Convert sky coordinates from hh:mm:ss and dd:mm:ss to decimal degrees.

hms_dms_dd.py

def hms_dms_dd(ra, dec, delimiter=" "):
    """Convert from HMS; DMS to DD.
    
    Examples:
    >>> ra, dec = hms_dms_dd("00h59m59.3s", "-00d00m01.01s")
    >>> ra, dec
    (14.997083333333332, -0.00028055555555555554)
    >>> ra, dec = hms_dms_dd("23 59 59", "+56 00 00")
    >>> ra, dec
    (359.99583333333334, 56.0)
    >>> ra, dec = hms_dms_dd("24:30:00", "+90:00:00")
    >>> ra, dec
    (7.5, 90.0)
    
    """

    try: 
        ra_dd, dec_dd = float(ra), float(dec)
    except ValueError:

        if ":" in ra:
            delimiter = ":"
        elif "h" in ra:
            ra  = ra.replace("h", " ").replace("m", " ").replace("s", " ")
            dec = dec.replace("d", " ").replace("m", " ").replace("s", " ")

        ra, dec = ra.split(delimiter), dec.split(delimiter)

        # RA:
        ra_hours_dd = float(ra[0]) * 15.
        ra_minutes_dd = float(ra[1]) * 15. / 60.
        ra_seconds_dd = float(ra[2]) * 15. / 3600.
        ra_dd = ra_hours_dd + ra_minutes_dd + ra_seconds_dd
        if ra_dd >= 360.:
            ra_dd = abs(ra_dd  - 360.)

        # DEC:
        if "-" in dec[0]:
            dec_dd = float(dec[0]) - (float(dec[1]) / 60.) - (float(dec[2]) / 3600.)
        else:
            dec_dd = float(dec[0]) + (float(dec[1]) / 60.) + (float(dec[2]) / 3600.)
    

    return ra_dd, dec_dd

RA conversion could be more similar to DEC but the separate variables for hours, minutes, and seconds is clearer.