AuroraPhoto
** Phase 1: Star Sharpness Foundation
Concept
Provides precise, automated control over exposure and focus specifically optimized for aurora “bursts” and star sharpness, while offering field-ready composition tools.
Quick Facts
| Status | ** Phase 1: Star Sharpness Foundation |
| Language | N/A |
| Started | 2026 |
What This Is
An automated aurora and night sky photography system using Raspberry Pi “nodes” connected via USB to Sony cameras (a7R V / a7 IV), controlled and assisted by an iPhone companion app. The system monitors star sharpness (HFR) in real-time, dynamically responds to aurora bursts by adjusting exposure, and coordinates multiple nodes for panoramic capture.
Key Features
- HFR Star Sharpness Monitor: Half-Flux Radius analysis via SEP (Source Extractor) ensures pin-sharp stars with automated focus correction
- Aurora Burst Logic: ML-assisted aurora detection dynamically shortens shutter speed (2s-5s) during active bursts to preserve beam definition
- Multi-Node Sync: Coordinates multiple Pi capture nodes for simultaneous shots or panoramic views
- iPhone Companion App: Low-latency live preview, remote health monitoring, compass/AR overlay for framing
- Thermal Protection: Hardware temperature monitoring with performance management for extreme conditions
Architecture
iPhone Controller (SwiftUI)
↕ Wi-Fi / Hotspot + MQTT
Raspberry Pi Capture Nodes
├── Sony Camera (USB) — RAW capture, focus motor
├── HFR Calculator (SEP) — Star quality monitoring
├── ML Aurora Detection — Burst response
└── Telemetry Publisher (MQTT)
Roadmap
- Phase 1: Star Sharpness Foundation — Remote camera control, focus precision, exposure control, USB recovery
- Phase 2: Reliable Capture Sequencing — Intervalometer, histogram analysis, pause/resume
- Phase 3: Mobile Viewfinder & Telemetry — Low-latency preview, remote health monitoring
- Phase 4: Intelligent Aurora Burst Response — Histogram-based detection, auto-profile switching
- Phase 5: Multi-Node Field Deployment — Node discovery, synchronized sequences, AR compass overlay
Tech Stack
Python (SEP, OpenCV, Rawpy, FastAPI, MQTT), Sony Camera Remote SDK, Swift (SwiftUI), Raspberry Pi