GALE<scp>xtin</scp>: an alternative online tool to determine the interstellar extinction in the Milky Way
E. B. Amôres, Ricardo M Jesus, A. Moitinho, V. Arsenijevic, R. S. Levenhagen, D. J. Marshall, L. O. Kerber, Roseli Künzel, Rodrigo Andrade Moura
Abstract
ABSTRACT Estimates of interstellar extinction are essential in a broad range of astronomical research. In the last decades, several maps and models of the large-scale interstellar extinction in the Galaxy have been published. However, these maps and models have been developed in different programming languages, with different user interfaces and input/output formats, which makes using and comparing results from these maps and models difficult. To address this issue, we have developed a tool called GALExtin (http://www.galextin.org), which estimates interstellar extinction based on both available 3D models/maps and 2D maps. The user only needs to provide a list with coordinates (and distance) and to choose a model/map. GALExtin will then provide an output list with extinction estimates. It can be implemented in any other portal or model that requires interstellar extinction estimates. Here, a general overview of GALExtin is presented, along with its capabilities, validation, performance and some results.