We present a reusable software package able to control a large and heterogeneous network of remotely-controlled and robotic astronomical observatories. Special attention was given to the design of a robust, long-term observation scheduler that also allows the trading of observing time and resources within internal and external networks. The system is able to communicate with notification systems announcing X-ray and Gamma-ray bursts, and other astronomical events requiring immediate observation. The handling of the “Phase I & II” projects, the time-accounting between complex organizational structures, and usability issues for making the package accessible not only to professional astronomers, but also to amateurs and high-school students is discussed. Initially developed to run a network of two 1.2m telescopes, and a 50cm solar telescope, the system was developed using Cocoa and WebObjects, and- with the exception of a few low-level systems controlling various peripheral devices- is completely deployed on Apple hardware. The initial goal of the presented software package was to help develop a web
usability issue initial goal high-school student astronomical event special attention complex organizational structure professional astronomer robotic astronomical observatory software package gamma-ray burst various peripheral device solar telescope apple hardware external network immediate observation heterogeneous network ii project notification system low-level system reusable software package long-term observation scheduler
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