1 Introduction

findcoords is a utility for finding the equatorial coordinates of a named astronomical object. You simply enter the name of the object and its coordinates are displayed. findcoords works by submitting a remote query via the Internet to the version of the SIMBAD1 name-resolver provided by ESO (the basic SIMBAD is maintained by the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, CDS). Consequently, findcoords will only work on computers with a suitable Internet connection. Also, the name given must be recognised by SIMBAD, though the latter’s dictionary of names is very extensive. findcoords is a simple wrap-around for the name-resolver function of application catremote in CURSA (see SUN/190[1] and SSN/76[2]).

1http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad