StellariumStellarium

Ver. Issue 1.2

http://www.stellarium.org/http://www.stellarium.org/

everything you wanted to everything you wanted to know .. .. but were afraid to askknow .. .. but were afraid to ask

This presentation is available on website :-http://questions4steveb.co.uk/Movies_and_presentations/

What is Stellarium ?What is Stellarium ?

• Open Source night sky star ‘mapping’– ‘a true simulation of the night sky’

• GUI is ‘Mac like’, as PC users will discover !– Windows 32 bit (2000 / NT / XP / Vista / 7 / 8)

(ver 0.8.2 will work on Win98se !)

– Windows 64 bit (Vista / 7 / 8)

– Mac OS X 10.3.x (or above)– Linux (source) & .exe (for Ubuntu)

(many distro’s include it as ‘standard’)

• Smart phone versions exist, not Open Source

iPhone & iPad versionsiPhone & iPad versions

• ‘Stellarium Mobile’ = £1.99https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stellarium-mobile/id643165438?mt=8https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stellarium-mobile/id643165438?mt=8

• For alternatives, see :-http://appadvice.com/appguides/show/astronomy-appshttp://appadvice.com/appguides/show/astronomy-apps

Note that free apps often contain ‘embedded’ advertising (some limit this to start-up)

One of the worst is “GoSkyWatch Planetarium”(annoying advertisements ‘pop up’ in bright colours

during use & ruin your night vision)

Android smart phonesAndroid smart phones

• ‘Stellarium Mobile Sky Map’ = £1.69https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?

id=com.noctuasoftware.stellarium&hl=en_GBid=com.noctuasoftware.stellarium&hl=en_GBThe (free) Open Source version is being ‘worked on’ :-

http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Android_porthttp://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Android_port

• Some (free) alternatives include :-– ‘The Night Sky Lite’– (Google) ‘Sky Map’

(PC) Graphics card drivers(PC) Graphics card drivers

• Uses ‘OpenGL (2.1)’ for max. compatibility– OpenGL is slow compared to Direct X(but only likely to be a problem on older kit

or those using ‘motherboard built in graphics’or 10 yr. old laptops :-)

• You should get > 15 fps, even on old kit– if < 1 fps you have a driver problem !

(i.e. you are using the ‘default’ Microsoft video driver)

• If it’s slow, reduce your screen resolution :-)

Setting a custom resolutionSetting a custom resolution

• Stellarium uses Windows screen res.(to change, Right Click desktop for Properties,

Settings tab ..)

• To set a specific screen resolution :-Start - Programs - Stellarium - config.ini

Click file to select & open it in Notepad

Modify the ‘screen_w’ & ‘screen_h’ valuesThen save the file and (re)start Stellarium

The ‘Projection’ settingThe ‘Projection’ setting

• Changes how Stellarium draws the skyDefault is the ‘Perspective’ view

Horizon is a straight line, max. FOV (field of view) 150º

(similar to how your eyes see the sky)

• Others (in order of max FOV) are :-– FOV 180º, ‘Fisheye’ & ‘Orthographic’– FOV 233º, ‘Cylinder’ & ‘Mercator’– FOV 235º, ‘Stereographic’– FOV 360º, ‘Equal area’ & ‘Hammer-Aitoff’

Constallation ArtworkConstallation Artwork

• Specific to a ‘Sky Culture’– default is ‘Western’

• If you don’t like any of them (I don’t) ……why not create your own ?

– Actually, it’s not quite that easy …… look in /skycultures folder for examples

– Better = download existing alternatives eg. Hevelius Constellation Art from :-

http://www.wilmslowastro.com/software/software.htmhttp://www.wilmslowastro.com/software/software.htm(artwork source is from engravings at :-

http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/sources/illustrations/constellations/)

Landscape settingsLandscape settings

• Controls how Stellarium draws the ground– ‘Show ground’ (default = on)

• When off, you can ‘see through the earth’ :-)

– ‘Show fog’ (default = on)• Haze/fog = horizion ‘glow’ / ‘light pollution’(there is a separate setting for sky ‘light pollution’)

– ‘Use associated planet and position’• Means a new Landscape also changes the observers location

– ‘Use this landscape as default’• Use curerent chosen Landscape at next start

You can load download pre-made alternativesYou can load download pre-made alternativesor create your own personal ‘landscape’or create your own personal ‘landscape’

Adding a new LandscapeAdding a new Landscape((the easy way)the easy way)

1. Download the landscape.zip you want eg. from :-http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Landscapes

2. F4 for "Sky and viewing options" (or click icon)3. In ‘Landscape’ tab, click “Add/remove landscapes”4. In ‘Add/remove landscapes’ window,

click “Install a new landscape from a ZIP archive” & ‘browse’ to where you saved the .zip in step 1.

