How Is It Made?

During these weeks we are proceeding identifying the components that we will purchase for the construction of the AllSky Camera: but what do we really need to make it? Here is a simple sketch that can help us.

The Lens
It is our photographic “element”, our pupil in a certain sense. The choice will go to a wide-angle and bright model to be able to convey as much light as possible to the element immediately below it.

The Astronomical Camera
All the light collected by the lens goes to our sensitive element: the camera. We will opt for a model designed specifically for astronomical photography: the ZWO ASI. The camera will transfer the datas to the “thinking head” of the ASC.

Micro Computer
Our target is to create a “stand alone” ASC without the need to connect it to a PC or laptop. Our choice fell on a compact, high-performance and economical microcomputer: the Raspberry Pi 4 equipped, among other things, with all the necessary network interfaces, wifi included, for connecting to the internet and sharing the photos and videos taken. The raspberry will also be able to acquire any additional signals for further operational expansions of the ASC.

Power Supply
We excluded the possibility of using a photovoltaic panel at this stage. We will proceed with the use of a standard 220 Vac / 5 Vdc power supply (the tipical one for smartphones). We will also try to integrate a small UPS (uninterruptible power supply / buffer battery) to ensure full operation of the ASC even in the event of a temporary power failure.

Enclosure
Having to work exposed to atmospheric agents and harsh winter temperatures (and hot summer) it will be necessary to protect all the components described above inside a rigid case equipped with a transparent dome that allows the lens to be able to shoot the sky without any problem. To prevent condensation from forming in the dome we will install a small thermal resistor. We are also evaluating the possibility of installing forced ventilation to reduce high summer temperatures without compromising the IP protection degree.

Is it clear enough? 🙂