Fixed failing PANSTARRS Catalog queries

CHANGES.rst

@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ mast
 
 - Expanding ``Cutouts`` functionality to support TICA HLSPs now available through 
   ``TesscutClass``. [##2668]
+
+- Resolved issue making PANSTARRS catalog queries when columns and sorting is specified. [#2727]
 
 nist
 ^^^^

astroquery/mast/collections.py

@@ -162,7 +162,11 @@ def query_region_async(self, coordinates, *, radius=0.2*u.deg, catalog="Hsc",
         for prop, value in kwargs.items():
             params[prop] = value
 
-        return self._current_connection.service_request_async(service, params, pagesize=pagesize, page=page)
+        # Parameters will be passed as JSON objects only when accessing the PANSTARRS API
+        use_json = catalog.lower() == 'panstarrs'
+
+        return self._current_connection.service_request_async(service, params, pagesize=pagesize, page=page,
+                                                              use_json=use_json)
 
     @class_or_instance
     def query_object_async(self, objectname, *, radius=0.2*u.deg, catalog="Hsc",
@@ -313,7 +317,11 @@ def query_criteria_async(self, catalog, *, pagesize=None, page=None, **criteria)
                 raise InvalidQueryError("At least one non-positional criterion must be supplied.")
             params["filters"] = filters
 
-        return self._current_connection.service_request_async(service, params, pagesize=pagesize, page=page)
+        # Parameters will be passed as JSON objects only when accessing the PANSTARRS API
+        use_json = catalog.lower() == 'panstarrs'
+
+        return self._current_connection.service_request_async(service, params, pagesize=pagesize, page=page,
+                                                              use_json=use_json)
 
     @class_or_instance
     def query_hsc_matchid_async(self, match, *, version=3, pagesize=None, page=None):

astroquery/mast/services.py

@@ -288,7 +288,27 @@ def service_request_async(self, service, params, page_size=None, page=None, use_
             catalogs_request.extend(self._build_catalogs_params(params))
         else:
             headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
-            catalogs_request = params
+
+            # Parameter syntax needs to be updated only for PANSTARRS catalog queries
+            if service.lower() == 'panstarrs':
+                catalogs_request.extend(self._build_catalogs_params(params))
+
+                # After parameter syntax is updated, revert back to dictionary
+                # so params can be passed as a JSON dictionary
+                params_dict = {}
+                for key, val in catalogs_request:
+                    params_dict.setdefault(key, []).append(val)
+                catalogs_request = params_dict
+
+                # Removing single-element lists. Single values will live on their own (except for `sort_by`)
+                for key in catalogs_request.keys():
+                    if (key != 'sort_by') & (len(catalogs_request[key]) == 1):
+                        catalogs_request[key] = catalogs_request[key][0]
+
+            # Otherwise, catalogs_request can remain as the original params dict
+            else:
+                catalogs_request = params
+
         response = self._request('POST', request_url, data=catalogs_request, headers=headers, use_json=use_json)
         return response
 

astroquery/mast/tests/test_mast_remote.py

@@ -691,6 +691,17 @@ def test_catalogs_query_criteria(self):
         assert isinstance(result, Table)
         assert 'PSO J254.2861-04.1091' in result['objName']
 
+        result = mast.Catalogs.query_criteria(coordinates="158.47924 -7.30962",
+                                              radius=0.01,
+                                              catalog="PANSTARRS",
+                                              table="mean",
+                                              data_release="dr2",
+                                              nStackDetections=[("gte", "1")],
+                                              columns=["objName", "distance"],
+                                              sort_by=[("asc", "distance")])
+        assert isinstance(result, Table)
+        assert result['distance'][0] <= result['distance'][1]
+
     def test_catalogs_query_hsc_matchid_async(self):
         catalogData = mast.Catalogs.query_object("M10",
                                                  radius=.001,