DMK51 Meteor camera

[algwat]

For those that want more from there DMK cameras....

I recently found that I can use my DMK camera with processing.org software and made a brightness tracking all sky triggered frame grabber. please see the link to the blog.

http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/meteor-camera-diy.html

If I can get this portable combo of tablet/laptop , DMK and DIY software to work well, it may need some other software tricks to make it better.

You guys might also like this one for Radio Meteors using an audio spectra as a trigger.

http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/fun-with-geminids-meteors-2012.html

kind regards, Alan (algwat)
other interesting stuff here...http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.au/

[naskies]

Thanks for sharing, Alan. What make/model is your C-mount fisheye lens? Did you purchase it in Aus or from overseas?

[algwat]

Got this lens locally,
GSTAR-EX - Wide View C-mount fish eye lens,

just gets to focus in the DMK.
There may be a better lens solution out there, still looking.

kind regards, Alan.

[algwat]

Updated blog with link to the processing.org code that is working for me.
Added a variable mask, so that the bright horizon can be removed.
Should work with any camera that the program detects in its start up list.
Not just for DMK.
However, now that you known that you can directly grab frames from a DMK with this software, other variations of this program could be made to do DSO/comet image stacking.

kind regards, Alan

[algwat]

Added a small avi showing moving aircraft detection.
http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/meteor-camera-diy.html
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIqwSWoXcQs/UYCw_F0CdFI/AAAAAAAAAmY/pymF0uQ6bC4/s1600/MAX_20130430meteor-aircrft.png

[algwat]

Gidday,
added some images of a very easy(cheap) to make all weather housing for DMK51 and fish eye lens. Used a 5m USB extender to get back to the
ground.

I have also change the software trigger to do frame to frame brightness differencing. Much more sensitive. Still need a good clear full night to test the amount of data this system can generate, so far have about 4Gb over 3 hours ... that why I need a 1Tb drive... 8)
regards, Alan

http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/meteor-camera-diy.html

[algwat]

Had some success with three clear nights, after the rain had passed.
Ran full twilight to dawn scans, generated about 3.5gb of images.
Setting where 1 sec images on every 55th and any detected brightening events. Just checking for detected events will produce less data.
No fogging of the dome, but car windows iced up every morning.


I have updated the code at the blog link.
Would be interested to hear from any one with the resources to place a similar setup near Geelong and Mornington, I am in Altona. Looking over the bay to try for some triangulation data would very interesting, the next step to Asgard like system.

regards, Alan

[koputai]

Good stuff Alan, very interesting. Please keep posting!

Cheers,
Jason.

[algwat]

Aircraft, clouds, and a few good detects. Generating over 8Gb of data as clouds skirting by, need to work on cloud detection method. Attached composite image from last data.

[Poita]

I'm intrigued by all this, might give it a go if I can get my PGR camera to work.

[algwat]

happy to answer any questions you may have when trying to use this software. Here is a good one from this morning. Regards, Alan