Some you might like = Mars, Moon, Avebury, Stonehenge, & ‘Field’ (simple grass field - good for horizon check)

Create your own landscapeCreate your own landscape

NB a guide to Stellaritum control files can be found at: http://www.porpoisehead.net/mysw/stellarium_user_guide_html-0.9.1-1/http://www.porpoisehead.net/mysw/stellarium_user_guide_html-0.9.1-1/

Adding a new LandscapeAdding a new Landscape((the hard way)the hard way)

Your own landscapeYour own landscape

• Landscape size MUST an exact power of 2– limitation imposed by (some) OpenGL driversi.e. 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096 etc. (guereins is 8 x 256=2048 wide)

– The higher the resolution, the slower it ‘renders’but the better it looks = so max 4096w (x 2048h) is suggested

• You can save as a single ‘normal’ panorama– ‘type = spherical’ ?! (eg ‘mars’, 2048x1024)

• Or as a single ‘spherical projection’– ‘type = fisheye’ (eg trees @ 512x512)

• Or ‘chop it up’, into be 4, 8 or 16 tiles (+ a ground tile)– ‘type = old_style’ (eg ‘guereins’, 8 @ 256x256 + ground 512x512)

Landscape image makingLandscape image making

• You need a complete 360º width view – Image all everything around then take some

‘ground’ / ‘grass’ shots for ‘fill in’ use

• Some cameras have a ‘panorama’ mode– Resolution is ‘adequate’, but most don’t do 360

so you may need 2 (or even 3) overlapping shots

and will still have to ‘stitch’ to get the complete 360 view

Landscape ‘how to’ - overviewLandscape ‘how to’ - overview

Step 1) Take your photo’s at the observing locationeg. your backyard / Cookham Dean

Step 2) ‘Stitch’ to make a 360º ‘panorama’ photomax 4096 pixels wide (x 2046 heigh)

Step 3) Make the sky ‘transparent’ (& save as PNG)+ fill in extra ground as needed (& check the scale)

Step 4) Optional = chop into 8 or 16 ‘panels’ …default, side1 = North (set ‘decor_angle_rotatez’ to adjust)

alternative = make a ‘spherical projection’ (type=fisheye)

Step 5) Generate Stellarium display parameters

How to - step 1, photo’sHow to - step 1, photo’s

1. Set your tripod at your normal observing location• The tripod the height is important if you want accuracy

2. Set minimium zoom (eg on 18-55 lens, set 18)• If using a 50mm lens, rotate camera to portrait mode

3. Take your photo’sYou need complete 360º, overlap ea. about 30%

You need from the near ground to the empty sky• If necessary, take 2 (or more) at each posn.

– it’s not a bad idea to take a few extra ground for ‘fill in’

Top tips:Top tips:1) landscape photo’s are best taken on a clear day1) landscape photo’s are best taken on a clear day

It’s easier to cut out ‘all blue’ (or all grey :-) ) sky than mixed clouds & skyIt’s easier to cut out ‘all blue’ (or all grey :-) ) sky than mixed clouds & sky2) take a compass and mark ‘North’ (it’s a lot hard to find later :-) )2) take a compass and mark ‘North’ (it’s a lot hard to find later :-) )

How to - step 2, panoramaHow to - step 2, panorama

1. ‘Stitch’ your images to make a panoramaEg. use free Microsoft ICE (‘Image Composite Editor’)

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICEhttp://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICE//

An OpenSource alternative, but harder to use, is HUGIN http://hugin.sourceforge.net/ http://hugin.sourceforge.net/

2. ‘Save As’ in a ‘reasonable’ resolutionThe panorama ‘width’ is 360 degrees (eg. 4096 pixels)

The ‘height’ is 180 degrees BUT unless you took 180 degrees of photo’s, you will have ‘fill in’ extra ground (& sky**) later

Note. ** you won’t need ‘empty sky’ (it’s just for sizing) however if you don’t add it, you will need to adjust the ‘decor_alt_angle’ parameter

How to - step 3, cut out skyHow to - step 3, cut out sky‘Transparent’ the sky using free** OpenSource

software ‘The Gimp’ http://www.gimp.org/http://www.gimp.org/1. Open the panorama & note it’s width & horizon posn.

