https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/ 2026-05-07T05:53:27+00:00 https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/ https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:dokuwiki.svg text/html 2022-09-03T02:07:52+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=astroimaging&rev=1662170872&do=diff A brief introduction to astroimaging ---------- Telescope with computerized mount and focuser [ Takahashi refractor with a 90mm diameter fluorite objective] ---------- Long-exposure, cooled CCD/CMOS camera and filter wheel [ Startlight Xpress SXV-H9] ---------- PC control box with relays, microcontrollers, etc. [ Homemade, the author] ---------- -> text/html 2022-09-03T07:18:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=autofocus&rev=1662189510&do=diff Autofocus Sharp focus is critical for high quality astronomical images. Focus generally needs to be adjusted throughout the night due to equipment flexure and different orientations and temperature changes. Autofocus algorithms measure image star half flux diameters (HFD) at various focuser positions and determine the optimum focus point by curve fitting. text/html 2022-09-17T05:01:31+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=discussion&rev=1663390891&do=diff Discussion If ever there was an application "made for Forth", surely it would be astroimaging * Chuck Moore invented Forth at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) * FORTH Inc, and Leon Wagner are actively controlling radio dishes with Forth text/html 2022-09-03T03:58:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=fits-files&rev=1662177529&do=diff FITS file handling FITS files are the standard format for astronomical images. The standard has developed since 1976. Revisions are approved by the IAU (International Astronomical Union). An example: The FITS file image of the Orion Nebula open in MaxIm DL, a general purpose application for scripting and image processing, showing image metadata in the FITS header. Superstacker called Maxim DL for FITS file handling. text/html 2022-09-03T23:10:48+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=forth-role&rev=1662246648&do=diff What role for Forth? Hardware drivers Drivers are prepared by manufacturers and regularly updated with feedback from the full userbase of the product. Interfaces are according to the well-developed and mature ASCOM standards. The scripting application text/html 2022-09-03T03:58:05+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=hardware-drivers&rev=1662177485&do=diff Hardware drivers Hardware drivers operate through standard interfaces defined in the ASCOM platform. They appear as objects in the Windows Component Object Model ( COM). Image credit: The ASCOM Initiative, an open source collaboration with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License text/html 2022-09-03T06:48:42+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=plate-solve&rev=1662187722&do=diff Plate solving Astrometric calibration of an astronomical image (“plate solving”) identifies the celestial coordinates of the centre of a FITS file image. A small number of commercial or free tools are available. The algorithms identify the stars in the image and match them against a reference catalogue. A text/html 2022-09-17T14:56:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=problem-opportunity&rev=1663426588&do=diff The problem and the opportunity There is still room for improvement in the software available for controlling amateur telescopes * The original commercial offerings are now dated and expensive (they survive in a small market) * The open source / freeware choices are essentially very similar in style and limitations (monolithic, feature bloat, error-prone interfaces) text/html 2022-09-15T08:27:05+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=procedure&rev=1663230425&do=diff Astroimaging procedure in outline * Place and level the mount (typically 10 - 25kg) * Polar align the mount * Polar telescope built into the mount (2 minutes, accurate enough) * Optimizing star drift in the eyepiece (15 minutes) * Software assisted (15 minutes, most accurate) text/html 2022-09-03T08:25:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=remote-hosting&rev=1662193500&do=diff Remote hosting The best skies in the world are in the mountain deserts of Chile * Very stable atmospheric seeing (around 0.8 arcseconds) * Over 320 clear nights per year * High above the weather, around 1700m above sea level * Close to the professional telescopes of the European Southern Observatory text/html 2022-09-03T03:32:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=scripting-application&rev=1662175950&do=diff The scripting engine The scripting engine coordinates the imaging run operating the hardware via ASCOM drivers. Typically there is a GUI for settings and for monitoring of the imaging run. A couple of examples: ---------- Superstacker, a freeware VB.NET application written by the author circa 2004-7 text/html 2022-09-15T08:23:37+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=software&rev=1663230217&do=diff Software components -> Hardware drivers <- Astroimaging procedures in outline text/html 2022-09-15T08:34:21+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=start&rev=1663230861&do=diff Can I do this in Forth? Presentation to EuroForth 2022 Andrew Read ---------- An image of the Orion Nebula taken with an amateur telescope and equipment from a local rooftop (November 2005) [ The Orion Nebula, 2005-11-27, the author] ---------- -> A brief introduction to astroimaging text/html 2022-09-03T07:20:05+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=target-scheduling&rev=1662189605&do=diff Target scheduling Various constraints determine the suitable period for imaging an individual target, principally altitude above the horizon (which may include local obstructions) but also separation from moonlight, which floods the background, introduces gradients and reduces contrast. When imaging several targets, it may be best to divide the night and allocate time to each target only when nearest the meridian (the line from north to south through the zenith) and will be imaged through the … text/html 2022-09-03T08:26:44+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://euroforth.o-r-a-c.net/doku.php?id=tcl&rev=1662193604&do=diff The Tcl surprise Most of these libraries, including a SQLite interface, are already available in Tcl (or are “one step away” in C). It turns out that there is a history of TCL being used for “glue applications” in professional observatories.