s[2]
Distance	2.44 Gly (749 Mpc)
Type	Blazar; Sy1[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)	12.9[2]
Notable features	First quasar discovered
Other designations
PGC 41121[2]
See also: Quasar, List of quasars
This box: view • talk • edit

Template: {{Quasar}}

This example table should be edited and used for quasars.

[edit] Nebulae

[edit] Planetary Nebulae

Template: {{Planetary nebula}}

This example should be copied and used for all planetary nebulae. See List of planetary nebulae for articles on planetary nebulae. Please place new planetary nebulae on this list, and categorize in Category:Planetary nebulae, the category of its constellation, and the category of its catalog (ex:Category:Messier objects), in that order.

[edit] Protoplanetary Nebulae

Egg Nebula
RAFGL 2688, the Egg Nebula
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Right ascension	21h 02m 18.75s
Declination	+36° 41′ 37.8″
Distance	3 kly (920 pc)[citation needed]
Apparent magnitude (V)	14.0
Apparent dimensions (V)	30″ × 15″
Constellation	Cygnus
Physical characteristics
Radius	0.2 ly[a]
Absolute magnitude (V)	4.2[b]
Notable features	-
Other designations	RAFGL 2688, The Egg, Cygnus Egg
See also: Protoplanetary nebula, Lists of nebulae
This box: view • talk • edit

Template: {{Protoplanetary nebula}}

This example should be copied and used for all protoplanetary nebulae. See List of protoplanetary nebulae for articles on protoplanetary nebulae. Please place new protoplanetary nebulae on this list, and categorize in Category:Protoplanetary nebulae, the category of its constellation, and the category of its catalog (ex:Category:Messier objects), in that order.

[edit] Diffuse Nebulae

Template: {{Diffuse nebula}}

This example should be copied and used for all diffuse nebulae. See List of diffuse nebulae for articles on ddiffuse nebulae. Please place new diffuse nebulae on this list, and categorize in Category:Diffuse nebulae, the category of its constellation, and the category of its catalog (ex:Category:Messier objects), in that order.

[edit] Dark Nebulae

Template: {{Dark nebula}}

Currently (2007) there are only six dark nebulae on Wikipedia, see List of dark nebulae.

[edit] Useful links

• List of asteroids
• List of galaxies
• List of Messier objects
• List of NGC objects
• List of planetary nebulae
• To view changes made in the last 24 hours to astronomy pages on Wikipedia click here