2. Create a new ‘full sized’ image If the width is 4096 pixels, then you need a height of 2048

In the ‘advanced’ tab, set PNG background color = transparent

3. Copy panorama & paste ‘as new layer’ into the new Make sure to align it so the horizon is in the ‘middle’

4. Cut out the sky to expose ‘checkerboard’ background Use ‘select by color’ (DON’T set ‘feather edge’)

5. Export in ‘.png’ format to preserve the transparent sky

** non-free alternatives are Photoshop / PaintShop Pro** non-free alternatives are Photoshop / PaintShop Pro

How to - fill in the groundHow to - fill in the ground

• To avoid having to work out the ‘offset’ parameter settings, I suggest you ‘fill in’ the ground

– I used GIMP to copy / clone existing ground– Don’t forget to export as PNG !

If the width is 4096 pixels, then the height is 2048 pixels

The horizon is ‘in the middle’ @ pixel position 1024

The ‘lower’ 1024 pixels (down from the horizon) = ground

The ‘upper’ 1024 pixels = (mainly) transparent sky

How to - step 4, convertHow to - step 4, convert

• ‘Fisheye’ or Tiles is better than panorama– To make spherical (fisheye) use GIMP

1. Open the landscape and ‘distort’ it to ‘square’In Image menu, Scale Image, set new ht = same as wdith

and ‘unlink’ the two (so it actualy distorts)

2. Convert to ‘fisheye’In Filters –> Distorts –> Polar Coordinates

use ‘offset angle’ to get your NORTH (up) correct !

– For tiles, ‘chop’ the panorama into 4,8 or 16 (Plus one ‘extra’ part for the ‘near’ ground)

Use an existing landscape.ini as a ‘template’ for your own(see ‘trees’ for fisheye, ‘moon’ for a single panorama)

How to - step 5, settingsHow to - step 5, settings1. Create a folder in C:/Program Files/Stellarium/landscapes/

Eg. C:/Program Files/Stellarium/landscapes/ockwells

2. Place the panorama image(s) in this folderUse simple name (no caps or spaces) eg ockwells.png

3. Create a ‘landscape.ini’ fileStart with a copy of existing & adjust the values …

eg. Ockwell’s Park, Lat: 51.489539, Long: -0.7460284, Altitude: 31m

[location] (Ockwell’s Park), planet = Earthlatitude = +51d29’22”, longitude = -0d44’46”, altitude = 31

(Cookham Dean Common is Lat: 51.551299, Long: -0.758932, Alt: est. 50m)

If you get it wrong, Stellarium can lock-up !If you get it wrong, Stellarium can lock-up !A guide to Stellaritum control files can be found at :- http://www.porpoisehead.net/mysw/stellarium_user_guide_html-0.9.1-1/http://www.porpoisehead.net/mysw/stellarium_user_guide_html-0.9.1-1/

• It’s as easy to visit Mars as Ockwell’s Park– F4 to open "Sky and viewing options" window– In the ‘Landscape’ tab, click ‘Mars’ & in Options

box, note ‘Use associated planet and position’• If it’s (already) set, then you are now on Mars !

– If not, set ‘Use associated..’ & click ‘Mars’ again• Your ‘viewpoint’ will then change to Mars !

(to confirm, use F3 & search for Earth)

Changing your ‘viewpoint’Changing your ‘viewpoint’

Adding new Comets, Adding new Comets, Asteroids & planetsAsteroids & planets

Adding Comet ISON etc.Adding Comet ISON etc.• Easy way = ‘import’ from Minor Planet Center (MPC)• F2 or click ‘Configuration’ icon

– In ‘Plugins’ tab, select ‘Solar System Editor’• In ‘options’, click ‘Configure’ (if greyed out, set ‘Load at start up’ & restart)

• In ‘Solar System’ tab, view the list of existing ‘objects’

– To add, click ‘Import orbital elements in MPC format’• In ‘Import data’ / ‘Lists’ tab, set ‘Select the Type’ as ‘Comets’

• Set ‘Select the source’ to ‘Download a list .. from the Internet’– In ‘Select a source from the list’ scroll to ‘MPC’s list of observable comets’– Then click ‘Get orbital elements’

• In ‘Objects found’ list, scroll to “C/2012 S1 (ISON)” & select [‘x’] it– Then click ‘Add objects” & restart Stellarium

• Note. The Comet data is added to :-C:\Documents and Settings\seti3100\Application Data\Stellarium\data\ssystem.iniC:\Documents and Settings\seti3100\Application Data\Stellarium\data\ssystem.ini

RestartRestart Stellarium Stellarium

Adding Comets (the hard way)Adding Comets (the hard way)

• Edit the ‘working’ .ini file at :-C:\Documents and Settings\{your a/c}\Application Data\Stellarium\data\ssystem.iniC:\Documents and Settings\{your a/c}\Application Data\Stellarium\data\ssystem.ini

(the ‘default’ can be found in C:\Program Files\Stellarium\data\ssystem.ini)– Edit using Notepad etc. NOT Wordpad / MS Word !

