{"id":10776,"date":"2024-03-10T13:46:51","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T17:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dronebotworkshop.com\/?p=10776"},"modified":"2024-03-10T13:46:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-10T17:46:51","slug":"pi-solar-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dronebotworkshop.com\/pi-solar-camera\/","title":{"rendered":"Raspberry Pi Solar Camera"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Download<\/a> \"Parts<\/a> \"View<\/a> \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

Here comes the Sun! And we will take pictures of it using a Raspberry Pi HQ Camera. Welcome to the magical world of Astronomy with the Raspberry Pi!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible to residents of a band stretching from Mexico to Canada.\u00a0 I\u2019m thrilled to report that the DroneBot Workshop is (barely) inside that band, so I\u2019m getting prepared to witness the spectacle of a lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unless, of course, it rains (or snows).<\/span><\/p>\n

But even if it does (and I really hope it doesn\u2019t), solar photography is a fascinating hobby that can really help you gain an appreciation for the most important star in the universe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This project will introduce you to astronomy with the Raspberry Pi. We will connect a Raspberry Pi HQ Camera to a solar telescope, and the instructions presented here will work with any telescope. So you can expand your view of the universe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solar Photography<\/span><\/h2>\n

Taking pictures of the sun is an art form (if you can call it that) that stretches back to the invention of photography itself. Early photos relied upon very bright lights, and the Sun is just about the brightest light around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Solar photography differs from other astrophotography in that instead of trying to gather as much light as possible; you filter it down to a level you can work with. The amount of light from the Sun overwhelms most camera sensors and photographic plates.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Observing the Sun directly is dangerous, and magnifying it is even worse. <\/span>Exposing your eyes to just 40 seconds of direct sunlight can cause PERMANENT blindness, and this effect is <\/b>cumulative<\/b>. So, two 20-second exposures equals 40 seconds!<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Any direct observation of the sun requires taking the proper precautions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sun Filters<\/span><\/h3>\n

A certified Sun Filter is a required component for directly observing the Sun.\u00a0 This filter is installed in the front of the camera or telescope and will filter over 99.9% of the light it receives.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can buy solar filters in the same sizes as other camera and telescope filters. Ensure you are getting a certified solar filter; they are not the same as ND filters or polarized filters.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are also not intended for direct viewing, like the ones used in certified solar viewing glasses.\u00a0 Although the two filters perform essentially the same function, they are made of different materials and are not interchangeable.<\/span><\/p>\n

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You can also purchase a sheet of filter material to construct a filter for a telescope or camera without a premade one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoom and Telephoto Lenses<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you place a solar filter in front of your standard camera or smartphone and take a picture of the Sun, you probably won\u2019t be impressed. Without magnification, the Sun appears as a small round dot.<\/span><\/p>\n

A zoom lens can assist, but the results are not exactly breathtaking, even with a zoom. Here is a sample I took with a solar filter in front of the kit zoom lens provided with my Canon T5i DSLR:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here is the same camera with an 800mm telephoto lens:<\/span><\/p>\n

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As you can see, the second photograph has a lot more detail. You can make out a large cluster of sunspots on the right and a small sunspot on the left.<\/span><\/p>\n

Telescopes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Of course, if you really want to get a close look at our nearest star, you\u2019ll need a telescope.<\/span><\/p>\n

For this project, we will use a specialized solar telescope, which is just a small refractor with a permanently fitted solar filter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Telescopes come in a variety of configurations, but they are all based on two basic types:<\/span><\/p>\n