This attribute specifies the default style of formatting to be used (e.g. by AST_FORMAT) for the celestial coordinate values described by a SkyFrame. It takes a separate boolean value for each SkyFrame axis so that, for instance, the setting " AsTime(2)=0" specifies the default formatting style for celestial latitude values.

If the AsTime attribute for a SkyFrame axis is zero, then coordinates on that axis will be formatted as angles by default (using degrees, minutes and seconds), otherwise they will be formatted as times (using hours, minutes and seconds).

The default value of AsTime is chosen according to the sky coordinate system being represented, as determined by the SkyFrame’ s System attribute. This ensures, for example, that right ascension values will be formatted as times by default, following normal conventions.

SkyFrame

• The AsTime attribute operates by changing the default value of the corresponding Format(axis) attribute. This, in turn, may also affect the value of the Unit(axis) attribute.

• Only the default style of formatting is affected by the AsTime value. If an explicit Format(axis) value is set, it will over-ride any effect from the AsTime attribute.