Add Sky Catalog section to homepage introducing Craft integration

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Ryan Malloy 2026-02-17 20:33:39 -07:00
parent 981d8a2f10
commit bcfb86637e

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@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Birdcage turns salvaged RV satellite dishes into general-purpose AZ/EL positione
<CardGrid> <CardGrid>
<Card title="Satellite Tracking" icon="star"> <Card title="Satellite Tracking" icon="star">
Real-time pass prediction from the [Craft API](https://space.warehack.ing), or connect Gpredict via the built-in rotctld server. Search by name, filter by elevation, track automatically. Search the sky catalog by name, track targets at 1 Hz, predict upcoming passes. Works standalone via the Craft API or with Gpredict through the built-in rotctld server.
[Tracking guide &rarr;](/guides/satellite-tracking/) [Tracking guide &rarr;](/guides/satellite-tracking/)
</Card> </Card>
<Card title="Camera Capture" icon="seti:image"> <Card title="Camera Capture" icon="seti:image">
@ -52,6 +52,27 @@ Birdcage turns salvaged RV satellite dishes into general-purpose AZ/EL positione
</Card> </Card>
</CardGrid> </CardGrid>
## The Sky Catalog
Birdcage doesn't maintain its own TLE files or orbital prediction engine. It talks to
[Craft](https://space.warehack.ing) — an open API that knows where everything is.
Search "ISS" and get its current azimuth and elevation from your location. Search "Moon"
and point the dish at it. The catalog covers LEO satellites, GPS constellations, geostationary
birds, deep space probes, and celestial bodies — anything with a known ephemeris.
The integration runs at three levels:
- **TUI Craft mode** (F2 → Craft tab) — search, select a target, hit Track. The dish follows at 1 Hz.
Pass predictions show rise time, peak elevation, and duration. Pass-state transitions
(AOS → TCA → LOS) feed the Camera overlay for automated capture.
- **MCP server** — `search_satellites`, `get_passes`, `get_next_pass`, and `get_visible_targets`
tools let any MCP client query the catalog and compose tracking workflows.
- **rotctld bridge** — Gpredict and other Hamlib-compatible controllers drive the dish via
the built-in TCP server on port 4533. Craft provides the orbital data; Gpredict does the math.
No NORAD catalog numbers to memorize, no TLE files to download, no prediction libraries to configure.
Type a name, get a position.
## The TUI ## The TUI
![Birdcage TUI — six screens shown in demo mode](/screenshots/tui-collage.png) ![Birdcage TUI — six screens shown in demo mode](/screenshots/tui-collage.png)