Use TeamViewer to access remote telescope
In order to access and control the remote telescope, camera etc., you'll need a remote desktop software called TeamViewer, it's free for personal use. There is a mini-PC fixed to the remote telescopes. By using the TeamViewer, you can access the desktop of that mini-PC with your iMac, tablet or even smart phone from anywhere via the internet and control the equipment. As remote desktop access, there may be slight delays, but under normal circumstances, the delay is negligible, and in some cases, you may not even notice it, just like you're using your own PC.
Please ensure that the TeamViewer ID you provided to us is accurate, as we will only authorize access to the submitted ID. An incorrect ID will prevent you from accessing the telescope.
You can find your unique TeamViewer ID on the main screen of the TeamViewer, or on the "About TeamViewer" window:
or at the bottom of the Settings page in the TeamViewer app on your mobile device:
You can also submit multiple TeamViewer IDs, allowing you to access the telescope from multiple devices.
The server-side TeamViewer ID for remote access will be included in the confirmation email you receive after successfully booking. Using the authorized TeamViewer ID and the provided server ID and password from the email, you can access the remote telescope.
During remote access, please avoid terminating the TeamViewer process or modifying settings, as this may interrupt the remote control and affect your service usage.
Use SGP for auto-imaging
We've installed SGP (Sequence Generator Pro) on each mini-PC, as the default automated imaging software - free for OMI users. For beginners, please read this Beginner's guide first, it's pretty easy and you can absolutely read and practice using the remote telescope simultaneously. You generally only need to input the target’s name or coordinates and exposure time, and the system will fully automate the imaging tasks.
While SGP is the default software, you can also use your preferred imaging software such as NINA, MDL etc. Please tell us your preference after selecting any telescope plan, we'll prepare it for you. Remember to save your data files in the specific directory which has already been configured, as data will not be synchronized to the cloud otherwise.
Step by step, the following content is only for beginners:
After connecting to the remote desktop via TeamViewer, you will notice many shortcuts on the desktop. If the resolution seems low, you can adjust it for better clarity. Just click on 'Resolution' under the 'View' menu in the TeamViewer window and select a suitable resolution, typically 1920x1080 is a good choice:
For first-time users, please click on the 'SGP' shortcut on the desktop to launch SGP. You will be greeted with the following interface:
Click on the 'File' menu, select 'New Sequence with Profile,' and choose the profile for this telescope:
You will then see the newly created imaging sequence window. Please ensure the user profile is set to 'Gemini-User-Profile'; if not, select it manually. For the File Name, you can replace the initial 'OMI' with your First Name or any preferred name. The image files will be saved in the Directory\YourName folder:
Next, you can create your imaging sequence according to your plan. Please refer to the Beginner's Guide for detailed instructions, as we will not elaborate further here.
Once your imaging sequence is set up, ensure that the start time for the first imaging task is scheduled for no earlier than 8 PM, in accordance with the local time zone of the observatory's location.
If you have multiple imaging targets, you may set different capture times for each as needed. However, please make sure that the end time for all imaging is set for no later than 6 AM:
After completing your settings, click 'Save Sequence As' under the 'File' menu to save your imaging plan to a local .sgf file. You can place it on the desktop or in a folder for easy access the next time you log in.
Now, you're ready to connect to the equipment and begin imaging.
SGP will wait until the start time of the first imaging task before executing the sequence. Please do not immediately click the 'Cooler' switch under 'Camera Control.' Often, there are several hours remaining until 9 PM, and starting the cooling process too early can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the CCD with no benefit. The cooling will automatically commence at the designated imaging time by SGP.
Below are some tips you may need when using SGP for imaging:
- Local data storage directory: D:\OMI\BaiduSyncdisk\Gemini-C7
- Please refrain from modifying the data storage directory to ensure proper and complete synchronization of your data to the cloud.
- FITS file naming convention: YourFirstName\%tn\%tn_%yy%mm%dd_%fe_%el_%fz_%ct
- CCD angle, approximate autofocusing position, and filter set: Provided on the service information page under the system configuration section.
Enjoy your remote imaging at OMI!