diff --git a/urls.py b/urls.py
index 357a23b..1f54539 100644
--- a/urls.py
+++ b/urls.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from .views import ConeSearchView
 
 urlpatterns = [
     path(
-        'cone_search/<float:ra>/<float:dec>/<float:radius>',
+        'cone_search/<str:ra>/<str:dec>/<str:radius>',
         ConeSearchView.as_view(),
         name = 'cone_search'
     ),
diff --git a/views.py b/views.py
index 224a45f..373d55c 100644
--- a/views.py
+++ b/views.py
@@ -13,6 +13,19 @@ from astropy import units as u
 
 class ConeSearchView(APIView):
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_healpix_indices(ra, dec, radius, nside):
+
+        # Convert the input coordinates to a SkyCoord object
+        center = SkyCoord(ra=ra*u.deg, dec=dec*u.deg, frame='icrs')
+
+        # Convert the center coordinates to HEALPix vector
+        vec = hp.ang2vec(center.ra.deg, center.dec.deg, lonlat=True) 
+
+        # Find the pixels within the given radius
+        indices = hp.query_disc(nside, vec, np.radians(radius))        
+        return indices
+
     def get(self, request, ra, dec, radius):
         radius = float(radius)
         ra = float(ra)
@@ -23,7 +36,7 @@ class ConeSearchView(APIView):
         center = SkyCoord(ra=ra*u.deg, dec=dec*u.deg, frame='icrs')
 
         #fetch healpix indices in the specified disc
-        healpix_indices = get_healpix_indices(ra, dec, radius, nside)
+        healpix_indices = self.get_healpix_indices(ra, dec, radius, nside)
         #fetch all objects from those healpixes
         objects = GaiaSource.objects.filter(healpix_ring_index__in=healpix_indices)
 
@@ -39,7 +52,7 @@ class ConeSearchView(APIView):
             
             separation = center.separation(source_coordinates)
 
-            if separation.degrees <= radius:
+            if separation.degree <= radius:
 
                 results.append(obj)           
 
@@ -47,16 +60,6 @@ class ConeSearchView(APIView):
 
         return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_200_OK)
 
-    def get_healpix_indices(ra, dec, radius, nside):
-
-        # Convert the input coordinates to a SkyCoord object
-        center = SkyCoord(ra=ra*u.deg, dec=dec*u.deg, frame='icrs')
-
-        # Convert the center coordinates to HEALPix vector
-        vec = hp.ang2vec(center.ra.deg, center.dec.deg, lonlat=True) 
-
-        # Find the pixels within the given radius
-        indices = hp.query_disc(nside, vec, np.radians(radius))        
-        return indices
+