& be careful = this file defines the Earth & all the planets !

• Many asteroids etc are already defined, eg. [mcnaught] :-[mcnaught]

Unique short name, lower case

name = C/2006 P1 (McNaught)Text displayed to user

parent = Sunit’s parent (i.e. what it orbits)

radius = 1000in miles, determines relative ‘size’ displayed (Comets default to 5)

oblateness = 0.0

halo = trueMeans draw with a ‘fuzzy edge’ i.e. ‘atmospheric’ effect

color = 1.0,1.0,1.0white (r,g,b)

tex_halo = star16x16.pngThe image file to use when adding atmospheric effect

Note: if halo = false , set ‘tex_halo = NULL’

tex_map = nomap.pngImage to show when ‘zooming in’ on the object

(default, ‘nomap’, is a ‘fuzzy ball’ = there is no provision for comet ‘tails’)

coord_func = comet_orbitAlgorithum used to calculate position in the sky

Whilst ‘halo’ etc. can make the comet ‘fuzzy’, Whilst ‘halo’ etc. can make the comet ‘fuzzy’, there is no support for comet ‘tails’there is no support for comet ‘tails’

orbit_TimeAtPericenter = 2454112.7968

orbit_PericenterDistance = 0.170729

orbit_Eccentricity = 1.000021

orbit_ArgOfPericenter = 155.9756

orbit_AscendingNode = 267.4148

orbit_Inclination = 77.8348

lighting = false‘false’’ means don’t show ‘phases’ (so Moon = true)

albedo = 1

orbit_visualization_period = 365.25

landscape = {name of folder containing the landscape image}

In order to ‘visit’ a planet/moon/asteroid/comet In order to ‘visit’ a planet/moon/asteroid/comet you must have a landscape to ‘stand on’you must have a landscape to ‘stand on’

• All you need is some ‘landscape’ to stand on– You can create a landscape (.png) ‘as normal’

or just copy the /moon landscape :-)• & set ‘planet’ = your Comet, eg C/2012 S1 (ISON)

– add the ‘landscape =’ to the comets entry in the working ssystem.ini found in:-

C:\Documents and Settings\{your a/c}\Application Data\Stellarium\dataC:\Documents and Settings\{your a/c}\Application Data\Stellarium\data

• Use F4 to open "Sky and viewing options"– In the ‘Landscape’ tab, click your just added landscape– In ‘options’, set ‘Use associated..’

• Then click on the just added landscape again :-)

– You are now ‘standing on a comet’ !

How to ‘stand on a Comet’How to ‘stand on a Comet’

Telescope ControlTelescope Control

1. In config.ini, enable ‘light travel time compensation’• If you don’t Jupiters Moons won’t be exactly ‘centered’

2. Launch Stellarium …3. F2 or click icon for ‘Configuration Window’4. In Plugins tab, Telescope Control, Configure

If ‘Configure’ is greyed out, set ‘Load at Startup’ & Restart StellariumRestart Stellarium(the ‘select it again’ trick doesn’t work for Telescope Control)

5. In ‘Telescopes’ tab, click ‘Add’• Leave default (Stellarium, direct … serial port)• In Properties, scroll down for ‘Device Settings’

• Select your mount from the pull-down listeg mine is ‘Meade Autostar compatible’

Enable the built-in controlEnable the built-in control

Mounts supportedMounts supported• Stellarium direct, via a serial port, supports :-

– Celestron NexStar (compatible)Celestron NexStar (compatible)Sky-Watcher SynScan ‘V3+’ and ‘AZ GOTO’ mount

(includes EQ6, HEQ5-Pro ?)– Meade Autostar compatibleMeade Autostar compatible

(= ETX and DS, Autostar 1 #495 and (my) #497/old controller)

ETX-70 with #494 Autostar 1 (extra features)Meade LX200 (compatible)Wildcard Innovations Argo Navis (in Meade mode)Losmandy G11

