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Getting Started with Science Scheduler

Document Version: 2.0 | Last Updated: February 2026

This guide helps you get from installation to your first observation in under 15 minutes.

What You Need

Before you begin, make sure you have:

If you are a... You need...
Web User (creating observations) Account credentials from your administrator
Observatory Operator (running NINA) NINA installed, plugin files, server URL

Choose Your Path

Path A: Web User (Creating Observations)

If you're submitting observation requests through the web interface:

  1. Log in to your organization's Science Scheduler URL
  2. Navigate to Dashboard to see system status
  3. Create a project to organize your observations (see Projects Guide)
  4. Click New Observation to submit your first request
  5. Fill in target coordinates, exposure settings, and constraints
  6. Submit and monitor progress in My Observations
  7. (Optional) Set up Notifications to receive alerts when observations change state

Next step: See Creating Observations for detailed instructions, and Observation Lifecycle to understand what each status means.

Path B: Observatory Operator (Running NINA Plugin)

If you're operating a telescope with the NINA plugin:

Quick Start Checklist

  • [ ] NINA 3.0+ installed on Windows
  • [ ] .NET 8.0 Runtime installed
  • [ ] Plugin files copied to NINA plugins folder
  • [ ] Server URL from your administrator
  • [ ] API Key (if already registered) or registration details

First-Time Setup (10 minutes)

  1. Install the Plugin
  2. Copy plugin files to: %LOCALAPPDATA%\NINA\Plugins\ScienceScheduler\

  3. Restart NINA

  4. Configure Plugin Settings (in NINA Options > Plugins > Science Scheduler)

  5. Enter Server URL (e.g., ws://scheduler.yourorganization.edu:8080)
  6. Enter API Key if you have one, or leave blank for new registration
  7. Fill in Observatory Information:
    • ID/Code: Short identifier (3-20 characters, letters/numbers/dashes only)
    • Name: Full observatory name
    • Contact Email: Required for registration

  8. Coordinates are automatically detected from NINA settings

  9. Enable the Plugin

  10. Check Enable Plugin to start connection

  11. Check Enable Operations to receive observations

  12. Add to Sequence

  13. Open NINA's Advanced Sequencer
  14. Drag Science Scheduler container from the palette
  15. Run your sequence to start receiving observations

Next step: See Plugin Setup for complete installation guide.

What Happens Next?

Once connected, the Science Scheduler will:

  1. Assign observations to your observatory based on priority and visibility
  2. Execute exposures automatically through NINA
  3. Upload FITS files to the central server
  4. Report status back to users who submitted observations

You can monitor everything in: - NINA Plugin Status: Shows connection and current observation - Web Dashboard: Shows your observations and their status - Admin Panel: (Administrators) Shows all system activity

Getting Help

Quick Reference

Task Where
Submit observation Web GUI > New Observation
Check my observations Web GUI > My Observations
View queue status Web GUI > Dashboard
Configure plugin NINA > Options > Plugins > Science Scheduler
Monitor execution NINA > Advanced Sequencer
View system status Admin Panel (administrators only)