Getting Started

First run

During the initial run, you will be prompted to configure your observatory.

1. From command line, run:

   astra
   

2. Follow the terminal instructions, e.g.:

   Welcome to Astra! Please provide the following information:
   
   Use default assets path (/Users/peter/Documents/Astra)? [y/n]: y
   
   Use local Gaia DB? [y/n]: y
   Please enter the path to Gaia DB: /Users/peter/gaia_tmass_16_jm_cut.db
   
   Please enter the name of the observatory: ELT
   
   Created config file.
   Created folder /Users/peter/Documents/Astra
   Created folder /Users/peter/Documents/Astra/observatory_config
   Created folder /Users/peter/Documents/Astra/schedules
   Created folder /Users/peter/Documents/Astra/logs
   Created folder /Users/peter/Documents/Astra/images
   
   Warning: Observatory config files have not been modified from default templates. Please update the following files with your  observatory's information in:
   
   /Users/peter/Documents/Astra/observatory_config
   

   Attention

   The configuration files will be created in the observatory_config directory. You must edit them with your observatory’s information before using Astra in normal operation. See: observatory configuration files.

Normal operation

Once the initial setup is complete, you can run Astra.

1. Ensure that your ASCOM Alpaca devices or simulators are running on your network and properly configured.

2. Run the command from command line:

   Warning

   After initial setup, running this command will park your telescope and close your dome if the weather conditions are unfavorable or your safety monitor indicates an unsafe status.

   astra
   

3. After a few moments, open your web browser and navigate to the following URL http://localhost:8000, and you should see Astra’s web interface.

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