DragonFly observatory controller

Instant Push Notifications for Your Observatory

For a long time, we have been using and recommending PushBullet as a very convenient way of receiving notifications from astronomy equipment. Support was first added to the Solo CloudWatcher, along with documentation for sending messages from scripts compatible with most Lunatico products.

Now, native PushBullet support has been added directly to the DragonFly observatory controller. This means you can receive important notifications on your smartphone or PC immediately — even without a PC physically connected to the observatory.

Why it matters: An unattended observatory needs to tell you when something unexpected happens. PushBullet gives you that voice — in real time, wherever you are.

Practical Use Cases

Once configured, the DragonFly can alert you about situations that require your attention, such as:

  • The roof starts to open while weather conditions are deemed unsafe
  • The roof closes while the mount is still unparked
  • Any other event your automation rules are set up to flag

About PushBullet

PushBullet is a cross-platform notification service that delivers alerts to your phone, tablet, or desktop browser. It is free for moderate use, making it an ideal choice for hobbyist and semi-professional observatories alike. A PRO subscription is available and well worth considering if you rely on it heavily.

Already Using Solo CloudWatcher?

PushBullet notifications have been part of the Solo CloudWatcher for some time, along with detailed instructions for triggering alerts from custom scripts across other Lunatico products. The addition of native support in DragonFly brings the same convenience to observatory-wide automation.

Solo CloudWatcher cloud detector