Low cost robotic DSLR-based imaging system |
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Show content only (no menu, header)Overview, Project goalsThis project is aimed at exploring a low-cost approach to perform a scientifically useful all-sky 3-color imaging survey. The system was installed on Mauna Loa observatory in December 2010, and started fully robotic operation in early 2011 with a single camera. It was upgraded to a 2-camera system in summer 2011. The first year of observations (until summer 2012) was used to evaluate scientific performance and system reliability, as well as develop data reduction algorithms which will process the large volume of data acquired. This project focuses especially on:
Open source hardware & softwareThis webpage contains technical details of the system and all source code developed to run the system. It is meant to help other amateur and professional astronomers duplicate and improve this approach. Feel free to use all material in this webpage, with no restriction. I of course appreciate if you let me know if you are working on similar things, or if you have comments to improve the system / report bugs.Future plansFollowing this 1-yr experimental period, I hope to partner with other amateur / professional astronomers to scale up / duplicate / improve this sytem. The low cost of the system, its ability to produce well calibrated 3-color photometry (under study) and ease of making pretty images open up exciting possibility for both astronomical research and outreach.Technical OverviewThe imaging system consists of two commercial digital cameras: models Canon 500D and 550D. The Canon 500D native IR-blocking filter in front of the sensor was replaced with a filter offering higher transmission in the red, as described in http://www.naoj.org/staff/guyon/08astrophoto.web/03canon500dmod.web/content.html . The 550D is unmodified and includes the native IR-blocking filter. The two cameras combination therefore offers six different colors. Each camera is equipped with a 85mm focal length lens at F1.2 (Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM). The cameras are pointed at the same direction, and mounted on a 2-axis equatorial mount (Orion Atlas EQ-G). The system (camera + mount) is computer controlled with a laptop. The data is stored on the laptop hard drive, and copied to an external hard drive.The main system characteristics are listed in the table below.
The data volume is approximately 5 GB per night, stored locally. The data is physically retrieved every ~2 month by copying it to an external drive (2 month of data = 300 GB). The average total power consumption is about 25W (including approximately 10W for laptop) at night, and 15W during the day. Durability, reliability, exposure to weatherThe durability of the system is a big concern. To keep the system simple and low cost, it does not have a dome: the camera points down when it rains/snows or when there are clouds. The system includes several sensors to determine if the weather is suitable for observing:
The system is designed to minimize the long-term impact of weather :
Links to other sitesJerry Lodriguss's DSLR website: Nikon vs Canon digital SRL Cameras for AstrophotographyPage content last updated: 27/06/2023 06:35:52 HST html file generated 27/06/2023 06:34:43 HST |