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Getting started with NextAstro Hub
NextAstro Hub brings observatory status, observing plans and telescope controls together. You can read these guides without signing in. Operating an observatory uses your account's existing permissions and any applicable reservation.
Open an observatory
Open the Hub and choose an observatory. Its pages show the telescope's current status and the observing tools available to you. Sign in when you want to create plans or use controls that require an account.
Choose an observing workflow
- Python scripting controls OBS from a local script or notebook, using loops, functions and image measurements. Start with Python scripting for setup, the API reference and 13 complete worked examples.
- Projects describe your targets and the observations you want. For coordinate units and saved positions, see Project coordinates.
- Sequences organise observing instructions that can be reused and scheduled.
- Linear Script runs a list of telescope commands in order. It is useful when you want explicit slews, tracking, filters, exposures, camera changes or warming commands. See Linear scripts.
- Calendar reserves observing time. A saved linear script can be selected as the reservation's event type, alongside the existing observing workflows.
The controls you can operate depend on your account's observatory and global roles. The relevant guide explains additional permissions for particular commands.
Plan camera coverage
Project target right ascension is saved in hours and declination in degrees. The project editor handles its form conversions for you. For a mosaic, grid rotation and the camera's orientation have different roles: read Mosaic rotation before choosing panel overlap.
Follow a linear script
Open Linear Script, add commands, name the script and save it. Run queues it after the active FIFO or calendar operation completes. The running row is highlighted and an error pauses the script on the affected line.
The script runs on the observatory computer. You can leave the page or close your browser and return to see its progress. A genuine command failure requires an explicit Resume after the problem has been addressed.
STOP ends a script using the command-specific behaviour described in the linear scripting guide. Cooling and warming progress is reported every 30 seconds in the observatory logs.
Observatory settings
Owners and administrators can adjust filter flats to change a filter's acquisition quantity or order. Directional observing maps are explained in Azimuth protection, including how their colours affect queue selection and calendar warnings.
Find an answer
Use Search the documentation above to search across these guides. Each guide has a permanent address, section links and a Markdown version. Open Help & docs from the Hub navigation to return here while observing.