• Mount must ‘polar align’ before Stellarium controlStellarium can control as many mounts as you have serial ports

Well, up to 9 .. Ctrl n = mount ‘n’ GoTo (& track) selected target on screen

Controlling other telescopesControlling other telescopes

• Use the ‘Stellarium scope’ plug-in to driveASCOM / EQMOD compatible mounts, see :http://www.welshdragoncomputing.ca/index.php?http://www.welshdragoncomputing.ca/index.php?

option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=31&Itemid=39option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=31&Itemid=39

• Note: when using Stellariumscope + ASCOM– Ctrl 1 = GoTo center of Stellarium screen display– Ctrl 2 = GoTo and ‘sync’ (track) ‘target’ shown on screen– Ctrl 3 = abort move

Latest StellariumScope (2013-08-09) & ASCOM known to work with Stellarium 0.11.1-0.11. 4 and 0.12.0-0.12.2

(as of Oct. 2013, Stellarium ver. 0.12.3 = ‘untested’)

1. Install ‘Stellarium scope’ locally from :-http://www.welshdragoncomputing.cahttp://www.welshdragoncomputing.ca(Stellarium v12.x is intended to work w/o this step)

2. If your PC is Windows XP, then :-• You must have Windows XP Service Pack 3 installed• You must have MS .NET Framework 3.5 SP1http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22

3. Install the latest ASCOM Platform 6 = ‘sp3’http://www.ascom-standards.org/http://www.ascom-standards.org/

• Download & install the drivers for your mounthttp://www.ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htmhttp://www.ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htm

4. Restart your P.C. & launch Stellarium scope• Select the driver for you scope and tick ‘connect’

5. Launch Stellarium … & select ‘local driver’

Using ASCOM with StellariumUsing ASCOM with Stellarium

Controlling the HEQ5 / EQ6 etc.Controlling the HEQ5 / EQ6 etc.

• Use StellariumScope + ASCOM + EQMOD, see :-http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-581-0-0-1-0.htmlhttp://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-581-0-0-1-0.html

– The ‘known working’ HEQ5/EQ6 version set is :-• Stellarium version 0.10.5 • StellariumScope version 20100614 (2010.6.14.47)• ASCOM Platform 5 with the 5.5.1 update • EQMOD version v121d (2010-05-30)

Note - the following is not unusual with OpenSource s/w :-)“This version of Stellarium scope is designed to work with

Stellarium version 0.10.6 and later. Your version appears to be: 0.11.0.”

Serial link mount driveSerial link mount drive

• Your PC ‘COM1’ ports will default to :-9600 baud, 8 data, 1 stop, No parity, No flow control

= which is exactly what Meade Autostar handset requires != which is exactly what Meade Autostar handset requires !

• To change the COM settings :-– Launch ‘Device Manager’– Expand ‘Ports’, adjust ‘Communications Port (COM1)’

• If, instead, you are using a USB<>Serial adaptor,– in Device Manager, open the USB adapter settings

Remote (wireless) ControlRemote (wireless) Control

1. Use Stellarium in ‘direct’ serial port mode• Serial link is transmitted via :-

a) Bluetooth (USB<>Bluetooth adaptor)

b) WiFi (using ‘serial port divert’ s/w)

• At the mount use adapter/PC to connect to serial again

2. Use Stellarium in ‘remote’ (network) mode• The remote PC must be running ‘client’ software• At the mount, fit Ethernet / WiFi <>serial module

3. Use some (free) ‘remote control’ software, eg:-

http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspxhttp://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

1a. Bluetooth mount connection1a. Bluetooth mount connection

• Best for iPad & Android– tablets & smart phones – & laptops with built-in Bluetooth(non-bluetooth PC’s can use a USB Bluetooth dongle)

• At the mount, Bluetooth to serial adapter– These are available ‘off the shelf’

• Most are battery powered• Must support ‘bluetooth serial port profiles (spp)’• Typical <£10 on eBay (or >£30 from Amazon etc)

A typical £10 stand-alonebluetooth<>serial

adapter

Mode =master / off / slave

Power (usb 5v or2 wire skt 6v)

Reset

Bluetoothmodule

1b. Serial via WiFi1b. Serial via WiFi

• In theory**, the simplist to ‘get working’– If it runs ‘local’, it (should) run remote

• Remote mount driver can be simple device– Eg Raspberry Pi SBC (Single Board Computer)

