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Implement Autofocuser #59

@andyw-0612

Description

@andyw-0612

Development of a standalone Python script to automate telescope focusing using the HFD V-Curve method (similar to NINA/FocusMax). This will serve as a proof-of-concept before integration into the main observatory server.

Specifically, this will roughly be based on the paper "Fast Auto-Focus Method and Software for CCD-based Telescopes" by Larry Weber and Steve Brady.

The general outline of the script will be as follows:

  1. Script will capture a series of exposures at varying focuser positions (we might need to step Out-to-In to mitigate backlash if that's a thing on the MRO scopes).
  2. Utilize sep (Source Extractor, Bertin & Arnouts 1996) library to detect sources via background RMS/Sigma-clipping.
  3. Compute Half Flux Diameter (HFD) for detected stars.
  4. Fit the resulting focuser position vs HFD data points to a Hyperbolic Curve.
  5. Solve for the curve minimum to determine the optimal focuser position.

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