Why is the Skyglow Observations Standard Format Important?

In the summer of 2012, Knightware participated in an international effort to define a standard file format for dark sky readings data. The data is also referred to as skyglow or light pollution data. After weeks of discussion, the standard was approved by the international community in September 2012 and resides online at http://www.darksky.org/night-sky-conservation/248.

Skyglow Standard document

The standard file format allows data to be collected using various devices, including the connected models of Unihedron's Sky Quality Meter, all of which are supported in Knightware's SQM Reader Pro 2 software.

These readings files can be shared with dark sky researchers worldwide who are studying various affects of light pollution. The interested parties include the astronomical institutions, observatory owners, and a large community of researchers that examine the biological effects of light pollution.

Given a standard file format, readings can be processed and placed in database repositories for use in research or simply for viewing by the public. For the first time, calibrated darkness data can be used on a wide-scale so that we can understand how light pollution is changing over time.

The Skyglow Standard describes in detail the meter installation, the contributor of the data, the license under which data is submitted and a description of the hardware. This information is followed by the reading data itself. There are further rules that define when a file is started and stopped and how it is named.

The Skyglow Storage definition tab in SQM Reader Pro 2

A skyglow file looks like a simple text file. This permits users to read the file with a simple ASCII text editor as shown below. The Standard assures that a well-defined dataset that can be submitted to data repositories anywhere in the world for various research purposes.

Skyglow Example File

Knightware is delighted to have participated in the development of the Skyglow Standard file format, and to support it in SQM Reader Pro 2 software, the only commercially available software that reads sky darkness data from Sky Quality Meters automatically and continuously, displays and graphs data, stores data in files and transfers it to an FTP server and post processing scripts, batch files and programs.

Announcing SQM Reader Pro 2 software

Knightware has just released a new version of SQM Reader Pro software. SQM Reader Pro 2 is the only commercially available software that reads sky darkness data from connected Sky Quality Meters automatically and continuously, displays and graphs data, stores data in files and transfers it to an FTP server and post processing scripts, batch files and programs. Readings can be submitted automatically to a live SQM Readings Map web page at Knightware.biz.

SQM Reader Pro version 1 was released on 2009 and has had several updates. Version 2 is the result of over a year's research and development. It contains new graphing software and offers many new features.

Highlights of the new features include:

• Numerous enhancements to data graphs. Now users can view graphs of both MPSAS (magnitude per square arcsecond) and NELM (naked-eye limiting magnitude) in real-time, and either or both graphs can be transferred to an FTP server. Lunar altitude and phase data have been added.

MPSAS Graph

NELM Graph

• Support for the new Skyglow Observations Standard file format. The new file standard is a very important development for light pollution researchers. The next blog post will describe the Skyglow Standard and why it is important.

A Skyglow Format File

• Open and process stored readings files. Users can open readings files stored in SQM Reader Pro format, Skyglow and Unihedron Device Manager format. Once open, the user can view graphs of the entire data file and statistics calculated for the entire file.

File | Open Dialog

• Contribute readings to Knightware's SQM Readings Map web page. Users can elect to submit readings to the Map web page. The location of each meter installation is obscured so that the location of the actual meter remains secure. Readings cannot be submitted while the sun is above the horizon since such readings have little value.
  
  Detailed information is available for a meter installation by clicking on it's marker on the web page. The latest reading is displayed, along with altitude and phase of the moon. Statistics are calculated and displayed for each meter's readings. The statistics are calculated only for moonless readings.

SQM Readings Map Web Page

Availability