**dozens of apps. ‘claim’ to provide ‘Serial <> WiFi <> Serial’ functionality, however I only found one actually worked :-

http://sourceforge.net/projects/com0com/http://sourceforge.net/projects/com0com/

What’s wrong with Open Source ?What’s wrong with Open Source ?• Many ‘claim’ to be ‘Windows compatible’

= but the only download available is ‘source’ (eg ‘SerServSerServ’)

• Windows .exe ‘afterthought’ & often ‘command line’= so it just ‘falls over silently’ when something (anything) goes wrong (some

create a ‘log’ file = most don’t)

• No installer ? then assume it’s not going to work :-)No installer ? then assume it’s not going to work :-)but don’t count on it .. eg TCPCOM32TCPCOM32 .msi installs OK but then fails at ‘launch’ every time with an ‘Error opening socket’ message

• Documentation ? = typically, none= eg IPComIPCom runs OK but ‘Unable to open COM1’ (why?)

• ‘Dependencies of the unknown kind’ …eg ‘combytcpcombytcp’ = throws MS.net ‘exception’ on main (& can ‘continue’ ok) but

always aborts with ‘failed to initialise’ on the remote PC ?

• Salesmen are not Software Engineers– Product comes with ‘exagerated’ claims

• If not outright lies, it reflects sales limited understanding of s/w

• ‘Free’ s/w is time and/or feature ‘limited’– The limitations are typically not advertised

• and it’s often impossible to tell a bug from a limitation

– Reviewers frequently DON’T ACTUALLY USE the s/w• They base their articles on the vendors own advertisments

EXAMPLE:

You will find ‘HW VSP’ (free) ‘advertsied’ as a ‘serial2serial WIFi link’You will find ‘HW VSP’ (free) ‘advertsied’ as a ‘serial2serial WIFi link’It’s not = it’s a virtual COM port driver for HW’s WiFi hardwareIt’s not = it’s a virtual COM port driver for HW’s WiFi hardware

(it can’t actually direct WIFI to a physical port = if it could, you might not need to (it can’t actually direct WIFI to a physical port = if it could, you might not need to pay for any of HW’s hardwear :-) )pay for any of HW’s hardwear :-) )

What’s wrong with commercial s/w ?What’s wrong with commercial s/w ?

2. WiFi to mount ‘Server’2. WiFi to mount ‘Server’

• Best for ASCOM / EQMOD users– Eg non-Bluetooth laptop, or for extended range

• Stellarium WiFi to remote ‘Stellarium scope’– The remote PC then links to the mount using a

standard serial cable

This is much more complex than ‘Serial via WiFi’ and This is much more complex than ‘Serial via WiFi’ and I never managed to get it workingI never managed to get it working

• Non-stelarium alternative for Macs, iPads etc.– Use the commercial ‘SkySafari’ (non-free ed.)

+ the mount uses the ‘SkyFi’ adapter, $160

Mount ‘Server’ s/wMount ‘Server’ s/w

• Stellarium scope (ASCOM EQMOD mounts)http://www.welshdragoncomputing.ca/index.php?http://www.welshdragoncomputing.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blogoption=com_content&view=category&layout=blog

&id=31&Itemid=39&id=31&Itemid=39I gave up after reading the description …I gave up after reading the description …

• Use old Stellarium generic ‘client/server’eg: C:\>TelescopeServerLx200 10002 COM1:

Simpler, but didn’t work for me at all, you may have better luck, see:-Simpler, but didn’t work for me at all, you may have better luck, see:-http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Downloadhttp://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Download

#Telescope_Servers#Telescope_Servers

3. Remote control s/w (‘vnc’)3. Remote control s/w (‘vnc’)

• Best for ‘observatory’ users– You ‘remote control’ the PC at the mount

eg. http://sourceforge.net/projects/tigervnc/files/http://sourceforge.net/projects/tigervnc/files/http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspxhttp://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

• Not limited to controlling Stellarium– The remote PC is totally controlled by local PC

• You can control a camera, activate auto-guiding etc.

– Same as ‘Remote Desktop’ / ‘Remote help’• Supports higher data rates than Internet connection

(actually, controling Stellarium isn’t practical ..)

