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A Remote Observatory Primer
For years, amateur and professional astronomers alike have dreamed about being able to pursue their professions at their convenience. In recent years, with advances in telescope equipment, ASCOM open software integration capabilities and telescope control programs, such as ACP™ by DC3 Dreams SP, this goal is realized.
Still, an attendant has been required on-site to "do the basics" -- turn on equipment, monitor the weather, uncover scope apertures, prevent optics fogging.
The final challenge has been to engineer the robotic attendant... now available with the AstroMC™ product family.
Now, it is possible to control your observatory entirely by Internet and Web connectivity. Through ACP, it's possible to schedule the observatory to "turn on", check the weather, open shutters and covers, take/store images, and then "shut down" the observatory for the evening... all without being there!
This final level of integration is made possible by AstroMC using ASCOM, an open software standard that has revolutionized observing for amateurs and professionals alike. For more information about ASCOM, visit:
www.ascom-standards.org
Foster Systems is an ASCOM compliant supplier.
For years, amateur and professional astronomers alike have dreamed about being able to pursue their professions at their convenience. In recent years, with advances in telescope equipment, ASCOM open software integration capabilities and telescope control programs, such as ACP™ by DC3 Dreams SP, this goal is realized.
Still, an attendant has been required on-site to "do the basics" -- turn on equipment, monitor the weather, uncover scope apertures, prevent optics fogging.
The final challenge has been to engineer the robotic attendant... now available with the AstroMC™ product family.
Now, it is possible to control your observatory entirely by Internet and Web connectivity. Through ACP, it's possible to schedule the observatory to "turn on", check the weather, open shutters and covers, take/store images, and then "shut down" the observatory for the evening... all without being there!
This final level of integration is made possible by AstroMC using ASCOM, an open software standard that has revolutionized observing for amateurs and professionals alike. For more information about ASCOM, visit:
www.ascom-standards.org
Foster Systems is an ASCOM compliant supplier.