st7ctl - Controller for SBIG CCD cameras

Justin Pryzby <justinpryzby@users.sf.net>

Introduction

st7ctl is a camera controller for SBIG astronomical CCD cameras. It includes all the functionality of commercial software such as CCDSoft, except that st7ctl does not provide image display capabilities; it is strictly data-acquisition software, relying on DS9 for image display. It features very good support for automated, robotic-observatory type scripting. Of special interested are autoguiding, autofocussing, driftscan imaging (TDI), a center object routine, a center-brightest routine, a GPL license, availability on multiple platforms, and a guider calibration routine that actually works (it uses the primary imaging CCD rather than the guider CCD). An GUI is included, which targets support for an arbitrary astronomical CCD.
News
Details
Download st7ctl
Related project for controlling an ST-4 (Does not include autoguiding capabilities at this time).
Screenshots
Links

News

2005-03-15
Brownout at the Reynolds Observatory is over. Clarkson maintenance hired a contractor to replace the underground power cable, so I expect to start regular observations ASAP. 2005-01-24
Weather has been pretty bad here in upstate New York. It seems like only 10% of recent nights have had observable conditions, and, of course, its cold. Our warm room, well, its not very well insulated, so I don't expect to release another version for at least another month. Stay tuned, though; I'm rewriting the GUI with Glade, and it is impressive.

Details

Included with st7ctl are all the facilities necessary to take high-quality observations. It will optionally integrate with IRAF and the online USNO-B1.0 database for easy astrometry analysis. No kernel modules are used [0]. At present, st7ctl integrates with the Meade LX200-series of telescopes, but it would be very easy to add support for other brands and models as well.
[0] Except the SBIG kernel module, which is always necessary. If anyone knows the details of SBIG camera communication, I'm all ears.

Screenshots


 New, improved GUI created by Glade
SourceForge.net Logo