ASCOM

Introduction

ASCOM is a technology framework that allows different astronomical software to communicate with each other. It stands for Astronomy Common Object Model. ASCOM provides a common interface for astronomical devices and software, enabling them to interact and exchange information seamlessly. This technology is widely used in amateur and professional astronomy, and has become a standard in the field.

A computer screen showing the interface of an ASCOM-compatible software.

A computer screen showing the interface of an ASCOM-compatible software.

History

The ASCOM initiative was launched in the late 1990s by a group of amateur astronomers and software developers. They recognized the need for a standard that would allow different pieces of astronomical software and hardware to communicate with each other. The first version of the ASCOM platform was released in 1998, and it has been continually updated and improved since then.

Functionality

ASCOM provides a set of interfaces, or contracts, that software and devices can use to communicate with each other. These interfaces define a common set of commands and data structures that all ASCOM-compatible software and devices must support. This allows any ASCOM-compatible device to be controlled by any ASCOM-compatible software, regardless of the specific details of how the device or software works.

Implementation

ASCOM is implemented as a set of Component Object Model (COM) interfaces. COM is a technology developed by Microsoft that allows different software components to communicate with each other. ASCOM uses COM to define its interfaces and to handle the communication between different software and devices.

Usage

ASCOM is widely used in both amateur and professional astronomy. It is used to control telescopes, cameras, focusers, filter wheels, and other astronomical devices. It is also used to exchange data between different pieces of software, such as planetarium programs, image processing software, and data analysis tools.

Advantages

One of the main advantages of ASCOM is that it allows astronomers to use a wide range of software and devices together, regardless of who made them or how they work. This makes it easier to build complex astronomical systems, and allows astronomers to choose the best tools for their specific needs.

Another advantage of ASCOM is that it simplifies the development of astronomical software and devices. Developers can focus on the specific functionality of their software or device, without having to worry about the details of how to communicate with other software or devices.

Limitations

While ASCOM has many advantages, it also has some limitations. One of the main limitations is that it is based on COM, which is a Windows-specific technology. This means that ASCOM is not natively supported on other operating systems, such as Linux or macOS. However, there are ways to use ASCOM on these operating systems, such as running Windows in a virtual machine or using a compatibility layer like Wine.

Another limitation of ASCOM is that it requires all software and devices to support the same set of interfaces. This can be a challenge for developers, as they need to ensure that their software or device is compatible with all other ASCOM-compatible software and devices.

Future Developments

The ASCOM community is actively working on new versions of the ASCOM platform, with the goal of addressing some of its current limitations and adding new features. One of the main areas of focus is improving the support for non-Windows operating systems. Another area of focus is expanding the set of interfaces to support new types of astronomical devices and software.

See Also

Astronomical Software Telescope Control Astronomy Data Analysis