align x/y don't go far enough

[fommil]

I'm trying to create a custom set of labels over a label-less view of stars+DSOs, see the example config, but the xalign value results in:

• 1 means the most right part of the text is on the object
• 0 means the center of the text is over the object
• -1 means the text starts over the object

but it would be more desirable to have a little space. Any extra space in the label itself seems to be stripped off.

It would also be good to be able to auto-align the text so that it goes to the left or right depending on the objects around it, much like whatever algorithm you're using to label built-in objects.

DEFAULTS
coords=alt_az
horizon_latitude=56.30
horizon_longitude=-3.71
julian_date=2460941.5

# A4 page
angular_width=110
width=29.7
aspect=0.707

# show the horizon but no other curves
show_horizon=1
cardinals=1
grid_coords=ra_dec
show_grid_lines=1
plot_galactic_plane=0
plot_ecliptic=0
plot_equator=0
plot_galaxy_map=0

# stars
mag_min=8
show_solar_system=1
star_label_mag_min=0

# show all DSOs
plot_dso=1
dso_display_style=fuzzy
dso_mag_min=12
dso_label_mag_min=0

# minimise constellation impact
constellation_boundaries=0
constellation_names=0

# turn off all legends
copyright=
magnitude_key=0
dso_symbol_key=0

# draw the zenith
text=alt_az,90,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,1,+

# turn off arbitrary limits
maximum_star_count=10000
maximum_star_label_count=10000
maximum_dso_count=10000
maximum_dso_label_count=10000

#######################################################
text=ra_dec,16.695000,36.461389,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
text=ra_dec,20.569722,7.404444,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 6934
text=ra_dec,15.108333,55.763333,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Spindle Galaxy
text=ra_dec,17.285278,43.135833,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,M 92
text=ra_dec,19.896111,18.779167,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,M 71
text=ra_dec,18.893056,33.029167,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Ring Nebula
text=ra_dec,19.993333,22.721111,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Dumbbell Nebula
text=ra_dec,19.276667,30.183333,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,M 56
text=ra_dec,21.499444,12.166944,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Pegasus Cluster
text=ra_dec,21.024722,16.187778,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 7006
text=ra_dec,23.082500,12.322778,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 7479
text=ra_dec,19.746667,50.525000,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Blinking Planetary Nebula
text=ra_dec,17.975833,66.633056,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Cat Eye Nebula
text=ra_dec,20.979722,44.330000,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,North America Nebula
text=ra_dec,0.054167,16.145278,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 7814
text=ra_dec,22.617778,34.415833,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 7331
text=ra_dec,20.581111,60.153611,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Fireworks Galaxy
text=ra_dec,23.431667,42.535000,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Blue Snowball Nebula
text=ra_dec,1.564167,30.660278,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Triangulum Galaxy
text=ra_dec,0.711667,40.865278,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Le Gentil
text=ra_dec,0.672778,41.685556,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,M 110
text=ra_dec,0.712222,41.268889,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Andromeda Galaxy
text=ra_dec,0.553333,48.508611,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 147
text=ra_dec,0.649444,48.337500,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,NGC 185
text=ra_dec,2.375833,42.348333,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Outer Limits Galaxy
text=ra_dec,1.705556,51.575556,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Little Dumbbell Nebula
text=ra_dec,3.330000,41.511667,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Perseus A
text=ra_dec,0.216944,72.521944,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,Bow Tie Nebula
text=ra_dec,3.780278,68.096111,-1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,IC 342
#######################################################

CHART
az_central=0
alt_central=60
output_filename=output/quad_N.pdf