My All-Sky Camera Project
Welcome to the showcase of my custom-built autonomous all-sky imaging station. Designed to operate continuously under harsh environmental conditions, this system serves as a 24/7 sentinel mapping the night sky, capturing meteor showers, satellite tracks, auroral displays, and seamless day-to-night transitions.
1. System Architecture & Components
The system was designed from the ground up to combine a high-quantum-efficiency sensor with robust climate control. Here are the core specifications of the hardware configuration:
Camera
Model: Svbony SV705C
Equipped with exceptional near-infrared sensitivity and ultra-low read noise sensor IMX585, enabling clean data acquisition even on completely moonless nights without requiring active cooling systems.
Fisheye Lens
Optics: Witrue HD 12MP CS Mount CCTV Lens 3.2mm 150°
A wide lens providing 150° hemispherical coverage of the celestial dome. The fast focal ratio maximizes photon capture to reveal faint nebulae and dust lanes. Since the lens is CS mount type, I had to mechanically adjust the backspace to reach focus with the camera.
Processing Unit
Platform: MiniPC running Win11 and the AllSkEye application
The system brain that handles the capture loop automation, dynamic exposure adjustments based on sun elevation, automatic keogram compilation, and morning video encoding.
Enclosure & Thermal Control
Protection: Acrylic Dome + Waterproof box, Dew Heater
Housed inside a weatherproof junction container sealed with an optical acrylic dome. A built-in heater array prevents dew condensation and frost formation.
Special
Desiontal Brand YT-1200
Desiontal Brand YT-1200 rotation panoramic remote control motorized pan tilt. Since the lens used does not provide a full 360° circular view, I mounted the entire camera and lens on a movable platform that, thanks to remote control, allows the camera to rotate and tilt within a range of 45° in any direction. This allows me to remotely rotate the camera and the entire captured image and tilt it as needed, giving me a view of the entire sky from my garden.
Testing my all-sky camera rotation and tilt.
2. Captured Timelapses & Videos
Below is compiled observation sequence exported straight from the station's data archive. The clip shows one day and night timelapse from my backyard.
One day and night from my all-sky camera.
3. Startrails Photography
By blending hundreds of long-exposure frames throughout the night using a Maximum Intensity Projection stacking process, the rotation of the Earth is beautifully revealed. This method keeps only the brightest pixels, making stellar trajectories and bright fireballs permanently visible against the deep sky background.
