All Sky Camera Project

I’ve always liked the idea of setting up a camera before going to bed and seeing what it captures through the night. With the UK’s questionable weather, leaving expensive kit outside is not a risk worth taking, but putting your camera inside a waterproof housing is viable. After much research and measuring, I have sourced some pieces online and built a bespoke All Sky Camera housing to safely contain the camera, ASIAir and power supply. This blog covers the build process and test images.

Step 1

This is a waterproof hard case bought off eBay costing £25. There are many versions like this. I wanted it fairly thin (briefcasey rather than boxy). Measurements are 335x270x100mm external.

Step 2

This is an acrylic dome, also off eBay costing £10. This is 100mm plus 20mm flange. I had approximated that this would sit inside the raised ribs on the case lid. It didn’t quite, so I have scored the dome flange with a craft knife to cut the excess away.

Step 3

Dome after sawing away the edges.

Step 4

Dome placed onto the lid for size.

Step 5

I cut out the middle ‘label’ on the case lid.

Step 6

I located the camera under the hole and started to pick out the foam inserts. The camera is my ZWO ASI290MC that I use for planetary imaging. It comes with a little lens you can screw onto the T2 thread using a supplied adapter.

Step 7

This shows the camera located through the hole with the camera adjusted to the correct height.

Step 8

I kept the off cuts from the dome and lid to test out my glue.

Step 9

Then I positioned the other elements:

• Celestron lithium power pack with power cable.

• ASIAIR Pro with usb 3 cable to camera.

Step 10

Using a piece of black card I cut a circle and a smaller circle inside to sit over the camera to reduce any internal reflections from the red camera casing.

Step 11

Having established that the glue would work I sanded the base of the flange in the hope that it would hide the glue.

Step 12

Yeah that didn’t work(!)…but it’s well stuck down. I might think of a way to smarten it up, but it does the job. I intend to run some clear sealant around the edge as belt and braces.

Step 13

Final internal layout with some additional space cut out around the ASIAIR Pro vents, the black card circle in place and lens cap off. The benefit of this case/ lid arrangement is easy access to the kit inside, ease of focus adjustment and being able to clean any dust inside the dome.

Step 14

Lid closed, ready to roll.

Daytime Test Images

First Light

Last night was the peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower so I wanted to make use of this clear night as a test. I charged the power pack fully and set an imaging run of 500 x 30 sec exposures. I fully expected the battery to give out before then. However it did the full set and when I brought it in at 7am next morning everything was still warm. I foolishly didn’t check before I disconnected the battery but I think it was still running suggesting I could have gone further.

Update

Two alterations made since the original built:

1. The UHU glue didn’t work as the dome popped off after about a week. I have now fixed this again with clear silicone and gone around the edges for waterproofing.

2. I bought a button compass off eBay to fix to the lid to help me place/ rotate the box at night.