This is a complete weather monitoring system that comprises

Lunatico AAG Cloudwatcher Sensor, Anemometer, Mounting Bracket and Solo Standalone computer at a special price

Cloudwatcher

The AAG CloudWatcher is a complete weather detection system and comprises:

A box with a special exterior finish that includes 4 sensors that are shown in the accompanying AAG Cloudwatcher Software through their corresponding graphs. They allow a thorough and easily understandable measurement of atmospheric conditions:PLEASE NOTE! The photos of the Cloudwatcher give the impression of poor finish around the sensors. This is misleading. These sensors are heavily protected with sealants to ensure long life and consistant operation is all weather conditions

Cloud sensor

Rain sensor

Humidity sensor

Light sensor

Temperature sensor

and the Anemometer for wind speed.

Supplied with the Cloudwatcher is a weatherproof cable with IP68 connector. This is used to connect the AAG Cloudwatcher to your PC (or standalone 'Solo' Cloudwatcher computer), 12V/1A Power source and a relay.

The Cloudwatcher software allows you to setup your own parameters for what constitutes an unsafe condition. When this condition is met the Cloudwatcher software will notify relevant imaging applications with safety monitors. These in turn will perform required safety actions. The standalone Solo Cloudwatcher computer allows monitoring of the Cloudwatcher without requiring the main PC to be turned on. However when it is, the PC can monitor the Cloudwatcher as if the software were running on it natively. A further notification of unsafe conditions comes with the Cloudwatchers relay output which is closed when the unsafe condition is met. If this is connected to devices such as a Lunatico Dragonfly or Talon Observatory system, various fucntions can be carried out. The Dragonfly can activate other relays based on the signal (it could for instance loop through to the Talon) and also run scripts to perform functions within applications such as warming up a CCD camera before shutting it down.

For any kind of unattended imaging whether it is an observatory at the end of your garden or a remote system at a place like E-Eye, the cloudwatcher is an essential piece of equipment.

Anemometer

The Anemometer is designed to be partnered with the Lunatico AAG Cloudwatcher to add wind speed measurements to Cloudwatcher data. This is essential where equipment or your observatory may be prone to damage through high winds or simply the ingress of dirt or debris into an open oberseratory.

Bracket

The wall bracket allows easy mounting of the Cloudwatcher sensor and Anemometer to either a wall or mast of 1.25"-1.5" diameter. The bracket is supplied with all fixings to mount the sensors and comes supplied with U bolts for mast fixing. No fixings are supplied for wall mounting as these should be detirmined according to the surface you are mounting to.

Solo

Solo is a tiny computer customized to control your Cloudwatcher system 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

It features the following;

It has very low power requirements of less than 2W. It is ideal for remote observatories having an integrated web server, so you can check your observatory's weather from any part of the world. The information read from the AAG Cloudwatcher is made available to any computer on the same network, so you can use the Cloudwatcher application that is on your imaging PC 'Remote' mode, to listen to the Cloudwatcher status that is fed to the Solo. This then allows programs with safety monitors to react as required to unsafe events. When the PC is shutdown, Solo keeps the Cloudwatcher active and allows you to continue to monitor the weather. Needless to say if your PC suffers a crash or other failure, unsafe signals from the Cloudwatcher can still be monitored as the Solo keeps the Cloudwatcher operationg independently. The relay signal if connected to a Dragonfly or Talon will close the roof / dome and put the mount into park.

The Solo is a very useful add-on to the Cloudwatcher weather monitoring system, and while not necessary to make it work, allows for very useful redundancy. We recommend its use in all remote installations.

CLEARANCE. 1 ONLY AVAILABLE!

The Tarsier is probably the most advanced autonomous focus controller available!

Using experience from the successful Seletek line of controllers, the Tarsier is aimed to the astrophotographer who prefers leaving the computer at home. It will not only move the focus motor, avoiding vibration at the scope, but also remember focus points and allow "goto" for any of them. It can move the motor in small or big increments, or continuosly or slowly, or fast!

It is capable of controlling almost any motor out there, from high accuracy steppers to inexpensive d.c. motors and can even track temperature changes and perform focus corrections on the fly - by itself! 100% configurable, from motor model, backlash, power, speed etc, to backlight intensity. In addition it is also easy to handle thanks to the rubber sides designed to be operated wearing gloves! The screen's backlight will dim in dark conditions and can be adjusted to suit your prefeences. Every Seletek family motor, coupling and focusing accesories will work with the Tarsier, and it will also drive stepper motors from almost any manufacturer (Robofocus, Lakeside, FeatherTouch, Moonlite...) and d.c. motors (Orion, Rigel systems...). Truly an outstanding motor focus controller and no PC needed!

The Dragonfly is an essential piece of equipment for your observatory. It provides a simple means to centralise all power switching and sensing. In addition it can respond to various 'conditions' using user defined scripts and control almost any aspect of your observatory. It is particularly suited to remote installations or where you wish to control your observatory from in your home. The Dragonfly allows you to turn all power on/off and can react to inputs from other devices such as the Lunatico Cloudwatcher or other sensors and react however you demand.

A typical scenario might be that the input from a Cloudwatcher warns it is Unsafe due to bad weather. The Dragonfly sees this and could tell a roof control system like the Talon to close. At the same time it can notify you on your phone and start to instruct your camera to warm up, put the mount in park, close all applications and finally shut down the PC. With some simple additional wiring and using the Dragonfly App, you can also turn on your PC from you phone before logging on to start an imaging session.

Dragonfly now hosts its programming internally meaning it does not rely on an active PC program for control. It can use scripts for total automation but also offers powerful macro control using conditional logic such as If, Then, Or, And logic. In addition it can execute scripts direct to Ascom. This would allow a Dragonfly to control the motor of a roof, and also monitor the position of this and a mount. It can send a mount to park using a script, but using conditional logic, only allow the roof to close once parked.

