DIY [needs help] All-Sky Camera

[luigi]

Hi All,

I've been doing research all day long instead of working and reached no conclusion. So I'm yelling help :D

I would like to build an all-sky webcam for my home. The goal is to see the sky, clouds, maybe catch a meteor sometimes, do timelapses, etc.

I think a wireless webcam with some form of fisheye adaptor will be the simplest way, is this right?

I found this adapter: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15237 now I need to know if a webcam will work, which one? I'm afraid the IQ at night will be zero.

Making it short any help you can give me about this is welcomed, I need help about webcam models that are good for night shots, domes, fisheye lenses for webcams, etc etc.

Thanks!
Luis

[Moon]

Luis,

I've been doing a lot of google searching too. I found these links useful:
SkyCam project (http://www.starrynights.us/Articles/SkyCam.htm) (recommends L163VDC4P )
Sonota Recommendations (http://sonotaco.jp/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2184) (recommends Fujinon YV2.7x2.9LRD-SA2)

These are more expensive options.
I have found it quite difficult to find reasonably priced / good quality CS 1/2 wide angle lenses here in Australia. I suppose Argentina has the same problem.

The DX option is only a few dollars, so could be worth a try. Let us know how you go.:thumbsup:

James

[Moon]

I should also add that I learned from the IOTA group recently about some Watec WAT-902H 1/2 CCDs on eBay for a reasonable price. Still plenty left.

This particular model is not as good as the "ultimate" version which can do integration, but it's still very sensitive.
James

[Mighty_oz]

Shevill Mathers has built some maybe he could help ?
http://www.shevillmathers.id.au/

[mswhin63]

16deg lense looks good, ultimately 180deg is the best. Webcam may not have a lot of light receiving capability. A low light camera would be the best.

I have one I will be testing that is reasonably economical, although I haven't got a 180deg lense for it yet. I was going to test it for distant planets but I have had to place that project on hold.

The lense is cheap so I wouldn't be too fussed about buying it for test.

[mswhin63]

Sorry should be 180 deg lens that would be needed when advertised. Some though may advertise 360 deg. Need to look carefully. Some will display their vertical and horizontal angular coverage which is a more accurate idea of it's function.

[mangrovedutch]

G'day, I'm a newbie to any of this type of equipment, but have one on my watchlist on Ebay, I hope this helps you. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160528767764&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Seems cheap enough and shipping is relatively cheap from the UK.

Regards, Dutch

[bojan]

Some ideas...
http://home.iprimus.com.au/pakholt/astronomy/astroallsky.html
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.astrosurf.com/re/all_sky_camera_vesta_pro_200711230w .jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.astrosurf.com/re/all_sky_camera.html&h=330&w=502&sz=66&tbnid=EzqBwiRYLJ2bPM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dall%2Bsky%2Bcamera&zoom=1&q=all+sky+camera&hl=en&usg=__OvPdCAGboE4Xh_7ALAZzpQvcCyg=&sa=X&ei=Yo8pTeDJLs_JcbCpobkB&ved=0CDAQ9QEwBA

[davewaldo]

This thread perked my interest also so I've just bought this little lens for my toucam. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.47018

It might be rubbish but it should be fun to play with.

[davewaldo]

Should I expect a non-modified toucam to be able to see anything with an f2 lens on its slowest shutter speed? Or will it basically show nothing?

Cheers

[mswhin63]

I would suspect a webcam for this type of imaging would not work,

You would need to consider a low light camera for this purpose.

[luigi]

Ty for your input, do you have some models that might work so I can see them?

[mswhin63]

I haven't tried one, just a technical understanding, although I did try my webcam which is advertised low light.

I have another camera 0.003lux, but haven't got a lens for it yet, so I can't really advise properly.

To get a really good image a DMK camera would be great as they have long exposure and may use few seconds to get brighter image but may miss some quick meteors in real time.

[Barrykgerdes]

Here is a thought that I haven't seen mentioned yet to use a standard camera of any type with a zoom lens.

If you can obtain a sphere with a mirror surface or just a half sphere and place it where the whole sky can be reflected off it. Suitable mirrors are available and used for cheap planetariums. Much cheaper than a fisheye lens set up.

The camera is sited to focus on the image of the sky on the sphere. The resulting image will have some distortion but there is a suitable algorithm to process the picture back to a circular 2D picture of the whole sky.

The way I would experiment would be with an old slide projector (zoom lens type) with the lamp assembly replaced with a digital camera like a QHY8 or your web cam for a start.

This idea is the reverse of the process used to illuminate the dome in simple digital planetariums using Stellarium.

See the yahoo.groups small_planetarium group for a source of mirrors

Barry

[mswhin63]

The lower link show mirror sphere configuration.

[luigi]

The problem is that this setup is harder to configure and put inside a weather resistant case.

[bartman]

Hi Luis,
If you do go a simple webcam and fish eye lens, then could you not simply use a software program to adjust the exposure times or do stacking of images ( sense up? like in the G-Star cam). I guess you wont get "live view" but it might increase the amount of stars you see.
Just a thought....
Bartman

[luigi]

Sure, that's an option. I need a good webcam (but cheap) to start with and then find proper exposure times and see if stacking is needed to produce night photos.
"live view" is not a need I just want to monitor the skies, do some timelapses, get a meteor someday, track clouds and storms, etc.

[mcaramb]

I realize this thread is 3 months old, but if it helps, we've posted free instructions on how to build your own all-sky camera for under $30US on our website. We've used this rig to capture quite a few spectacular meteors (also on site). Enjoy :)

http://www.oakgroveobservatory.com/diy_allsky.shtml

-Mike

[SkyViking]

This looks like an awesome project, thanks for the link. I have a long exposure modified ToUCam which I use for astrophotography. Now I might turn it into an all-sky camera once I purchase a new main CCD cam for the scope. Thanks for the idea :)