Introduction to Observatory Pro

Observatory Pro is an advanced observatory control software designed for professional astronomers and research institutions. This documentation will guide you through installation, configuration, and usage of the software.

What is Observatory Pro?

Observatory Pro is a comprehensive software solution that provides real-time monitoring, automated scheduling, and precise instrument control for astronomical observatories. It integrates with a wide range of telescope systems, cameras, and other observatory equipment to provide a unified control interface.

Key Features

• Real-time Monitoring: Track all observatory systems in real-time with advanced telemetry and status updates.
• Automated Scheduling: Plan and execute observation sequences with intelligent scheduling algorithms.
• Data Management: Comprehensive data collection and analysis tools for research-grade observations.
• Equipment Integration: Support for a wide range of telescope models, cameras, and auxiliary equipment.
• Advanced Analytics: Built-in data visualization and analysis tools for astronomical research.

System Architecture

Observatory Pro follows a modular architecture that allows for flexible deployment and scaling. The system consists of the following components:

Getting Started with the API

Observatory Pro provides a comprehensive REST API for integrating with external systems. Here's a simple example of how to connect to the API:

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import requests
import json
# API configuration
API_URL = "https://api.observatorypro.com/v1"
API_KEY = "your_api_key_here"
# Function to get telescope status
def get_telescope_status():
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    
    response = requests.get(
        f"{API_URL}/telescope/status",
        headers=headers
    )
    
    if response.status_code == 200:
        return response.json()
    else:
        raise Exception(f"API request failed: {response.status_code}")
# Example usage
status = get_telescope_status()
print(json.dumps(status, indent=2))
        

Configuration Example

Observatory Pro uses YAML for configuration files. Here's an example configuration for a basic setup:

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# observatory_pro.yaml
server:
  host: "0.0.0.0"
  port: 8080
  debug: false
  log_level: "info"
database:
  type: "postgresql"
  host: "localhost"
  port: 5432
  name: "observatory_db"
  user: "observatory_user"
  password: "${DB_PASSWORD}"  # Use environment variable
telescope:
  model: "Celestron CGX-L"
  connection:
    type: "serial"
    port: "/dev/ttyUSB0"
    baud_rate: 9600
  limits:
    altitude_min: 15  # degrees
    altitude_max: 85  # degrees

camera:
  model: "ZWO ASI2600MM Pro"
  connection:
    type: "usb"
    id: "0x1234:0x5678"
  settings:
    cooling: true
    target_temperature: -20  # Celsius
dome:
  model: "Pulsar Observatories 3.5m"
  connection:
    type: "ethernet"
    host: "192.168.1.100"
    port: 11880
  auto_sync: true  # Automatically sync with telescope
        

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics of Observatory Pro, you can proceed to the installation and setup process: