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Astrolive

screenshot of Astrolive

Asynchronous ASCOM integration for Home Assistant

Github

Overview

AstroLiveConnector is an innovative solution designed to streamline the integration of ASCOM Alpaca REST APIs with Home Assistant, utilizing MQTT for seamless communication. This tool effectively allows you to manage various observatory components effortlessly, enhancing your astronomy experience. With its robust features, AstroLiveConnector seamlessly connects your telescope, camera, and other devices, transforming how you interact with your astronomical setup.

The integration focusing on MQTT allows for automatic discovery of devices in Home Assistant, enabling real-time monitoring and control of your observatory. This makes it an excellent choice for both seasoned astronomers and newcomers looking to enhance their stargazing adventures.

Features

  • Seamless Home Assistant Integration: Utilizes MQTT for easy integration and auto-discovery of devices within Home Assistant.

  • Support for Multiple Components: Connects various devices such as telescopes, cameras, focusers, and more, allowing for comprehensive management of your observatory.

  • Real-time Device Status Updates: Maintains a separate thread for each device, querying status and publishing updates to MQTT according to the configuration interval.

  • Automatic FITS Image Processing: For connected cameras, AstroLive automatically processes the last captured FITS image, resizing and converting it to JPEG for easy viewing.

  • Direct Command Functionality: Enables users to send commands directly from Home Assistant, including telescope slewing, parking/unparking, and focuser adjustments.

  • Flexible Deployment Options: Designed to run as a container (e.g., using Docker) on a dedicated host or alongside Home Assistant, requiring minimal additional configurations.

  • Entity Type Upgrades: Enhances device representations in Home Assistant by updating sensor types to more suitable categories like binary sensors or actual switches, ensuring better automation and configuration accuracy.

  • User-Friendly Configuration: Simplifies setup with clear initial requirements and configurations, making it accessible for users with varying technical expertise.