# STVID

**stvid** is a set of *python* programs to detect and identify satellite tracks on observations of the night sky, and measure the satellite positions to determine and/or update their orbits.

## Background
This software will take over the satellite tracking functionality of C.Bassa's [sattools](https://github.com/cbassa/sattools). By porting the functionality to *python*, and using [astropy](https://github.com/astropy/astropy), and [opencv](https://opencv-python-tutroals.readthedocs.io/en/latest/), the software is indented to be easier to install and operate.

This repository is currently used for development, and relies, for the moment, on programs from the [sattools](https://github.com/cbassa/sattools) repository (namely `satid`).

## Installation
**stvid** handles requirements using pip. You can install requirements by running :

`pip install -r requirements.txt`

Consider using a VirtualEnv to run stvid on a separate python virtual environment.

### Additional requirements
* [Hough3dLines](https://gitlab.com/pierros/hough3d-code)
  * `hough3dlines` needs to be executable in your path
* [Sextractor](https://github.com/astromatic/sextractor)
  * `sextractor` needs to be executable in your path
* [Astromentry.net](https://github.com/dstndstn/astrometry.net)
  * `solve-field` needs to be executable in your path, with index files appropriate for your FOV
* [ZWO ASI SDK](https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/software-drivers) if using a ZWO camera

## Configuration
* Copy the `configuration.ini-dist` file to `configuration.ini`
* Edit `configuration.ini` with your preferred settings
* Make sure ST_DATADIR is set as an env variable pointing to the /data folder of sattools

## Running
TBD

## Todo
Features to be implemented.

#### High priority
* ~~Use sunset/sunrise times for starting/stopping data acquisition.~~
* ~~Automatic astrometric calibration.~~
* ~~Recognize unidentified satellite/meteor tracks using [3D Hough transform](http://www.ipol.im/pub/art/2017/208/).~~

#### Medium priority
* Pause data acquisition of the current line-of-sight (alt/az) is in the Earth's shadow for a particular orbital altitude.
* Investigate sensitivity loss of `significance=(max-mean)/sigma` if the four frame images are stored as 8bit integers instead of floats.


#### Low priority
* Implement python based star finding (stick with *source extractor* for now).
* Migrate to [python based SGP4/SDP4 algorithms](https://github.com/brandon-rhodes/python-sgp4)
* Use masks to mask unilluminated CCD areas.
* Investigate automatic submission of IOD measurements to [SeeSat-L](http://www.satobs.org/seesat/).
* ~~Migrate user settings to a configuration file.~~

## Run acquisition at startup

* Add user to video group (`sudo adduser <username> video`).
* Add video device to udev rules (add `SUBSYSTEM=="video1", GROUP="video", MODE="0660"` in `/etc/udev/rules.d/10-webcam.rules`).
* Create start up script in `/etc/init.d`. Call capture script as user with `su <username> -c "acquire.py"`.

## License
&copy; 2018-2022 Cees Bassa

Licensed under the [GPLv3](LICENSE).