The purpose of the Python Telescope Control software is to construct a Python-based user
interface that communicates with astronomical hardware allowing for interaction between the
user and astrometric equipment. The Python program, with a User Manual included, is designed
to be educational for users new to astrophotography, astrometry, and computer programming.
The module Alpyca is required to bridge the connection between the Python environment and the
astronomical hardware drivers. The API ASCOM allowed the use of a single application to
transmit JSON commands to the hardware. Through collaborative work on the Python software,
control of the telescope mount and CCD camera was successful. Control of the telescope mount
is composed of a user-friendly GUI to control the telescope mount and mounted CCD camera.
The mount movement data includes position in right ascension and declination (RA, DEC),
celestial coordinate selection, UTC time, and IP address. The CCD camera options include
exposure rate, number of exposures, and gain selection. Physical hardware control is only a
portion of the Modern Eddington Experiment for the upcoming 2024 solar eclipse. Full
implementation of the Python Telescope Automation Software requires both hardware control
and image processing. Image processing methods are being explored by professional
astronomers within a larger national collaboration. Methods of data analysis will need to be
explored further to find the most accurate and efficient model. In preparation for the 2024 solar
eclipse, our team has developed an expandable open-source Python-based user interface to
collect astrometric data to measure gravitational deflection by the Sun.