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arXiv · 2501.07997

Easy remote observations using web interfaces: controlling an Italian telescope from Japan, and more

Davide Ricci·Lorenzo Cabona·Bernardo Salasnich·Luciano Nicastro·Luca Fini·Andrea Damonte·Silvano Tosi·Takashi Shibata
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Abstract

Remote observations are often limited by user interfaces, which seem frozen to another computer era: low performances, outdated programming languages, command-line scripting, high version-dependent software. Instead, web-based tools are standard: using nothing more than a browser, astronomers can interact with a generic observatory in a native cross-platform, remote-born way. We used this approach while advancing in the remotization of the 1m-class OARPAF telescope, located in Northern Italy. The web-based control software provides easy and integrated management of its components. This solution can be exported not only to similar hardware/software facilities, but also to large instruments such as SHARK-NIR at LBT; not only for single operations, but also for procedure scripting. In this contribution we describe our best practices and present two recent, orthogonal use cases: an in-place professional use for exoplanetary transit follow-ups, and the first remote control of the telescope from a Japanese high school, allowing students to independently observe, in their daytime, globular clusters

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Davide Ricci, Lorenzo Cabona, Bernardo Salasnich, Luciano Nicastro, Luca Fini, Andrea Damonte, Silvano Tosi, Takashi Shibata. 2025-01-14. Easy remote observations using web interfaces: controlling an Italian telescope from Japan, and more. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018331

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