PySQM is a multi-platform, open-source software designed to read and plot data from Unihedron SQM-LE and SQM-LU photometers, giving as an output files with the 'International Dark Sky Association (IDA) NSBM Community Standards for Reporting Skyglow Observations' format (http://www.darksky.org/night-sky-conservation/248).
PySQM is distributed under GNU GPL, either version 3 of the License,
or (at your option) any later version. See the file LICENSE.txt for details.
PySQM is distributed under GNU GPL, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. See the file LICENSE.txt for details.
This software has been developed by Mireia Nievas <mnievas@ucm.es> with
the invaluable help of:
This software has been developed by Mireia Nievas <mnievas@ucm.es> with the invaluable help of:
- Sergio Pascual (UCM)
- Jaime Zamorano (UCM)
@@ -20,39 +13,32 @@ the invaluable help of:
The initial port to Python3 has been done by Anthony Tekatch (Unihedron).
SETUP
=====
This repository was created to host the PySQM version deployed in the SQM LE (Unihedron) of the Photometre Network of the Darkersky4CE Interreg Central Europe project (https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/darkersky4ce/).
After downloading the software, you need to modify the file config.py.
In this file you will find several variables that need to be configured
to match your hardware settings. For example:
### Setup
- Location of the observatory (geographical coordinates).
- Device identifier.
- Device address (either IP address for SQM-LE or COM/ttyUSB port).
- Location of the data files.
- Axis limits for the plot.
After downloading the software, you need to modify the file config.py. In this file you will find several variables that need to be configured to match your hardware settings. For example:
Remember that python (2.7) syntax is mandatory in this file
- Location of the observatory (geographical coordinates)
- Device identifier
- Device address (either IP address for SQM-LE or COM/ttyUSB port)
- Location of the data files
- Axis limits for the plot
Remember that python (2.7) syntax is mandatory in this file
HOW TO USE THE SOFTWARE
=======================
### How to use the software
After configuring the software, make sure you are in the parent directory were
the README, LICENSE and MANIFEST files are located
After configuring the software, make sure you are in the parent directory were the README, LICENSE and MANIFEST files are located
The program should find your SQM device and the data adquisition.will start
(if it's night-time).
The program should find your SQM device and the data adquisition.will start (if it's night-time).
In some systems, where python3 is the default version of python, you need
to specify python2 as the interpreter to use. This is done usually running
it as:
In some systems, where python3 is the default version of python, you need to specify python2 as the interpreter to use. This is done usually running it as:
> python2 -m pysqm
@@ -60,49 +46,40 @@ or
> python2.7 -m pysqm
Note: running the setup.py script is neither tested nor required.
The program is currently being redesigned as a normal python package, but at
present no setup is required.
Note: running the setup.py script is neither tested nor required. The program is currently being redesigned as a normal python package, but at present no setup is required.
HOW IT WORKS
============
### How it works
In a first step, the program tries to connect to the SQM photometer and takes
some 'tests' measures (metadata/information, calibration and data) to check
that the device is working as expected.
In a first step, the program tries to connect to the SQM photometer and takes some 'tests' measures (metadata/information, calibration and data) to check that the device is working as expected.
After that, the program begins data acdquisition. In each iteration, it checks
whether it is night-time. In that case new data is taken.
After that, the program begins data acdquisition. In each iteration, it checks whether it is night-time. In that case new data is taken.
Each N measurements, the main program calls a plotting function to generate
a graphical representation of the current nightly data.
Each N measurements, the main program calls a plotting function to generate a graphical representation of the current nightly data.
PySQM known issues
==================
### PySQM known issues
Non-ASCII characters are not supported in the config.py file. Please, avoid using 'ñ', accented vowels, etc.
In headless systems, such as the Raspberry PI, if you run the program without X, you may suffer from the following fatal error when the program tries to generate the plot:
This application failed to start because it could not find or load the Qt platform plugin “xcb”.
