Network
The Shared Skies network incorporates servers, instrumentation computers, network power switches, video servers and video conferencing at campus sites and observatories:
University of Southern Queensland Mount Kent Observatory
mtkent1.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.90 (Primary server at MKO used for data archive and Shared Skies links)
mtkent2.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.91 (Backup server at MKO used for batch processing)
crux.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.92 (CDK20 South)
ara.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.130 (CDK700)
vela.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.76 (FSQ South)
canopus.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.95 (Operator console)
pagepower.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.97 (CDK20 South power control)
University of Louisville Information Technology
mtkent3.louisville.edu 136.165.240.200 (Primary server at U of L used for on-line data and host of Shared Skies ).
mtkent4.it-servers.louisville.edu 136.165.240.201 (Backup data server at U of L )
University of Louisville Moore Observatory
pegasus.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.90 (CDK20 North controller)
owl.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.91 (Software and interface development console)
moondog.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.93 (Local web server and host to weather station and environmental monitors)
sundog.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.87 (Observatory operator console)
equuleus.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.89 (RC24 controller)
aquila.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.88 (RC24 operator console)
wispi.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.92 (Takahashi and FSQ North controller)
University of Louisville Class and Conference Rooms
carina.physics.louisville.edu 136.165.82.17 (Physics and Astronomy conference room)
virgo.physics.louisville.edu 136.165.82.41 (Physics and Astronomy instructional lab)
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing between sites and observers is handled through Zoom. This is a cloud-based service providing support for Linux, Android, Mac, and Windows operating systems and up to 50 remote participants. Video conferencing may also be held through Google Hangouts.
Video Servers
allsky.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.82 (Widefield fixed view of the northern sky)
skycam.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.98 (Widefield fixed view of the southern sky)
aldebaran.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.86 (Pan tilt zoom site camera at Moore Observatory)
antares.astro.louisville.edu 136.165.99.85 (CDK20 North video server)
ptzcam.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.94 (Pan tilt zoom site camera at Mt. Kent Observatory)
domecam.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.93 (Pan tilt zoom CDK20 south dome camera)
stv.mko.usq.edu.au 139.86.48.96 (CDK20 South video server)
Connections Between Observatories
Networks at the University of Louisville and the University of Southern Queensland are connected through Internet2 from Louisville to Sydney, and a high speed network within Australia. From the Toowoomba campus to Mt. Kent a line-of-sight microwave link provides a data rate of 50 Mb/s. From the Louisville campus network to Moore Observatory a fiber optical line handles data at 16Mb/s.
Outside access to the University networks is limited by firewalls as shown in the figure. Direct control of the telescopes for remote observing is available only through the virtual private networks (VPN's), or through web-based interfaces. At both observatories, control systems associated with each telescope may be accessed from a control console in the main building, remotely from campus, or through web-based interfaces to authorized users anywhere.
Moore Observatory Local Network
Many instruments that are needed for observatory operations are connected to a local network managed by the Moondog observatory server. A local intranet runs from a switch at Moondog to each of the enclosures, and switches in the enclosures enable simple local private connections as needed. A short range WiFi network allows user laptops to connect to instruments behind the Moondog firewall so that operators may have their own laptops connected to the telescopes.
The observatory network connects to the main campus through a 1 Gb/s fiberoptic service provided by AT&T.