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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
  • Date Created: Date Created
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Automated Raspberry Pi Planet Tracking GOTO Telescope -- Episode 436

 

In this video Derek takes a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, inertial measurement unit, CCD camera and a beefed-up pan & tilt mechanism to create an automated planet tracker. Everything is orchestrated via a custom arcade-style controller centered around a Raspberry Pi running C++/OpenCV code to run the UI and control positioning.

Bill of Materials

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit
Arduino Uno Arduino Uno 1 Buy Now
Raspberry Pi 3 Raspberry Pi 1 Buy Now
100k Pullup Resistors MCF 0.25W 100K 2 Buy Now
Attachments:
PlanetTrackingTelescope_Resources.zip
image

Automated Raspberry Pi Planet Tracking GOTO Telescope

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  • in reply to astrobabb

    Arduino has a sonic device that fit your bill and there is a project to better calibrate it

  • in reply to astrobabb

    You could use a simple Arduino and a Lidar sensor.

    It would be a simple build and good for telescopes up to 60m focal length.

     

    DAB

  • Hi, my first post here, and I am not familiar with the differing platforms of kits like Adurino and rasberry pi, but I do have a tech background being retired Instrument Tech.

    I have always wanted to find and build a simple device to measure displacement over a 3 or 4 cm distance, with the human interface being an led type numeric three or four digit display connected to either an ultrasonic or lvdt, or capacitive etc. sensor. The application is to measure the distance between the rear of the mirror of a similar telescope displayed in this project and the rear housing of the telescope. The purpose is to be able to re position (focus) the telescope without having to either look through the telescope or at a screen displaying the image of what the telescope is "focused" on.

     

    So while this might not be the best place to have proposed this idea for a kit to build such a device I hope someone reading this has the goods to be able to point me in a direction where I can begin the process to find out how the rasberry pi or adurino kits might be able to be utalized to build such a thing.

     

    Robert Babb

  • I have watched your section on the pan tilt controller for your telescope. I like what I see. I have a 10" Meade and the controller board I believe is toast. I have used the Raspberry Pi3+ B for other things and am interested in doing what you did and took it to another step by having the planets and moon as a selection be your pic of that planet on a screen. I like that idea as I too am not talented in the planets. I believe in my base it has 12vdc motors I believe as I have to get it out of storage. The base plate and tri-pod is huge and heavy. I would love to refurbish it to a fully functional telescope. I will get everything out and set it up and get back with you.

    Allenhig

  • in reply to Derek (DCtoDaylight)

    Ah, I forgot. Here's part-3 showing how I made the replacement board for the pan/tilt.

  • in reply to picopi

    Hi ,

     

    I've added these as an attachment.

  • in reply to picopi

    I failed to provide the beef. Or should I say spaghetti-code. I'll try and provide asap.

     

    Derek

  • in reply to ankur608

    I did see several moons - no idea what I was looking at, but I was BLOWN AWAY by how sharp it was. I wanted to mount my DSLR and get some shots,  but the mosquitos were in full effect so I gave up. I really wish I would have gotten some pics.

    Saturn and Venus were kind of fuzzy. Not sure why Jupiter looked so good though. I looked at them on different days, so maybe different atmospheric conditions or maybe condensation inside the OTA. So much to learn.