The ASTRI Mini-Array Software System

TL;DR

The paper describes the development of the Mini-Array Software System (MASS) for the ASTRI project, which manages observation planning, hardware control, data analysis, and archiving for a prototype of Cherenkov telescopes.

Contribution

It introduces the MASS as a comprehensive software solution that supports the entire observational workflow for the ASTRI mini-array, serving as a prototype for CTA software systems.

Findings

MASS enables efficient observation planning and hardware control.

It provides online data analysis capabilities.

The system facilitates data storage and retrieval.

Abstract

ASTRI ("Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana") is a Flagship Project financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, and led by INAF, the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics. Main goals of the ASTRI project are the realization of an end-to-end prototype of a Small Size Telescope (SST) for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) in a dual-mirror configuration (SST-2M) and, subsequently, of a mini-array composed of a few SST-2M telescopes to be placed at the final CTA Southern Site. Here we present the main features of the Mini-Array Software System (MASS) that has a central role in the success of the ASTRI Project and will also serve as a prototype for the CTA software system. The MASS will provide a set of tools to prepare an observing proposal, to perform the observations specified therein (monitoring and controlling all the hardware components of each telescope), to analyze the acquired data online and to store/retrieve all the data products to/from the archive.}