mcttn22 / planet-tracker

Track planets with a Pimoroni PanTiltHAT

Pimoroni PanTiltHAT planet tracker

Track planets above the horizon with a PanTiltHat.

Installation

1. Download the Repository with:

   • git clone https://github.com/mcttn22/planet-tracker.git
     

   • Or by downloading as a ZIP file

2. Create a virtual environment (venv) with:

   • Windows:

     python -m venv {venv name}
     

   • Linux:

     python3 -m venv {venv name}
     

3. Enter the venv with:

   • Windows:

     .\{venv name}\Scripts\activate
     

   • Linux:

     source ./{venv name}/bin/activate
     

4. Enter the project directory with:

   cd planet-tracker/
   

5. For normal use, install the dependencies and the project to the venv with:

   • Windows:

     python setup.py install
     

   • Linux:

     python3 setup.py install
     

6. Add the following configurations to a config.json file, in the root directory of the project:

Configuration	Value
latitude	Latitude of PanTiltHAT
longitude	Longitude of PanTiltHAT
elevation	Elevation of PanTiltHAT above sea level in meters
timeZone	Timezone from python library pytz
predictTracking	True or False to track the planet at 10 minutes for every 5 seconds
takePictures	True or False to take a picture with the attached camera every 5 seconds
imagesPath	Full path to the location to store pictures taken
pictureDelayTime	Time delay between taking pictures in seconds, minimum is 5 seconds

Usage

Run with:

• Windows:

  python planet_tracker
  

• Linux:

  python3 planet_tracker
  

Development

Install the dependencies and the project to the venv in developing mode with:

• Windows:

  python setup.py develop
  

• Linux:

  python3 setup.py develop
  

Run Tests with:

• Windows:

  python -m unittest discover .\planet_tracker\test\
  

• Linux:

  python3 -m unittest discover ./planet_tracker/test/
  

Documentation

• PanTiltHAT: http://docs.pimoroni.com/pantilthat/
• Planet API: https://github.com/csymlstd/visible-planets-api