Folks - I have ACP running on my observatory PC. ACP is an automatied software package that controls all kinds of gear (CCD, mount, roro roof, focuser etc etc).

For those with access, you can control the observatory from anywhere in the world via the internet.

I would be very appreciative of anyone who can log on using the details below and let me know how you get on. Don't worry, the software is currently only connected to simulators so you can't break anything.

If you can let me know if you can log on and see all the controls in your web browser, that would be great. You'll need to activate Javascript and cookies so it works OK. Don't worry, there'll be no funny business going on.

Cheers

Dave


j65.my-sky.com
Username: Guest
Password: Guest

I can log in and I get a really powerful looking interface. Nice stuff!

Bart.

I can log in too. Tried IE7 and Firefox. See all the controls etc. Looks good Dave.

Thats class dave! I could log in aswell!

I can log in and I get a really powerful looking interface. Nice stuff!

Bart.

Should be good for the money... !

Next step is to get things attached, working and controllable. Then we'll see what we can break first

Thanks for checking it out folks. I'll leave the guest login running for the next day or so (though I may use it tonight) so you might be able to see things move around...

Cheers
Dave

Dave,

I just tried it and it works great. I am truly impressed.

Nice work!

Is someone logged on at the mo? If so, sorry, gonna have ditch you... I'm getting some error messages up...

Looks the biz and worked a dream! Very impressed... doubly so as I am planning to use ACP for my own setup eventually. It's so nice of you to be *my* guinepig! When the time comes for me to lash out the spondooliks for control software, you'll have already ironed out the bugs and overcome all the hurdles... I hope!

Phil.

When the time comes for me to lash out the spondooliks for control software, you'll have already ironed out the bugs and overcome all the hurdles... I hope!

Phil.

Glad you like it Phil! Its pretty complex to be honest - I'm working live at the mo (hence dumping you all off) and I'm getting some odd behaviour. Good think is, support is good and quick.

When I'm done playing, I'll re-enable the Guest account and let ye all know.

Watch this space!

Cheers
Dave

I have been using ACP for about 2 years on two robotic observatories. In particular ACP scheduler which is ideal for Irish climate conditions.
In the survey work I am using it for detecting EKBOs, its a blessing to use. I can script in a mosaic for a 5 hour run. I go to bed and leave it run. Its definitely astronomy while you sleep. In April alone I did over 100 hours of surveying.

At ones leisure you can then analyse the data. I detected 5 EKBOs at around 21 to 22 mag and 130 asteroids of around 16-19 mag which were already known by MPC. Most of the work is using PinPoint within ACP for plate solving and detection of these objects. Like most you on the boards I have to get up for work after a good nights sleep. But its definitely the way to go if you are serious in astronomy.

BTW I am presenting this material and explaining the benefits of ACP for minor planet work to the British Astronomical Association, Asteroids and Remote Planets Section on 2 June in Newbury.

Dave, You made a good choice for the future.

Eamonn A

Thanks for that Eamon!

I did a pointing correction run last night - ACP just gets on with it. I ran the correction script then, err, just watched for an hour! ACP figures it all out and off it goes - slews the scope over the sky, plate solves each image and figures out the corrections to be made. Then it produces a pointing model for continuing use. Super!

By the way, the guest account is now available - but there's nothing happening.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I tried it at about 12:25 and it worked perfectly.

I couldn't find the 'launch space shuttle' tab tho'

Michael.

I've reconnected the simulators and am running a 30 point correction model - it should run for about 40 minutes.

If you click on the "Show/Hide Run Log and Abort Control" at the bottom of the system status window, you can see the script running.

Cheers
Dave

It doesn't work for me, maybe you have the machine shut down?

I can't connect either. I get the "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" message.

I was fiddling about with FocusMax which kept giving me problems so I closed the server down.

Its back up again if you want to take a peek. I leave it on for the day.

Dave

Yup It works now. It looks great .

Dave
Well done, the interface is easy to navigate and use! I tried a few attempts to log in unsuccessfully until I realised I was using all small case letters as in “guest” instead of using a capital ‘G’ as in “Guest”. Don’t you just know its Monday morning! :roll:

Clear skies
Mike

Looks good on Solaris+Firefox.

Dave,
How do you adjust focus within ACP?

Dave,
How do you adjust focus within ACP?

You don't need to - you set up autofocus in Maxim and ACP takes care of the rest transparently. It allows extra time for autofocusing. You can set it up to occur every image or every x number of minutes. It will also adjust focus for different filters if you give the offsets.

I've still I while to go before I fully understand this powerful package but from what I can tell, all you do is tell it the target, you're preferred exposure time and if you want filters to be used. Mount movements, focusing, parking, unparking, dome control, weather control all happens under the hood.

There are even pre-written scripts for calibration frames. The scripting language is fully documented so you can even write your own scripts. That said, pre-written scripts cover pretty much all of it.

All in all, I'm very pleased with it and hope to really lash into it this coming autumn. I hope to really tighten up the observatory over the coming months (polar alignment, balancing, PE etc etc). I can then spend the next season just taking images automatically.

So far, it seems worth the investment - I just need to get familiar with it to really get it to pay for itself.

Folks - thanks for all the feedback. Good to know that everyone can connect (except when I disabled the account).

I'll disable it from now on - whoever is logged on at the mo - sorry.

If anyone is thinking of purchasing this software and would like to logon live, let me know.

Cheers
Dave

I can't connect either. I get the "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" message.

Ditto, today.

Seanie - if you want a look, let me know and I'll connect it up. Obviously, with 100% cloud cover, the server isn;t running at the moment...

I've some work to do to tweak the software and my setup over the coming months so I'll keep you all posted as to when the site is live. You won't be able to do much other than view the numbers changing. I will however try and get the site to show the latest image by clicking on the image square - its problematic becasue the images are in FITS format...

Dave

Seanie - if you want a look, let me know and I'll connect it up. Obviously, with 100% cloud cover, the server isn;t running at the moment...

Also, with the fct it was in DAYLIGHT, I figured as much! I'll keep an eye on this thread for when you have it online and want it used again. Sounds great!