python-list at python.org

[RayS]

Hi Alan,

At 04:25 PM 1/31/2006, you wrote:
>IIUC, ASCOM is a set of Windows COM objects which provides a 
>standardised API for controlling telescopes. Since it uses Windows 
>COM, you should be able to control it easily from python using the 
>excellent win32 extensions.

Yes, I had seen it, and it looks well developed - but - it _requires_ 
Windows COM. (I do use Win32 and ctypes for talking to interface 
cards and such, that I actually get paid for) but even the company I 
do it for is migrating to LINUX (slowly) by customer demand (!) and I 
guess don't want to do new COM projects.

INDI actually looks like a great project - but - it's _only_ LINUX...
http://indi.sourceforge.net/

There are a good number of professional astro Python creations 
supported by STSCI and Enthought
http://www.stsci.edu/resources/software_hardware/

Kstars  http://edu.kde.org/kstars/indi.php looks nice but uses its 
own scripting and only runs on LINUX

I see the professional Astronomy community moving to Python, and I 
think it's a good idea to ride their coat-tails; university projects 
like Galileo and DRACO use Meade LX's as undergraduate study tools, 
with Python/LINUX.

Thanks for the reply,
Ray