code: def _convert_radec(self, val):
          
          try:
              ans = val.to('deg')
          except Exception as e:
              self.logger.error('Cannot convert, assume already in degrees')
              ans = val.data
          else:
              ans = ans.value
  
          return ans
docs: Convert RA or DEC table column to degrees and extract data.
          Assume already in degrees if cannot convert.