Guitastro library

GUITAstro stands for General Use of Instruments and Telescopes in ASTROnomy.

GuitAstro is a Python module that provides classes and methods to write easily Python scripts for astronomical observations.

GIT repository: https://gitlab.irap.omp.eu/guitastrolib/guitastro.git

Few basic examples of use

First example: Subtract a dark file dark.fit to a raw image messier63.fit and save the image m63.fits:

import guitastro
ima = guitastro.Ima()
ima.load("messier63.fit")
ima.sub("dark.fit")
ima.save("m63.fits")

Second example: Subtract a dark file dark.fit to a series of raw images messier63-1.fit to messier63-25.fit and save the images m63-1.fit to m63-25.fit:

import guitastro
imaseries = guitastro.ImaSeries()
imaseries.path("obs/my_raw_images")
imaseries.extension(".fit")
imaseries.sub("messier63-1.fit", "m63-", "dark.fit")

Guitastro will collect all the file names corresponding to messier63-*.fit before subtracting dark.fit to these files.

How to install Guitastro?

git config --global http.sslVerify false    
git clone https://gitlab.irap.omp.eu/guitastrolib/guitastro.git
cd guitastro
python setup.py install

This install allow to import guitastro in any Python program. For Guitastro developers read the documentation in the guitastro/docs folder for details.

Guitastro functionalities

GuitAstro wraps the classical astronomical Python modules (AstroPy, etc.) and adds functionalities. They are dispatched into classes.

Classes for image processing and analysis

• Ima: Manage one image. Load and save, processing, analysing.
• ImaSeries: Manage a series of images applying the same processing to all images of the series.
• ImaStack: Manage a series of images apply a processing to generate one output image.
• Visu: Provides a graphical tool to display images.

Classe for camera acquisitions

• Camera: Manage camera drivers. This class provides a simulated camera. Additional classes can be added to Guitastro for specific drivers (ASCOM, INDI, Balser).

Classes for angle conversions

• Angle: Manage angle formats and computations.
• Coords: Manage coordinates, spherical, cartesian.

Classes for date conversions

• Date: Manage date formats and computations.
• Durations: Manage durations and computation with dates.

Classes for ephemeris computation

• Ephemeris: Compute ephemeris of planets, minor planets, comets, artificial satellites.
• Mechanics: Manage celestial mechanics.
• Targets: Manage old style ephemeris.
• ExposureTimeCalculator: Compute exposure time from an instrumental setup.
• Voevent: Manage clients for receiving VOEvents

Classes for earth location definitions

• Home: Manage earth geographical coordinates formats.
• Horizon: Manage a local horizon line to define a site.
• Site: Manage geagraphical site defined by home, horizon and atmosphere.

Classe to generate various maps

• Maps: Generation of earth or sky maps.

A complete documentation can be generated from .rst files in the folder doc/doc_rst

History

GuitAstro is inspired by the software AudeLA written since 1999 by astronomers of the Toulouse region (France).

Why the name GuitAstro ?

• Official version: General Use of Instruments and Telescopes in ASTROnomy.
• Legendary version: GUITalens ASTROnomy

Support and contact

The main author is alain.klotz@irap.omp.eu