Software Bisque's Observatory Suite (SBOS)

Observatory Suite (SBOS)

Software Integration for Complete Observatory Control

This web page contains must read information if you are considering setting up an observatory or if you want to automate or remotely control your observatory.

SBOS - Software Integration

Software Bisque's Observatory Suite (SBOS) is an integrated suite of software applications designed for complete control of observatory equipment.  The core software applications include:

And these additional applications build on the core to allow remote control of your observatory:

These applications include all the functionality necessary to control the hardware at an observatory, including telescopes, CCD cameras, Autoguiders, video cameras, SBIG's Adaptive Optics device, color filter wheels, focusers domes, etc.  Most main stream observatory hardware is supported out of the box.  In addition, the suite has standardized application programming interface (API) for hardware communications allowing the integration of custom observatory hardware by third parties willing to write their own implementation of the APIs. 

When the SBOS is used on a computer that is in close proximity of the observatory hardware, most any combination of observatory hardware is suitable for productive observing because the user is available to make minor adjustments and occasionally tweak the system to make it just the way you want it. Software Bisque considers this type of use "local" control which can be contrasted with "automated" or "remote" control where, the hardware requirements for productive use are more stringent.  In whatever scenario you plan on using your observatory, the SBOS is up to the task.

SBOS - Automation

In addition to the above applications being able to be controlled interactively by the user as they have a full, rich user interface, the SBOS can also be completely automated.  This is done by either Orchestrate, an easy to use scripting language for the non-programmer by VBScript/Visual Basic/Delphi/C++ for those with programming experience.  In the latter case the SBOS also has the most complete, versatile programming object model available for observatory control.

SBOS - Remote Control

Below are the specifications for a remotely controllable observatory (in Software Bisque's opinion).

Device/Hardware Recommendation for Remote Observatory Control
Computer Any personal computer running Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system. 
Telescope Mount Paramount ME Robotic Telescope Mount (the only commercial mount designed specifically for unattended, remote CCD imaging).
CCD Camera SBIG CCD camera or Apogee Instruments CCD camera.
Focuser Optec TCF-S for remote focusing.
Color Filter Wheel SBIG or other CCDSoft version 5-supported color filter wheel.
Internet connection Any high-speed internet connection (DSL, T1, cable modem, etc.).
Optics

Any other combination of hardware may be inadequate for remote observatory control.

Automation for the Amateur Astronomer With the Software Bisque Observatory Suite (SBOS)

Software Bisque’s Observatory Suite (SBOS) is the only commercially available, fully integrated software suite for doing research with your CCD camera and robotic telescope.

SBOS offers complete automation of the data acquisition process, whether you are searching for undiscovered for supernovas and minor planets, generating light curves on variable stars, or submitting minor planet observations to the International Astronomical Union. And data analysis has never been easier.

The Benefits of Software and Hardware Integration 

Software Bisque also sells the only truly "remotely accessible" CCD imaging robotic telescope mount currently available: the Paramount ME.

There are a great number of advantages to the end-user by employing suite of integrated software applications from one software vendor.  The Software Bisque Observatory Suite, in part or as a whole, can greatly increase your observatory's productivity, whatever your goals. 

The world's leading planetarium and celestial object database software, TheSky, can control almost every commercial telescope, and many third-party camera focusers. TPoint, in turn, ensures that the telescope actually slews and points to the desired target.  CCDSoft joins the mix by automatically focusing and acquiring CCD images using advanced camera and color filter wheel control.  Your data (as a FITS image) automatically includes the World Coordinate System, as well as the name(s) of the object(s) in the image, because CCDSoft communicates with TheSky to know what object the telescope is telescope is pointing.  

Add to all this Orchestrate's superior scripting capabilities (by using a small, but powerful set of commands) routines or open-ended Visual Basic or Java Scripts) and you have perhaps the most sophisticated software available, controlling your observatory.  

Add to this the Paramount ME's superior features for a true "remotely-accessible" observatory. 

 

To Script or Not to Script?

All of the above discoveries were made using the Orchestrate. Orchestrate takes the programming requirement out of generating scripts for nightly observing sessions with its easy- to-use scripting language. 

For the programmers at heart, the Observatory Suite also allows system automation using other programming languages such as Visual Script, Visual Basic, Java Script and others. 

Whether you are a novice computer user who simply wants your telescope and CCD camera to work as you sleep, or an experienced programmer who wants to develop sophisticated scripts for data acquisition, SBOS is the solution.

 

Integrated, Interactive, Interruptible and Understandable

SBOS provides an easy-to-use, intuitive graphical interface for controlling your instruments via the Orchestrate Scripting Software. SBOS shows you where the telescope is pointed, what the CCD camera is doing and displays each line of the script that is running. You can also interrupt a script at any time, then start up right where you left off.

Other automation software employs "black-box" technologies where scripts are run but the current state of the automation is unknown.  Unacceptable from an end user's perspective.