CloudWatcher

CloudWatcher is a utility designed to enable Mac-based astronomers to interface with a hardware device called AAG CloudWatcher, available from Lunático Astronomia. This device measures a host of parameters vital for astronomers, such as cloudiness, rainfall and sky brightness. CloudWatcher can control a hardware switch in the hardware device which can trigger user-defined safety measures, such as closing an observatory roof.

The AAG CloudWatcher hardware ships with Windows software: CloudWatcher reproduces the main elements of its interface, and can interoperate with it in a Master/Remote architecture. But it also provides additional features.

It can interface to an external Sky Quality Meter: these SQM devices are made by Unihedron and are the standard for measuring sky darkness. CloudWatcher can interface directly to the model SQM-LE (ethernet-connected) or, via a new GerSpatial app in development (SQM Toolbox), to other models as well.

The latest version of the AAG CloudWatcher hardware also includes a light meter with very similar performance to the standard SQM system. CloudWatcher can display this or an external SQM, or both together on a two-trace plot for comparison.

In fact many of the standard plots have two traces, where the second trace provides related information (such as standard deviation of the sky temperature, which is useful for detecting thin, high level cloud, wind gust in addition to windspeed and dew point on the humidity graph).

CloudWatcher’s graphs are labelled with the axis variables and units and the horizontal time axis always uses natural round units.

An important feature of CloudWatcher is that it can interoperate with the Windows software provided with the AAG CloudWatcher device. The Transfer file allowing Master or Remote operation is compatible in both directions. It also generates a ClarityII (Boltwood) file

CloudWatcher is compatible with all existing versions of the AAG CloudWatcher firmware.