Star tracker prototype mk1
For those of you who are interested, this is my own design and built of a star tracker. I got the idea during the first Corona virus lockdown in march last year. I finally managed to put it all together and used this set up (but with a different lens) to take the photo of the Orion nebula in my previous upload.
The concept of my design is based on the typical commercially available star trackers. I used a stepper motor with 720:1 reduction gearbox via 4:1 pinion gears to rotate the camera mounting platform. For the electronics I used an Arduino Nano chip and an LV8729 stepper driver. I am using two built-in Li-ion batteries in series as my power source. I have run it continuously for an hour with no trouble. I placed all this inside a small purpose built wooden case. The three silver pushbuttons on the side of the box are for power on/off, tracking direction and enable tracking.
It took me a while to find the most stable setup with reasonably good balance.
I use a compass and electronic protractor to help me align to the celestial south pole.
Why did I design and build my own? Partly to save money and partly because I like tinkering.
It is not perfect by any means so that leaves me to tinker some more.
Star tracker prototype mk1
For those of you who are interested, this is my own design and built of a star tracker. I got the idea during the first Corona virus lockdown in march last year. I finally managed to put it all together and used this set up (but with a different lens) to take the photo of the Orion nebula in my previous upload.
The concept of my design is based on the typical commercially available star trackers. I used a stepper motor with 720:1 reduction gearbox via 4:1 pinion gears to rotate the camera mounting platform. For the electronics I used an Arduino Nano chip and an LV8729 stepper driver. I am using two built-in Li-ion batteries in series as my power source. I have run it continuously for an hour with no trouble. I placed all this inside a small purpose built wooden case. The three silver pushbuttons on the side of the box are for power on/off, tracking direction and enable tracking.
It took me a while to find the most stable setup with reasonably good balance.
I use a compass and electronic protractor to help me align to the celestial south pole.
Why did I design and build my own? Partly to save money and partly because I like tinkering.
It is not perfect by any means so that leaves me to tinker some more.