Project openastro

OpenAstro is a distributed amateur telescope network for time-domain astronomy. The core insight is that geographic distribution is an architectural advantage that no single professional telescope can replicate — enabling stellar occultations (multi-chord), TTV monitoring (24h coverage), GRB follow-up (someone is always in the dark).

3 Stages: 1. Existing data pipeline — pull from AAVSO, MPC, AstroBin, ETD; build calibration engine; produce first paper with no live network 2. Volunteer telescope network — recruit amateur observers to run client software; seasonal campaigns; co-authorship incentive 3. OpenAstro-owned low-cost robotic hardware — Pi + cheap CMOS cameras at strategic longitudes

Key science cases (priority order): Stellar occultations > TTVs (with n-body inverse inference) > Microlensing > GRB/kilonova follow-up > NEO astrometry

Tech stack decided: Python/FastAPI, PostgreSQL (SQLite for MVP), ASCOM/INDI REST, Astropy scheduler, Hetzner VPS ~$15/month

Vault structure: Root-level files are raw dumps (older, unprocessed). NewOpenAstro/ is authoritative. Key new docs created: - NewOpenAstro/Vault Map.md — maps root files to their content and where it belongs - NewOpenAstro/Gap Analysis.md — what's decided vs. open - NewOpenAstro/Roadmap.md — full 3-stage roadmap - NewOpenAstro/Science/Projects/TTV Reverse N-Body Inference.md — n-body problem writeup

Git: Initialized. 124 files, initial commit made. Branch: main. User: Vyom, vyom11bagrecha@gmail.com