If you haven’t already noticed, the All-Sky camera for Chile is up and running! The best place to see it is on the Chile Conditions page, because you can click on it to get the full-size image. This is the first working end-to-end implementation of the observatory software for SLOOH V3.0, and represents a major milestone.
The current SLOOH V2.0 system uses Java on both ends (observatory and web server) and the communications in between are a proprietary SLOOH-invented format called ROMP (Remote Observatory Messaging Protocol). The USPTO granted a patent on the V2.0 live image processing system last year. For V3.0, we have transitioned to a more “web-standard” implementation for both the observatory and web-server software. It is a novel application of proven web technology, sufficiently different and unique to apply for a new patent. This new approach is more flexible, supports multiple observatories, and has the hooks to support later features like the Advanced Observing Interface.
The All-Sky still has some work to be done: It is not yet calibrated with dark and bias frames, so you will see some noise at first. The automatic exposure adjustment needs tweaking to handle dark, twilit, and moon-lit nights. And finally, the dark mask surrounding the image and containing the SLOOH logo needs to be added. This work is ongoing.
Remember, this is not just the All-Sky camera. It is the proof-of-concept for the all-new software we are writing for the main scopes in Chile and Australia, and will soon be retrofitting to Mt. Teide. Full speed ahead!
Just out of curiosity, but is that bright arc to the SW Santiago? Is this a decent representation of how the actual light dome is?
Thank You Mathew for this great news / update. It sounds great.
Thank You & all of the Staff’s hard work.
Ricky
When I saw that the Chile All Sky was up and running, I called it up and thought “Wait - they’re trying to fake one on us! Look at them stars all over the place!” Your explaination about non-corrected images now makes sense. (That, and seeing movement over time. Duh!”
Congrats on this big step!
David - The light dome from Santiago shows up on the lower right, from about the 4 o’clock to 7 o’clock positions. However, I would not call it an accurate representation until we get the calibration and exposure correct. For instance, in images from last night, the light dome is very bright, but the Milky Way is clearly visible just on the edge of it. So with the exposure and contrast properly adjusted, I think the light dome will be less pronounced.
Thank you for this discussion! I would also like to know where abouts is the allsky camera physically located at the Chile dome?
Are there two cameras, one daytime and one nighttime; or is that one camera that changes pov?
Thank you for giving us the gorey details rather than a synopsis! Infinitely more useful, IMHO.
Take a look in the Chile Construction forum. I posted a photo showing the All-Sky camera location.