ASCOM (standard)

ASCOM, which stands for Astronomy Software Component Object Model, is a set of open standards used primarily in amateur astronomy to facilitate communication between different astronomical software applications and hardware devices. It allows various applications like planetarium software, telescope control programs, and imaging software to seamlessly interact with astronomical equipment such as telescopes, cameras, focusers, and filter wheels, regardless of the manufacturer.

The core concept of ASCOM is to provide a common interface for accessing hardware functionality. By adhering to the ASCOM standards, hardware manufacturers can create "drivers" that allow their devices to be controlled by any ASCOM-compliant software. This eliminates the need for software developers to write custom code for each specific piece of hardware, significantly simplifying the software development process and improving interoperability.

ASCOM relies heavily on the Component Object Model (COM) technology, a binary interface standard developed by Microsoft. While initially focused on the Windows operating system, ASCOM has evolved to be more platform-agnostic, though Windows remains its primary implementation environment.

Key aspects of the ASCOM standard include:

• Device Interfaces: Well-defined interfaces for common astronomical devices like telescopes, cameras, focusers, filter wheels, rotators, and observing conditions sensors.
• Driver Architecture: A model for developing drivers that conform to the ASCOM interfaces, allowing software to interact with hardware in a standardized way.
• .NET Compatibility: Support for .NET programming languages, facilitating the development of ASCOM-compatible software using modern tools.
• Community Support: A vibrant community of developers and users who contribute to the ongoing development and maintenance of the ASCOM standard.

ASCOM plays a crucial role in enabling automated and remote astronomical observation by providing a reliable and consistent way for software to control astronomical equipment. It has become the dominant standard in the amateur astronomy community for device communication and control.