gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/python
# Program to convert a number into the format
# hh mm ss.sssss
# Input format: ./converter.py DEC RA

import math
import sys
import string
			
def to_dec(inp):
	deg = float(inp)
	sign = "+"
	
	if deg < 0:
		sign="-"
		deg=deg*(-1)
	elif deg > 180:
		print `deg`+": inputs may not exceed 180!\n"
	elif deg > 90:
		print `deg`+" exceeds 90, will convert it to negative dec\n"
		deg=deg-90
		sign="-"
		
	hh=int(deg)
	mm=int((deg-int(deg))*60)
	ss=((deg-int(deg))*60-mm)*60
	print '\t'+sign+string.zfill(`hh`,2)+'h'+string.zfill(`mm`,2)+'m'+'%10.8fs' % ss

def to_ra(imp):
	deg = float(imp)
	if deg < 0:
		deg=deg+360
	if deg > 360:
		print `deg`+": inputs may not exceed 360!\n"
	hh=int(deg/15)
	mm=int((deg-15*hh)*4)
	ss=(4*deg-60*hh-mm)*60
	print '\t'+string.zfill(`hh`,2)+'h'+string.zfill(`mm`,2)+'m'+'%10.8fs' % ss

def main():
	if  len(sys.argv[:]) != 3:
		print "Usage: python converter.py DEC RA"
	else:
		print"Declination:"
		to_dec(sys.argv[1])
		print"Right Ascension:"
		to_ra(sys.argv[-1])	

if __name__ == "__main__":
	main()