https://github.com/juanmb/skypointer

Software for controlling a motorized sky-pointing laser
https://github.com/juanmb/skypointer

arduino astronomy python stellarium

Last synced: 3 months ago
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Software for controlling a motorized sky-pointing laser

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/juanmb/skypointer
• Owner: juanmb
• Created: 2015-04-20T22:08:39.000Z (over 9 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2021-11-25T16:14:34.000Z (about 3 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2024-10-13T02:04:27.556Z (3 months ago)
• Topics: arduino, astronomy, python, stellarium
• Language: Python
• Size: 4.64 MB
• Stars: 7
• Watchers: 6
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

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README

        
# SkyPointer

## Description

An open-hardware altazimuth mount with a laser pointer.

The following block diagram shows the current setup:

![](images/blocks.png?raw=true "Block diagram")

## CAD

The SkyPointer mechanical parts were designed to be easily fabricated with a 3D

printer. The `cad` folder contains the CAD files in Step, STL and

[FreeCAD](http://www.freecadweb.org) formats.

## Electronics

Circuit schematics and PCB layout were designed with [Kicad](http://kicad.org).

They are stored in the `kicad` folder.

## Arduino

An Arduino Uno board controls two stepper motors (azimuth and elevation) using

a [CNC shield](http://blog.protoneer.co.nz/arduino-cnc-shield/) with some

modifications (documentation in progress).

The Arduino firmware is located in a

[separate repo](https://github.com/davidvg/ArduinoSkyPointer).

## The Python server

![](images/server_screenshot.png?raw=true "Screenshot of the server GUI")

The server receives "goto" messages from

[Stellarium](http://www.stellarium.org/) and sends "current position" packets back.

The Stellarium client-server protocol is documented

[here](http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Telescope_Control_%28client-server%29).

### Installing the server in GNU/Linux

Install the required dependencies using your package manager. In Debian/Ubuntu,

you can use apt-get like this

```

$ sudo apt-get install pyqt4-dev-tools python-numpy python-scipy

```

Now you can install the *skypointer* package with pip

```

$ sudo pip install skypointer

```

Alternatively, you can clone this repo and call `setup.py` directly from the

`python` folder

```

$ git clone https://github.com/juanmb/SkyPointer.git

$ cd python

$ python setup.py install

```

For development, it is strongly recommended to install this package into a

[virtual environment](https://virtualenv.pypa.io/en/latest/).

### Installing the server in Windows

Using [Anaconda](https://www.continuum.io/downloads):

```

conda install numpy scipy pyserial pyqt

```

Now you can install the skypointer package using pip

```

$ pip install skypointer

```

### Usage

Run `skypointer-gui`.

### Communication with Stellarium

* Start `skypointer-gui`.

* Check *Enable server* in the *Configuration* tab, select a server port number

  and click *Apply*.

* Start Stellarium.

* Enable the plugin *Telescope control* in Stellarium. If it was disabled,

  you will need to restart Stellarium (only the first time).

* In the configuration window of the *Telescope control* plugin, add a new

  telescope and select the option "External software or a remote computer".

* Choose a name and select "Equinox of the date (JNow)".

* Enter the TCP port of the server.

* Close the dialog and press "Connect".

Now you can send the equatorial coordinates of the selected object in

Stellarium to the *SkyPointer* server by pressing `Ctrl+1`.