If you want to operate a remote observatory, you should always know what the weather conditions are like above the dome. Even if you are sitting in a room next door, it makes sense to keep an eye on the weather at all times, and occasionally glancing out of the window is sometimes not enough. The weather sensor can even close your dome automatically when certain weather conditions are reached!
The AAG weather sensor offers you four measuring devices in a small, easy-to-mount box:
- Cloud sensor: The instrument measures the temperature of the sky using an infrared sensor. This is compared with an internal temperature sensor. The software calculates the cloud cover from this.
- Rain sensor: Rain is poison for your telescope! The sensor that registers raindrops is heated so that the water evaporates and the sensor is available again. This allows continuous monitoring of rain.
- Light sensor: This not only tells you how far twilight has progressed at the observation site, but even whether the moon has risen.
- Temperature sensor: Temperature is certainly the least critical variable, but recording the outside temperature is not unimportant for comparing photographs taken on different nights.
- "Pressure Sensor" for measuring the prevailing air pressure.
An anemometer can also be connected to the AAG weather sensor as an option (see accessories).
All sensor measurements can be displayed graphically in a window on the computer monitor. Our image gallery shows the individual screenshots. The software only runs on Windows operating systems. However, you will find an application for Mac and even useful apps with alarm functions in your App Store. Simply search for the English product name CloudWatcher or AAG CloudWatcher in your App Store.
The AAG weather sensor is supplied with a weatherproof cable for connection to your PC. Available lengths: 3 m, 5 m, 7 m or 10 m. There is also a version without cable if you already have a cable.
AAG CloudWatcher, a high precision, low cost system for monitoring the sky condition. This has been achieved by, firstly, a clever product design by its creator Antonio Peres, and secondly, by the meticulous production from Lunático Astronomy.
But the AAG CloudWatcher does not stress only its low cost, but also by its high quality and unique features. Its intuitive graphic software allows an inmediate and very visual reading of information. It lets the user set the measuring parameters, achieving a powerful and very accurate cloud detection. The AAG CloudWatcher comprises a box with a special exterior finish that includes 4 sensors that are shown in the program through their corresponding graphs. They allow a thorough and easily understandable measurement of atmospheric conditions:
- Clouds sensor: Through an infrared sensor of the AAG CloudWatcher measures the temperature of the sky, and an electronic thermometer measures the internal temperature. Both data are then related by a powerful formula used to determine the existence of clouds. The measuring result is easily read on the graffic "Cloud".
- Rain sensor: CloudWatcher uses a variable capacitor to determine the existence of rain. In addition, the capacitor incorporates an internal resistance for heating the element, drying it, which allows a constant reliable reading.
- Light sensor: To distinguish between day and night. It can even detect the Moon.
- Temperature sensor
- Optional: Anemometer
- Wheather-proof cable with IP68 connector, used to connect the cloudwatcher instrument to a PC (available: 3m, 5m, 7m or 10m length)
In addition, the AAG CloudWatcher software incorporates advanced features such as:
- Multiple users in LAN (MASTER mode and REMOTE mode operation)
- MASTER and REMOTE installations can be independently parameterized
- Sky temperature correction model to account for excessive atmospheric long wave radiation during summer
- All alerts can be defined as sound alerts, with a specific sound file to be played when the alert condition occurs
- Switch control can be disabled and be performed by an external program (suitable to control other equipment)
- Allows the electrical constants to be changed by the user
- A complete set of properties / methods for inter-program communications
- Compatible with existing firmware versions 1.xx, 2.xx and future version 3.xx
- ACP, CCDCommander, CCDAutopilot 3, CCDAutoPilot and Maxpilote compatible
- Can combine information from any standard weather station supported by Virtual Weather Station or Weather Display software.
MAC application available! Richard Francis, ClearAndDark.com, has developed a great Mac application for the CloudWatcher. You can get it directly from the AppStore.