The Dragonfly is configured for control of 2 wire mains but also features a separate earth connection for use with 3 wire main. We recommend that if switching mains the Dragonfly be housed in a suitable enclosure for safety reasons. Alternatively an optional safety cover (blue terminal cover shown above) is available to prevent accidental contact with terminals carrying mains voltage.

The basics of Dragonfly control are

Switch on and off any equipment up to 240V/10A per input. Max 10A load total

Control 8 relays (4 of them double NO/NC, and 4 NO)

Sense up to 8 Contact Closure Inputs / Analogue Inputs

Monitor the AAG Cloudwatcher and check for safe or unsafe weather conditions

Monitor, using magnet or mechanical sensors the mount's position, the status of the roof etc, etc

Support for the Dragonfly smartphone app

ZeroConfiguration network system (needs no programming of your router)

ASCOM switch interface

Internal web server (including a page to manage the relays and sensors, and javascript for web page integration)

Technical specifications

Internal CPU Atmel AT91SAM7x256

Manages 8 relays (4 of them double NO/NC, and 4 NO), to switch DC or AC

8 input sensors: magnet, contact, etc - overload protected with resettable fuses

Extremely well protected against noise

Direct network connection (ethernet)

Power requirements: 12V (up to 24V is ok), D.C., less than 1A required, standard 5.5 / 2.1mm jack, inner positive.

Size: 135 * 48 * 244 mm. box only (total mounted 157 * 57 * 244 mm.) 3U High if 19" Rack Mounted.

We can provide you all the help you need to implement your Dragonfly from wiring plans to example scripts for automation. We use Dragonfly extensively at our hosting partner, E-Eye in Spain and can therefore advise on real world use.

The Dragonfly is an essential piece of equipment for your observatory. It provides a simple means to centralise all power switching and sensing. In addition it can respond to various 'conditions' using user defined scripts and control almost any aspect of your observatory. It is particularly suited to remote installations or where you wish to control your observatory from in your home. The Dragonfly allows you to turn all power on/off and can react to inputs from other devices such as the Lunatico Cloudwatcher or other sensors and react however you demand.

A typical scenario might be that the input from a Cloudwatcher warns it is Unsafe due to bad weather. The Dragonfly sees this and could tell a roof control system like the Talon to close. At the same time it can notify you on your phone and start to instruct your camera to warm up, put the mount in park, close all applications and finally shut down the PC. With some simple additional wiring and using the Dragonfly App, you can also turn on your PC from you phone before logging on to start an imaging session.

Dragonfly now hosts its programming internally meaning it does not rely on an active PC program for control. It can use scripts for total automation but also offers powerful macro control using conditional logic such as If, Then, Or, And logic. In addition it can execute scripts direct to Ascom. This would allow a Dragonfly to control the motor of a roof, and also monitor the position of this and a mount. It can send a mount to park using a script, but using conditional logic, only allow the roof to close once parked.

The Dragonfly is configured for control of 2 wire mains but also features a separate earth connection for use with 3 wire main. We recommend that if switching mains the Dragonfly be housed in a suitable enclosure for safety reasons. Alternatively an optional safety cover (blue terminal cover shown above) is available to prevent accidental contact with terminals carrying mains voltage.

The Mk2 Dragonfly now features an internal PC to allow for more powerful programming options.

This version of the Dragonfly features two DIN Rail (35mm Rail) mounts on the back of it allowing it to be vertically mounted onto DIN Rail. This makes for a far easier installation in cabinets and racks.

The basics of Dragonfly control are

Switch on and off any equipment up to 240V/10A per input. Max 10A load total

Control 8 relays (4 of them double NO/NC, and 4 NO)

Sense up to 8 Contact Closure Inputs / Analogue Inputs

Monitor the AAG Cloudwatcher and check for safe or unsafe weather conditions

Monitor, using magnet or mechanical sensors the mount's position, the status of the roof etc, etc

Support for the Dragonfly smartphone app

ZeroConfiguration network system (needs no programming of your router)

ASCOM switch interface

Internal web server (including a page to manage the relays and sensors, and javascript for web page integration)

Technical specifications

Internal CPU Atmel AT91SAM7x256

Manages 8 relays (4 of them double NO/NC, and 4 NO), to switch DC or AC

8 input sensors: magnet, contact, etc - overload protected with resettable fuses

Extremely well protected against noise

Direct network connection (ethernet)

Power requirements: 12V (up to 24V is ok), D.C., less than 1A required, standard 5.5 / 2.1mm jack, inner positive.

Size: 135 * 48 * 244 mm. box only (total mounted 157 * 57 * 244 mm.) 3U High if 19" Rack Mounted.

We can provide you all the help you need to implement your Dragonfly from wiring plans to example scripts for automation. We use Dragonfly extensively at our hosting partner, E-Eye in Spain and can therefore advise on real world use.

This is an additional magnet for use with the Proximity switch. This allows you to set limits using the switch, i.e. for the open and close position of a roof.

This is a Proximity (non contact) switch, ideally suited to detect the position of the roof with the Dragonfly. A 3m cable for connection with a Dragonfly is included (for other lengths please contact us). It is supplied with a magnet. When the both the sensor and magnet are in proximity, a signal is detected by Dragonfly.

When imaging for long periods in low temperatures, dew can form on the lens. The Lunatic ZeroDew controller allows up to 4 dew tapes to be connected to a single power supply. It has a variable output control to allow a higher power level to be set initially then turned down once the system is at temperature. This allows for significant power saving. The dew controller is supplied with a Cigar Lighter type dc power plug. A 5.5mm DC socket can be provided at no extra cost if requested.