Upgrading My AllSky Camera with Raspberry Pi 5 and ZWO ASI 120MM-S
After building the Nexus eFinder, I no longer needed my ZWO ASI 120MM-S, which I had previously used for the classic version of the eFinder. Instead of letting it gather dust, I decided to give it a new purpose: upgrading my AllSky camera.
Hardware Setup
The upgrade was straightforward:
- Camera: ZWO ASI 120MM-S
- Controller: Raspberry Pi 5
- Lens: Existing wide-angle lens from my previous setup
This combination promised better performance and flexibility compared to my old configuration.
Software Installation
For the software, I chose INDI-AllSky, an excellent open-source project available on GitHub:
The installation process was relatively easy, though it took some time to complete. Once installed, the interface was intuitive, and the configuration options were impressive.
First Steps
- December 14: I managed to focus the lens properly. Now, all I needed were clear skies to test nighttime captures.
- December 15: The first timelapse! Unfortunately, the sky had a lot of clouds, but the system worked flawlessly. Even under poor conditions, the timelapse feature performed as expected.
Next Goals
I’m now waiting for a clear night to test star visibility and image quality.
Why This Upgrade Matters
Repurposing existing hardware is always satisfying. The ZWO ASI 120MM-S and Raspberry Pi 5 combo turned out to be a perfect match for an AllSky camera. With INDI-AllSky, the possibilities for customization and automation are endless.
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