Convert longitude from hours,minutes,seconds in string or 3-array
    format to decimal degrees.

    ADW: This really should be replaced by astropy

def hms2dec(hms):
    """
    Convert longitude from hours,minutes,seconds in string or 3-array
    format to decimal degrees.

    ADW: This really should be replaced by astropy
    """
    DEGREE = 360.
    HOUR = 24.
    MINUTE = 60.
    SECOND = 3600.

    if isstring(hms):
        hour,minute,second = np.array(re.split('[hms]',hms))[:3].astype(float)
    else:
        hour,minute,second = hms.T

    decimal = (hour + minute * 1./MINUTE + second * 1./SECOND)*(DEGREE/HOUR)
    return decimal