The Sesame server (https://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/Sesame) converts names of astronomical objects into a position. It has an XML output which schema was turned by default to version 4 (http://cds.unistra.fr/xml/sesame_4.xsd).

The sesame server is also available as a direct HTTP-GET engine, or as a Web service.

It converts the name of an astronomical source (outside the Solar System) into a position in the IRCS (J2000) reference frame, using Simbad, NED and VizieR databases.

The new version (4) returns more Simbad parameters, and can resolve several target names in a single call. The previous version (2) may still be accessed if necessary. Details are given in the

Sesame documentation.