Development of a standalone Python script to automate telescope focusing using the HFD V-Curve method (similar to NINA/FocusMax). This will serve as a proof-of-concept before integration into the main observatory server.
Specifically, this will roughly be based on the paper "Fast Auto-Focus Method and Software for CCD-based Telescopes" by Larry Weber and Steve Brady.
The general outline of the script will be as follows:
- Script will capture a series of exposures at varying focuser positions (we might need to step Out-to-In to mitigate backlash if that's a thing on the MRO scopes).
- Utilize
sep (Source Extractor, Bertin & Arnouts 1996) library to detect sources via background RMS/Sigma-clipping.
- Compute Half Flux Diameter (HFD) for detected stars.
- Fit the resulting focuser position vs HFD data points to a Hyperbolic Curve.
- Solve for the curve minimum to determine the optimal focuser position.
Development of a standalone Python script to automate telescope focusing using the HFD V-Curve method (similar to NINA/FocusMax). This will serve as a proof-of-concept before integration into the main observatory server.
Specifically, this will roughly be based on the paper "Fast Auto-Focus Method and Software for CCD-based Telescopes" by Larry Weber and Steve Brady.
The general outline of the script will be as follows:
sep(Source Extractor, Bertin & Arnouts 1996) library to detect sources via background RMS/Sigma-clipping.