Tiger VNCTiger VNC

• Claims to be ‘video game speed’– Actual speed with Stellarium = totally unusable

The only way to regain control, after using VNC to The only way to regain control, after using VNC to launch Stellarium on the remote PC, was to force launch Stellarium on the remote PC, was to force

power-off !power-off !– The ‘problem’ seems to be that OpenGL screen

updates are ‘poorly implemented’• Even when ‘nothing’ is happening, Stellarium

redraws at 30-40fps (and VNC copies at 1 fps)

VNC works just fine with other apps. (just don’t try to VNC works just fine with other apps. (just don’t try to run Stellarium :-) )run Stellarium :-) )

TeamViewerTeamViewer

TV is SLOW, but usable, on 600x800 displayTV is SLOW, but usable, on 600x800 display

(and 256 colours)(and 256 colours)• On the ‘target’ PC, install TeamViwer Host • On ‘controller’ install TV full (‘all in one’)

– TV is designed to control remote PC’s via the Internet !TV is designed to control remote PC’s via the Internet !– To activate the local LAN mode:1. In the menu click on ‘Extras’ and then on ‘Options’

2. On the General tab activate ‘Accept incoming LAN connections’

To cut down on text changes, in Stellarium, Config, Main, ‘Selected object info …’ set ‘Short’ (& Save Settings)

Mac. as the mount controller ?Mac. as the mount controller ?

• Not easy / not possible (& why bother ?)– ‘Stellarium scope’ is Windows only ..

• Mac. remote Telescope Server ‘StellLXTSRB’ see see http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-42365.htmlhttp://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-42365.html

– It only ever supported Meade ETX-80 & LX-90– The ‘source’ page no longer exists

(http://www.tonybarry.net/tonybarry/Software.html)(http://www.tonybarry.net/tonybarry/Software.html)– Neither Google nor Yahoo search can find the .zip file

• Mac. Serial2serial via WiFi s/w may existNB. To drive a serial cable from the Mac. :-

Buy any generic USB to Serial (eg Maplins) & use the ‘PL2303 Driver for Mac.’ from Prolific.comProlific.com

Practical Practical Telescope ControlTelescope Control

How to make it work in the fieldHow to make it work in the field

• Main PC is set up as ‘Ad-hoc’ WiFi ‘Router’= WinXP, so uses ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)

• The remote PC connects to WiFi ‘as normal’

• Main PC runs Stellarium in ‘local mode’+ with serial via WiFi connection to remote PC

• VNC on main PC controls s/w on remote PC– DSLR Shutter = uses parallel port to take phot’s– Canon s/w = uses USB to fetch photo’s

Setting up WiFi in the fieldSetting up WiFi in the field

• Use your (main) PC as a WiFi ‘Router’– on Windows XP (& Vista & Windows 7?)

• Use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) + ‘Ad-Hoc’ WiFi • Your PC is now a ‘Router’ (but only with WEP**)

– on Windows 7 (& Windows Server 2008)• Use ‘Virtual WiFi’ (which is much easier to setup)• Only WPA** is available

• Your remote PC connects ‘as normal’– assuming Windows Firewall lets it …

• (use ‘ping’ to check each PC can see the other)** WPA is more secure, but some smart phones only do WEP

• On the Stellarium (‘client’) PC :-– Run (com0com) ‘setup.exe’ to create CNCA0<>CNCB0– In CNCA0 set ‘use Ports class’ & ‘emulate baud rate’

• in Virtual pair 0, COMn should now be linked to CNCB0

– Copy the hub4com files into the ‘root’ of c:– com2tcp-rfc2217.bat connects CNCB0 to mount PC IP

• C:\>com2tcp-rfc2217 \\.\CNCB0 192.168.1.nnn 7000

– Select COMn in Stellarium Telescope Control

• On the mount (‘server’) PC :-– Copy the hub4com files into the ‘root’ of c:– link TCP/IP port 7000 to the COM1 serial link cable

• C:\>com2tcp-rfc2217 COM1 7000

Serial <> WiFi Serial <> WiFi (using ‘com0com’)(using ‘com0com’)

In com0com, setting In com0com, setting ‘‘use Ports class’use Ports class’

automaticallyautomaticallychanged virtualchanged virtualport ‘CNCA0’ toport ‘CNCA0’ to

‘‘real’ port ‘COM10’.real’ port ‘COM10’.[ Stellarium is then[ Stellarium is thenset to Port COM10set to Port COM10& com2tcp-rfc2217& com2tcp-rfc2217then links CNCB0then links CNCB0

to mount PCto mount PCTCP/IP address ]TCP/IP address ]

Telescope Control Telescope Control DemoDemo

1. Finding an OpenSource app. to do the job....will cost you more in lost time than paying for one

2. If 10 Open Source apps claim to do the job.. 9 out of 10 won’t / can’t … and you will try the 10th last

3. Very few OpenSoure apps come with un-installers.. the ones that do still won’t restore your system

4. Uninstalling will have unwanted ‘side-effects’.. uninstalling a virtual COM port will disable the real one.. uninstalling your Firewall will activate the Windows one

5.5. So THE INSTANCE you get it all working …So THE INSTANCE you get it all working …… … make ‘System Restore Point’ on every PC !!!make ‘System Restore Point’ on every PC !!!

