mattcruikshank / seestar_run

seestar_run.md

Version: 1.0.0b1

Tested Firmware: 2.25

Overview:

This document details seestar_run, a companion application for the Seestar mobile app, written on python to be used in most modern OS. It showcases programmatic control of the Seestar S50, enabling tasks like:

• Mosaic captures
• Night session planning
• Custom target capture
• Spectral image capture over extended frames

Requirements:

• Seestar with completed calibration steps (horizontal, dark frame, leveling)
• computer/laptop with Python installed (e.g. https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/)

Usage:

1. Setup: Ensure Seestar calibration is complete.
2. Install Python: Follow the link above if not already installed.
3. Run Commands: Use PowerShell for Windows or python in other OS and run the following command:

python seestar_run.py <ip_address> <target_name> <ra> <dec> <is_use_LP_filter> <session_time> <RA panel size> <Dec panel size> <RA offset factor> <Dec offset factor>

Parameters:

• ip_address: Seestar's IP address (found in "Advanced Feature -> RTSP Address").
• target_name: Target name. During mosaics, saved format is <target_name>_<RA_panel_num>_<Dec_panel_num>.
• ra: Target's RA value (JNow). Can be a float or a string format of "hr:mm:ss.s". If negative, uses current Sky Atlas location.
• dec: Target's Dec value (JNow). Can be a float or a string format of "<sign>deg:mm:ss.s". <sign> is optional
• is_use_LP_filter: Set to 1 for light pollution filter usage.
• session_time: Capture session duration per panel in seconds (not integration time).
• RA and Dec panel size: Number of panels in a mosaic.
• RA and Dec offset factors: Distance between mosaic panels, lower values will have more overlaps

Examples:

• Custom target capture:

python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor_Kai' 7.602 31.83 0 60 1 1 1 1
python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor_Kai' -1 -1 0 60 1 1 1 1
python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor' '7:24:32.5' '-41:24:23.5' 0 60 2 2 1.0 1.0
python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor' '7:24:32.5' '+41:24:23.5' 0 60 2 2 1.0 1.0
python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor' '7:24:32.5' '41:24:23.5' 0 60 2 2 1.0 1.0

• Mosaic capture:

python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor_Kai' 7.602 31.83 0 60 2 3 1.2 1.1

• Multiple target capture: Create a batch file with multiple command lines using the above format.

• Night session planning: Use sleep commands in a batch file to schedule captures.

• External target setting:

  1. Set the target using Seestar App, Stellarium, or other tools.
  2. Use a negative value for <ra> in the seestar_run command:

python seestar_run.py 192.168.110.30 'Castor' -1.0 -1.0 0 60 1 1 1 1

Feedback:

Please report bugs and share feedback on the this github repo or in the Discord channel:

https://discord.com/channels/1204838310841815040/1207422275960176650

Enjoy and good luck!