AutoPA Updates

Added calibration script and some bug fixes.

Author: CTetford

Software/Addons/AutoPA/polaralign.py

@@ -89,13 +89,14 @@ def polarcalc(mylat, mylong, myelev, time, p1RA, p1DEC, p2RA, p2DEC, p3RA, p3DEC
 p3RA = sys.argv[9]
 p3DEC = sys.argv[10]
 
-serialport = '/dev/ttyACM0'
+#Serial port address for Arduino, typically /dev/ttyACM0 in Astroberry, possibly /dev/ttyACM1
+serialport = sys.argv[11]
 
 result = polarcalc(mylat, mylong, myelev, time, p1RA, p1DEC, p2RA, p2DEC, p3RA, p3DEC)
 
-#Verify error correction can be handled by AutoPA hardware (assuming it is in home/centered position)
+#Verify error correction values can be handled by AutoPA hardware (assuming it is in home/centered position)
 moveAz = "N"
-if abs(result[0]) > 192:
+if abs(result[0]) > 120:
 	moveAz = input("Azimuth error may be out of bounds of hardware capabilities if not in home position. Continue? (Y/N): ") 
 else:
 	moveAz = "Y"

Software/Addons/AutoPA/polaralign_calibration.py

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import math
+from astropy.coordinates import SkyCoord, EarthLocation, AltAz, Angle
+from astropy import units as u
+from astropy.time import Time
+from astropy.utils import iers
+import sys, subprocess
+
+def polarcalibrate(mylat, mylong, myelev):
+	#iers.conf.auto_download = False
+	#iers.conf.auto_max_age = None
+
+	#Create location object based on lat/long/elev
+	observing_location = EarthLocation(lat=mylat*u.deg, lon=mylong*u.deg, height=177*u.m)
+
+	p1RA = input("Enter first RA value in 00h00m00.0s format: ")
+	p1DEC = input("Enter first DEC value in 00d00m00.0s format: ")
+	p1Time = Time(input("Enter first Time value in YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format: "))
+	p2RA = input("Enter second RA value in 00h00m00.0s format: ")
+	p2DEC = input("Enter second DEC value in 00d00m00.0s format: ")
+	p2Time = Time(input("Enter second Time value in YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format: "))
+
+	p1 = SkyCoord(p1RA, p1DEC)
+	p2 = SkyCoord(p2RA, p2DEC)
+	
+	p1AzAlt = p1.transform_to(AltAz(obstime=p1Time,location=observing_location))
+	p2AzAlt = p2.transform_to(AltAz(obstime=p2Time,location=observing_location))
+	print(f"First capture Az./Alt.: {p1AzAlt.az.to_string(u.hour, precision=2)}/{p1AzAlt.alt.to_string(u.deg, precision=2)}.")
+	print(f"Second capture Az./Alt.: {p2AzAlt.az.to_string(u.hour, precision=2)}/{p2AzAlt.alt.to_string(u.deg, precision=2)}.")
+
+	if p1AzAlt.az.deg > 180:
+		p1Az = (360-p1AzAlt.az.deg)*60
+	else:
+		p1Az = p1AzAlt.az.deg*60
+	if p2AzAlt.az.deg > 180:
+		p2Az = (360-p2AzAlt.az.deg)*60
+	else:
+		p2Az = p2AzAlt.az.deg*60
+		
+	deltaAz = abs(p1Az - p2Az)
+	deltaAlt = abs(p1AzAlt.alt.arcmin - p2AzAlt.alt.arcmin)
+	
+	print(f"Azimuth delta is: {deltaAz:.4f} arcminutes.")
+	print(f"Altitude delta is: {deltaAlt:.4f} arcminutes.")
+	
+	return
+
+#Latitude in degrees
+mylat = float(sys.argv[1])
+
+#Longitude in degrees
+mylong = float(sys.argv[2])
+
+#Elevation in meters
+myelev = sys.argv[3]
+
+polarcalibrate(mylat, mylong, myelev)