Now Polypus2 supports scripts

 Whit the version 2.02 the script support is introduced. 

Script support is finalized to a full automatic observation session even without people in the observatory

The first change you can find is in the menu. Now an additional ribbon menu named "Automatic" allows you to select and edit three different task script. One for each specific purpose.

Observation task script: where you can put all the observation activities

Time task script: where you can put activites you needs where a defined time (e.g decondense)

Closure task script: where you can put activities for observatory closure and final activities like fla, dark

Second big change is a specifi page able to edit and run scripts.

On the right you find the syntax colored editor for script writing. Using these element you can work off line loading, editing and saving every scripts. During editing syntax color allows you to see immediatly possibile syntax error. 

On the left element you see the task list in execution with their state and the current executed script where current line is highlighed. On the side you can check the current state of script variables 

Using the help button you have a page helping you in the script writing.

When you select the function sheet you can see the list of all available functions whit explanation and input/output parameters

Using the check button you can run a preliminary script check, the result of this check is showed in the bottom element. Its allows you to discover errors in the script before the run.

In the installation are present some script example in order to have an explanation of the script possibilities.

Polypus 2.01 version ready

 

The second  useful version of Polypus is ready, version 2.01.

you can find it in resources

Photo menu is updated so to manage three cameras: for photo, for PEC and for spectroscope. 

Pec camera has its own comand and window. It is possibile acquire image in loop and activate correcion so to correct periodic error.

Windows for photos was changed 

The focus precedure was inserted so now it is possible move focuser, take photos and compute for each the FWHM. Values appears on a graph and the position correspondig the minimum value is computed. At the procedure end focus is set on that position

Stile of window was changed in order to shrik the needed space so more information are available. Different color is used to recognize readonly text box. In the status window all elements are collapsable

Polypus 2.00 version ready

 The first useful version of Polypus is ready, version 2.00.

you can find it in resources

Now the camera management is implemented so photos can be taken. A new menu bar is present where you can select exposure and binning, assign name to the object. After that you can run a shot.

A window is dedicated to the photo showing. Adjusting the configuration photo can be showed with the same position and scale as chart in order to make it easy the field reconizing. On the left you can see the scaling information/setting, a zoomed area where the point is, moreover you have info about the image quality and star FWHM. 

An automatic dark sequence procedure is available. It allows multiple shots. If camera has shutter it is not opened. if it don't have, photos have to be taken in the dark. File are saved with a name cointaing the CCD or dome temperature and exposure time.

An automatic flat sequence procedure is available where dark is taken with the same exposure time. Just after the flat shots are taken flat light is turned on. 

An automatic shot sequence procedure is availabe with the possibility of filter change. You have to select the number of shots for each filter. For each filter you can select it own exposure. In case focus change with filter you can ask to use focus positions stored in filterwheel. When you start the procedure it is able to: change filter, change focus, take shot, change filter, change focus ....

A window can show all the command run the Polypus in the current session. It helps in case of somethig goes wrong, specially when observatory is unmanned.

Polypus2 Objects

 I come to you after days with the second beta of Polypus2 software. You can download it from resources.  In this time I have implemented the object view. This is activated by the command in the view menu. Here you can select the ephemerid epoch and, in case of near object, show the topocentric coordinates.

In the object view it is possibile see some object lists: 

• Favorites
• sync stars
• Planets
• Asteroids
• Messier 
• NGC
• UGC

For selected object is showed the position in the sky, the sky chart centered where object is using GSC catalog. Some additinal information are shoed. when object is over the horizon it is possible command a telescope goto on it. Objects can be inserted in the favorites list.

Sync stars list contains 20 bight starts with low declination along all right ascensions. This allow you a precise telescope sync. Star position takes in count the proper motion

Planet list contains all solar system planet plus Sun and Moon. 

Sun and Moon positions are computed using formulas from “Astronomia con il computer” by Janes Meeus.Mercury to Neptune positions are computed using VSPO theory. 

Mercury to Neptune magnitude are computed using formulas from “Computing Apparent Planetary Magnitudes for The Astronomical Almanac” by James L. Hilton US Naval Observatory

Asteroid list shows the position of object in MPCORB.DAT from Minor Planet Center, positions are computed using formulas from “Astronomia con il computer” by Janes Meeus.

Using the tab sheet Altitude is it possibile see the observation condition of the object in current (or selected) night. On horizontal axis you have the local time on vertical axis the object altitude. Yellow backgroung are for day light, blu background for twilight and dark for astronomical night. Red line show you the object altitude. Because the moon can often annoy astronomical observations it is possible show also the moon altitude by a green line. 

Polypus 2 developing

Hello,

now the controller and driver part of the project is finished so the third step need to be started. It is the step requiring the most effort. The develop of a new version for the software managing the entire observatory. Since 2010 in the Bassano Bresciano observatory we use Polypus a software we build for this purpose with CBuilder compiler in C++. Now we need a new version of this software able to manage more devices. At this point Ascom Drivers are mandatory in order to don’t have Polypus strictly link the current device we use now. Polypus 2 will be developed by VisualStudio in C#.

Polypus 2 should support window docking so it should be possible dock windows in the  program where you prefer. This is not a native Visual studio feature. After an investigation and test we select this open source library 

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/42800/Visual-Studio-IDE-like-Dock-Container-Second-Versi

Polypus 2 should show a ribbon menu Microsoft Office like. This is not a native Visual studio feature also. After investigation and test we select this other open source library 

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/25907/A-Professional-Ribbon-You-Will-Use-Now-with-orb

Program should use dark color so to be useful the observatory light and to be style updated. Icons should be monochromatic black.

Here is the prototype of the main window

when a first version where the manual movement are working I'll publish it

Driver ASCOM for dome, focusers and switch

Now I have developed all the others drivers for object controlled by Raspberry application. They are: dome, focuser1, focuser2, focuser3 and switch. All driver was checked with conformance checker and conformance document was generated.

Also in this case communication between driver and Raspberry is done via TCP/IP, using other ports. 

For these reason the Rapberry application was update, now its version is 1.2.0.0. In the resource is presente the new version.

You can find all new drivers and conformance documents in the resource.

Dome driver supports these features:

• Slaved 

• Home finding 

• park 

• Open/close shutter 

Focuser drivers support these features:

• Absolute position

• Maxposition and step configurable in Raspberry application

Switch driver supports these features:

• Ready only analogue value with temperature in the dome

• Read/write boolean value for flat field light

• Read/write boolean value for telescope decondence fan

Driver ASCOM for telescope

 Because of Raspberry controller is able to manage different devices more Ascom driver are needed, one for each device. Now the first driver is developed using Microsoft Visual Studio, thanks to development tools supplied by Ascom Platform. Conformance checker was used to verify and validate it. Conformance document was generated.

Communication between driver and Raspberry is done via TCP/IP, Each driver uses its own port. Raspberry implement a UDP broadcast communication used to make know its IP address to the driver, in this way IP address can be discovered during the driver setup.

 These are the supported features:

• Alignment: Polar
• Sync and async target and coordinate Slewing
• Target and coordinate Sync
• Tracking: Sireal with the possibility set right ascension and declination rate
• Move axis support
• Topocentric equatorial system
• Parking on local meridian at declination 0
• Pulse guide support
• Aperture area and diameter and focal length are from Raspberry controller where can be configured.
• Observatory site location is from Raspberry controller where can be configured.

In the resource you can find driver setup and conformance document