---
name: "astquery"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gnuastro"
version: "0.23-2+b3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/astquery"
---

# astquery(1)

query remote data servers and download

## NAME

query - query remote data servers and download

## SYNOPSIS

**astquery** \[*OPTION*...\] *DATABASE*

## DESCRIPTION

query is part of GNU Astronomy Utilities 0.23. query is just a place holder used as a minimal set of files and functions necessary for a program in Gnuastro. It can be used for learning or as a template to build new programs.

For more information, please run any of the following commands. In particular the second contains a very comprehensive explanation of query's invocation: expected input(s), output(s), and a full description of all the options.

- All options and their values:

  $ astquery **-P**

- Inputs/Outputs and options:

  $ info astquery

- Full section in manual/book:

  $ info query

- Full Gnuastro manual/book:

  $ info gnuastro

If you couldn't find your answer in the manual, you can get direct help from experienced Gnuastro users and developers. For more information, please run:

-

  `$ info help-gnuastro`

query options:

-

  Input:

- **--ccol**=*STR*,STR

  Coordinate (RA, Dec) column names in dataset.

- **-h**, **--hdu**=*STR*/INT

  Extension name or number of input data.

- **-L**, **--limitinfo**=*STR*

  Only retrieve dataset info. with this string.

- **-Q**, **--query**=*STR*

  The raw query as a simple string.

- **-v**, **--overlapwith**=*FITS*

  Set query region to overlap with this image.

-

  Output:

- **--dry-run**

  Only print the download command, don't run it.

- **-D**, **--dontdelete**

  Don't delete output if it exists.

- **-i**, **--information**

  Print database or dataset information.

- **-k**, **--keeprawdownload**

  Don't delete raw downloaded file.

- **-K**, **--keepinputdir**

  Keep input directory for automatic output.

- **--outfitsnocommit**

  No Git commit in 0-th HDU of output FITS.

- **--outfitsnoconfig**

  No metadata in 0-th HDU of output FITS.

- **--outfitsnodate**

  No 'DATE' in 0-th HDU of output FITS.

- **--outfitsnoversions**

  No versions in 0-th HDU of output FITS.

- **-o**, **--output**=*STR*

  Output file name.

- **--tableformat**=*STR*

  Table fmt: 'fits-ascii', 'fits-binary', 'txt'.

- **--wcslinearmatrix**=*STR*

  WCS linear matrix of output ('pc' or 'cd').

-

  Generate query internally (not compatible with '--query'):

- **-b**, **--noblank**=*STR\[*,STR\]

  No rows with blank value in given column(s).

- **-c**, **--column**=*STR*

  Column names to download from catalog.

- **-C**, **--center**=*FLT*,FLT

  Center coords. to select by region in sky.

- **-g**, **--range**=*STR*,FLT:FLT

  Range of selected targets in given column.

- **-H**, **--head**=*INT*

  Only download given number of top rows.

- **-r**, **--radius**=*FLT*

  Radius around **--center** to select targets.

- **--sort**=*STR\[*,STR\]

  Sort based on values of given columns.

- **-s**, **--dataset**=*STR*

  Name of dataset in database.

- **-w**, **--width**=*FLT\[*,FLT\]

  Width of box around **--center** to select targets.

-

  Operating modes:

- \-?, **--help**

  give this help list

- **--checkconfig**

  List all config files and variables read.

- **--cite**

  BibTeX citation for this program.

- **--config**=*STR*

  Read configuration file STR immediately.

- **--config-prefix**=*STR*

  Custom prefix of option names config files.

- **--lastconfig**

  Do not parse any more configuration files.

- **--onlyversion**=*STR*

  Only run if the program version is STR.

- **-P**, **--printparams**

  Print parameter values to be used and abort.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Only report errors, remain quiet about steps.

- **-S**, **--setdirconf**

  Set default values for this directory and abort.

- **--usage**

  give a short usage message

- **-U**, **--setusrconf**

  Set default values for this user and abort.

- **-V**, **--version**

  print program version

Mandatory or optional arguments to long options are also mandatory or optional for any corresponding short options.

GNU Astronomy Utilities home page: http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuastro/

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to bug-gnuastro@gnu.org.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2015-2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU General public license version 3 or later.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Written/developed by Mohammad Akhlaghi

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **query** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **query** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info query**

should give you access to the complete manual.