CASCA Software Documentation

News

2025-01-13: The code has been moved to GitHub

v0019 (2020-08-24)

Use the CFITSIO library to write FITS files.

New COMPRESS keyword (see table).

The DETECTOR keyword defaults to the camera model (it used to default to 'ASI1600MM').

Download casca0019.tar.gz

v0013 (2019-10-29)

Take the first exposure (sequence) when the scheduler is started -- do not wait until "top of the hour".

Added meta data to the JPG (as filename.txt)

Download casca0013.tar.gz

v0012 (2019-08-16)

Daytime camera: Write JPEG files when compiled with -DWRITE_JPEG.

This option requires the "libjpeg" libray.

Added the DAY-GAIN, DAY-OFFSET and DAY-EXPTIME configuration keywords.

v0011 (2019-08-14)

Log the CCD-temperature and cooler-power while waiting to reach the setpoint.

Log the sun-elevation, CCD-temperature and cooler-power at the beginning of each sequence.

v0010 (2019-08-13)

Wait for the CCD-temperature to get within 0.5 deg [C] of the setpoint (or below).

Added the CCD-GAIN, CCD-OFFS, CCD-TEMP and CCD-COOL FITS keywords.

Added the BINNING configuration and FITS keyword.

v0009 (2019-08-06)

First beta version sent to Povilas (requires zwoserver-0020: zwo0020.tar.gz )

v0007 (2019-08-06)

Query telescopes (Baade, Clay, DuPont, DIMM).

v0005 (2019-07-30)

Added color (daytime) camera.

v0004 (2019-07-29)

Added filter sequence to configuration file.

v0003 (2019-07-27)

Writes monochrome FITS files.

v0001 (2019-07-24)

Started coding the scheduler.

Software Documentation

Command Line

xterm> ./casca -c path

-c: absolute path to configuration file (incl. the filename, eg. /home/birk/casca.conf)

Configuration

keyword = value

Keyword	Value	Default
DATADIR	absolute path eg. /home/birk/DATA	$HOME
COMPRESS	use FITS file compression	0
SITE	site name (prefix for FITS files)	lc
SITELONG	site longitude [deg]	-70.69284
SITELAT	site latitude [deg]	-29.01392
SITEL	site elevation (FITS only)	2405
DETECTOR	detector model	from zwoserver/camera
PIXSIZE	pixel size (FITS only)	3.8
CCD-TEMP	CCD cooler setpoint [C]	-5
CCD-GAIN	gain setting	0
CCD-OFFSET	offset setting	10
WINDOW	window (subraster) geometry
BINNING	CCD binning	1
NIGHT	start/stop sun elevation [deg]	-9
ZWOHOST	'zwoserver' hostname (IP number) for night time observations
NFILTERS	number of used filters. Note: The 'n' in the following 4 keywords runs from {1..NFILTERS}	0 (no filter wheel)
FILTERNAMEn	one letter filter name for the FITS filename	X
FILTERNUMBERn	position in filter wheel (0 based).
EXPTIME_DOWNn	exposure time [s] with filter 'n' and moon down.	1
EXPTIME_UPn	exposure time [s] with filter 'n' and moon up.	1
PERIOD	exposure sequence interval [s]	60
BAADEHOST	hostname of the Baade TCS (not used if empty)
CLAYHOST	hostname of the Clay TCS (not used if empty)
DUPONTHOST	hostname of the DuPont TCS (not used if empty)
DIMMHOST	hostname of the C-DIMM (not used if empty)
DAYHOST	'zwoserver' host name for daytime (color) observations. Note: The "filter" in the filename will be 'Y'.
DAY-GAIN	daytime CCD (color) gain setting	0
DAY-OFFSET	daytime CCD (color) offset setting	10
DAY-EXPTIME	daytime CCD (color) exposure time	0.1

TCP/IP Server

Protocol

All communications are initiated by the client.

Commands are terminated by a 'LF' (0x0a) character.

Responses are terminated by a 'LF' (0x0a) character.

Command List

command: version

response: version-string

eg "0009"

command: quit

response: ok

Terminates CASCA scheduler program.