Steve’s Top TipsSteve’s Top Tips

Stellarium ‘goto’ for your DobsonStellarium ‘goto’ for your Dobson

• You outfit your Dob. with ‘position sensors’– Eg. ‘potentiometer’ + measuring controller(there’s nothing better than the Raspberry Pi for this :-) )

• Manual movement is ‘fed back’ to Stellarium& Stellarium shows the ‘target’ on screen

(i.e. shows what the Dob is ‘pointing at’)

• Yes, it’s actualy been done = see demo at :-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRAF6LnHk1Ahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRAF6LnHk1A

Extra’sExtra’sRaspberry Pi as a telescope ‘controller’Raspberry Pi as a telescope ‘controller’

Stellarium with Raspberry PiStellarium with Raspberry Pi

• For Stellarium Telescope Control via com0com – ‘sudo apt-get install socat’ (=WiFi 2 serial port for the Pi)

• For Nexstar controllers (Celestron)– Compile ‘Telescope Control Server’ driver for the Pisee https://github.com/fcsonline/node-telescope-serverhttps://github.com/fcsonline/node-telescope-server

• Autostar support is ‘TBA’ …..• For physical serial cable (Pi to the mount controller)

– see http://elinux.org/RPi_Serial_Connectionhttp://elinux.org/RPi_Serial_Connection• (wire the MAX3232 to 3.3v supply from pads on cap. side)

WARNING - raw serial +/-12v WILL kill your Pi !Note: the Raspberry Pi needs +5.2v @ 1A

(a typical sealed 6v Lead Acid battery is 4.5Ahr i.e 4.5 hr)

= a Stellarium alternative for iPhone/iPad & Android= a Stellarium alternative for iPhone/iPad & Android

• You need the (paid for) Plus or Pro version :-(– this supports GoTo control using the ‘SkyFi’ adapter

= a ‘‘WiFi to Serial cable’ adapter @ $160

• To avoid paying $$$ for ‘SkyFi’, use the Pi !– get the “serial to (& from) network” app. or ‘socat’ app

sudo apt-get install ser2net / sudo apt-get install socat• for ser2net, set TCP/IP port (eg 4000) in ./etc/ser2net.conf

4000:raw:0:/dev/ttyUSB0:9600 NONE 1STOPBIT 8DATABITS

• to set same in socat, launch it with paramssocat tcp-l:1234,reuseaddr,fork /dev/ttyAMA0,raw,b9600,echo=0,ocrnl=1

NOTE: set your Firewall to ‘allow’ the chosen Port !

SkySafari with Raspberry PiSkySafari with Raspberry Pi

http://astroland.funxiun.com/http://astroland.funxiun.com/remote-control-your-goto-telescope-mount-using-a-raspberry-pi-and-skysafari/remote-control-your-goto-telescope-mount-using-a-raspberry-pi-and-skysafari/

= a Stellarium alternative for GNU\Linux= a Stellarium alternative for GNU\Linux

• Also available for Windows• Uses the ‘INDI’ driver set for remote GoTo

– so you need a ‘controller’ at the mounte.g. a Raspberry Pi :-)

Kstars with Raspberry PiKstars with Raspberry Pi

http://edu.kde.org/kstars/http://edu.kde.org/kstars/

PHD / lin_guider auto-guidingPHD / lin_guider auto-guiding

• A 5mp camera is available for the Pi– this means ‘auto-guiding’ could be added !

(has been done usin a USB web-cam but is very, very slow)

• A ‘NoIR’ camera (w/o IR filter) is ‘coming soon’http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/tag/pi-noirhttp://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/tag/pi-noir– aim is same price ($25) as the ‘standard’ camera– this means astro-photography by Pi !

(for more see: http://www.brahmand.me/astropi/)(for more see: http://www.brahmand.me/astropi/)

But all that’s forBut all that’s foranother day !another day !

This presentation is available as a .PPT on my website :-

http://questions4steveb.co.uk/http://questions4steveb.co.uk/Movies_and_presentations/Movies_and_presentations/