Using autofocus_hfd_script.py

Introduction

The script autofocus_hfd_script.py handles focusing on a bright star near the center of an image.

Invocation

The invocation of autofocus_auto_star.py is:

usage: autofocus_hfd_script.py [-h] [--focus_min FOCUS_MIN]
                               [--focus_max FOCUS_MAX] [--focus_dir FOCUS_DIR]
                               [--focus_start FOCUS_START] [--debugplots]
                               [--debugplotsdelay DEBUGPLOTSDELAY] [--simul]
                               [--stayopen] [--profile PROFILE]
                               [--focuser FOCUSER] [--camera CAMERA]
                               [--exposure_start EXPOSURE_START]
                               [--exposure_min EXPOSURE_MIN]
                               [--exposure_max EXPOSURE_MAX]
                               [--starflux_min STARFLUX_MIN]
                               [--saturation SATURATION]
                               [--framesize FRAMESIZE] [--winsize WINSIZE]
                               [--focusdelay FOCUSDELAY]
                               [--numaverage NUMAVERAGE]

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  --focus_min FOCUS_MIN
                        Lowest focus travel allowed
  --focus_max FOCUS_MAX
                        Highest focus travel allowed
  --focus_dir FOCUS_DIR
                        IN or OUT
  --focus_start FOCUS_START
                        Starting focus pos
  --debugplots          show debug plots
  --debugplotsdelay DEBUGPLOTSDELAY
                        Delay (seconds) showing each plot
  --simul               Simulate star
  --stayopen            stay open when done
  --profile PROFILE     Name of equipment profile
  --focuser FOCUSER     Focuser Driver
  --camera CAMERA       Camera Driver
  --exposure_start EXPOSURE_START
                        Starting exposure value
  --exposure_min EXPOSURE_MIN
                        Minimum exposure value
  --exposure_max EXPOSURE_MAX
                        Maximum exposure value
  --starflux_min STARFLUX_MIN
                        Maximum flux in star
  --saturation SATURATION
                        Saturation level for sensor
  --framesize FRAMESIZE
                        Size of capture frame, 0=full
  --winsize WINSIZE     Size of window used to analyze star
  --focusdelay FOCUSDELAY
                        Delay (seconds) after focus moves
  --numaverage NUMAVERAGE
                        Number of images to average

Explanation of arguments

The “–focus_min”, “–focus_max”, and “–focus_dir” arguments define the allowed region and direction of the focus run.

The hardware drivers can be specified individually with the “–focuser” and “–camera” arguments, or pulled from an “astroprofile” using the “–profile” argument.

The “–simul” argument will run the program using a simulated star instead of connecting to a real camera and focuser. Useful for testing.