This page will remain online as a reference though the Twitter interface is no longer functional.
Here you will find information on how to communicate with the Burke-Gaffney Observatory using a Twitter account. You must have an observer account to interact with the observatory. Your observer account must be approved before the observatory will take images for you.
The Basics
The observatory monitors its Twitter account and you can communicate with it either public tweets or direct messages (private).
Public Tweets
To get the observatory's attention, all tweets directed at it must include its Twitter handle @smubgobs in the tweet (Twitter refers to this as a "mention") and a supported command #tag. All tweets that meet this criteria will cause the observatory to reply to your tweet, either:
- acknowledging what you asked it to do is done
- providing the requested information
- or sending you an error message
If you don't include a valid command you won't receive a reply to your tweet. A reply typically takes about 1 to 3 minutes.
You will also be tweeted when your requested image has been taken (along with a low-resolution image for non-special observations) and in the morning when full resolution and raw data become available. Look for completed images here.
Twitter Direct Messages
Send direct messages to the Twitter handle @smubgobs and at least one supported command #tag.
All messages that meet this criteria will cause the observatory to reply privately to your message, either:
- acknowledging what you asked it to do is done
- providing the requested information
- or sending you an error message
A reply typically takes about 1 to 3 minutes.
Important Notes:
- depending on how your Twitter account is configured, you may have to follow @smubgobs in order to receive a reply
- only the first 280 characters of any message are seen by the observatory's programs
You will also be direct-messaged when your requested image has been taken (along with a low-resolution image for non-special observations) and in the morning when full resolution and raw data are available. Look for completed images here.
Commands
Many commands are supported. New observers should use those described on the basic page:
Observatory Status
The observatory posts regularly as it is observing on its Twitter Feed (@smubgobs). You can tell it is the observatory posting (instead of a human) when the tags #bgosays or #bgoreplies are used. The former is a general tweet to everyone. The latter means it is replying to someone's tweet.