System and method for controlling and operating an astronomical observatory

A computer-implemented method of controlling an astronomical observatory with components that include at least an astronomical telescope, an imaging camera, and an auto-guiding camera, the method comprising:

• serving, over a network to a browser, an interface;
• receiving, over the network from the browser, a command input at the interface by a user to manipulate one or more of the components of the astronomical observatory;
• determining a current measurement of one or more ambient conditions at the astronomical observatory;
• comparing the current measurement of the one or more ambient conditions with one or more predefined boundaries for the one or more ambient conditions;
• manipulating the components of the astronomical observatory in accordance with the received command if the current measurement of the one or more ambient conditions are within the one or more predefined boundaries for the one or more ambient conditions;
• and
• declining to manipulate the components of the astronomical observatory in accordance with the received command if the current measurement of the one or more ambient conditions are not within the one or more predefined boundaries for the one or more ambient conditions.

A computer-implemented method of controlling an astronomical observatory with components that include at least an astronomical telescope, an imaging camera, and an auto-guiding camera, the method comprising:

• serving, over a network to a browser, an interface;
• receiving from the browser a command to capture an image of a celestial object;
• controlling the components of the astronomical observatory to capture one or more images of the celestial object through the telescope in accordance with the received command;
• accessing a database that includes a history of one or more previously captured images of celestial objects;
• locating at least one of the one or more previously captured images of the celestial object in the database;
• and
• transmitting the one or more captured images of the celestial object and the at least one of the one or more previously captured images of the celestial object to the browser over the network to provide a frame of reference against which the one or more captured images can be compared.