Telescope - ESP32C3 and Wireless BLE controller - Using Recycled Starlink Gen2 Antenna Motors & assembly

🚀 Summary

Being frustrated with aligning a cheap Telescope and keeping it on Target, a upgrade is required.

Goals:

• To control Telescope via Xbox controler, to ensure stable Targetting
• Get nice digital pictures of the Moon
• Absolute minimal cost, as might not get into it

Angeleys MD-205 Eyepeace camera was the only thing purchased. This is the equivilent of the SV-205

All other parts ex stock

Alt-Azimuth Mount: It goes up and down (altitude) and left and right (azimuth)

Equatorial Mount: It has two axes, but one is tilted to match the angle of the Earth's axis

Starlink Gen 2 Antenna

• The Starlink Gen 2 Antenna has a very strong gimble motor setup. These have anamzing amount of torq at low RPM 12v
• Have removed the Antenna part and kept the base and motor assembly. Use a grinder to open it up
• Have designed some parts in Fusion 360 and 3d printed to make Telecope mount onto Starlink Assembly and Tripod

Electronics

• ESP32C3 BLE WiFi
• L298 H Bridge to interface the 2 Starlink motors to ESP32C3
• IMU (Future development)
• GPS (Future development)
• BLE Xbox Game controler as wireless handcontroler to initiate movement
• Cheap USB Eyepeace camera Angeleyes MD-205 (this is the only part im actualy byeing, rest is stock and time)
• SharpCap Image capture software
• See what we get

Futre Developments

• IMU dadt output
• GPS Data output
• Orientate Telescope
• ChatGPT conferims can orientate from Date/Time, GPS, IMU data, for orienation and then Goto
• ChatGPT can provid calculations and interfacing suport
• Tracking to compensate earths movement
• Exploring connetion to Stellarium Astronomy Software API to use Goto function

📦 Build & Installation

Research

• Cheap Telescope usage is not the best start, but this is a very low budget project.
• The Eyepeace camera model and Telescope are only suitable for planetery observations, not deep space
• Cheap Telscope Improvements
  • Hang wight from center of tripod
  • Ensure all tripod bolts are tight
  • Ensure focuse tube is tight (no wobbel)
  • Service Focus Rack and pinnion adjustment - should slid firm but easy
• Leave Telescope outside for 1/2 hour for temp to stabalize. Tube open
• Takes half hour for night vision to be good. Sit in dark room while waiting
• when you go outside, be fully prepeard with tools, food, water, warm clothing, chair

USB Camera

• Angeleys MD-205 200W Eyepeace camera $25USD ( Aliexpress)
• CCD/CMOS 1080P
• 8MP
• 24bit RGB
• Sensor Size: 1/2.7 inch

• Useing Sharpcap v4, astro camera software. Was plug and play

Starlink Gen2 Atenna Base

The stripped down Starlink Antenna

Hardware:

1 x ESP32-C3
1 x L298 Stepper motor / H Bridge
1 x 3v to 5v level converter
1 x 5 amp Buck
1 x DFRobot IMU LHS303
1 X GPS NEO6

Diagrm

🛠️ BLE Gamepad - Xbox Controler - Button Map

Left Stick X (hoz)      
Left Stick Y (Vert)  
Right Stick X
Right Stick Y
Button A + Dpad Up/Dwn
Button X + Dpad Up/Dwn
Button X + Dpad Left/Right
Button B + Dpad Up/Dwn
Button B + Dpad Left/Right
Button Y + Dpad Left Right
Left Trigger  + Dpad Up/Dwn
Right Trigger + Dpad Up/Dwn
Left Bumper + Dpad Left/Right 
Left Bumper + Dpad Up/Dwn 
Right Bumper + Dpad Left/Right 
Right Bumper + Dpad Up/Dwn 
ViewButton +  Dpad Up/Dwn
MenuButton On/Off toggel
Dpad Up                 	adjust up
Dpad Down               	adjust down
Dpad Left               	adjust left
Dpad Right              	adjust right
Left Stick Button
Right Stick Button
ShareButton
XboxButton

📜 License

Distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for more information.