I apologize in advance for making mistakes in words, I use a translator ☺️.

The idea of watching the night sky appeared a long time ago, but I started implementing it recently. I learned a lot of ready-made solutions, but I wanted to make the system more practical and useful for me. The choice fell on IP cameras with POE and IP DVRs. So it's very convenient and reliable. In my system, video surveillance is conducted both for my land and sky and everything is recorded on the DVR hard drive. I chose Hikvision among the IP solutions, I like its interface and its accessibility. I'm also working on an All-Sky camera. So far, there is a problem of fogging the dome. At first, I misted up at a temperature of 15 degrees, then I insulated it so that the dome warmed up with the heat released by the processor, and now I started sweating at 5 degrees. I do not want to pull a separate cable for heating, this will violate the entire principle of the IP system, so I will first try to install a smaller dome so that the heat dissipates less or exclude it altogether, leaving the naked lens without protection. There is also a way to remove excess power from POE to heating resistors.

I just uploaded a video for an example. The first link is to a video of the Northern Lights in illumination conditions. There is a city 20km ahead: https://rutube.ru/video/576b76ce383d3666ee3ca24f2681f0ba/

The second video was shot in the field with the same camera. I took power from the car battery via an adapter. The recording is done on the SD card inside the IP camera. Due to the lack of sky highlights, the picture is more saturated: https://rutube.ru/video/private/4a5b8e01390d97563549e85e2d11c280/?p=c2iOXrKvoeHJEsOeOZwGdw

 

the third video with meteors and fireballs. I shot with two 2K and 4K cameras:
https://rutube.ru/video/private/5ef3c4ee0d6067053ff8b71b3590c15d/?p=qzBgPcrrUkMCWe4C2FEtbw

The quality was cut from 4K to 2K.

As cameras, I can recommend: 

8M\4K - https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005007219382427.html?sku_id=12000039849099080

4M\2K - https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005006412426399.html?sku_id=12000037072903053

modern DVRs support many protocols. So you can look for other cameras, the main thing is that the photosensitivity is not worse than these cameras - 0.0005LUX, the aperture of the lens is F1.0, smaller is better. But it will be hard for All-Sky to find a fisheye smaller than F2.0. What about the focus, I have everything 2.8mm. For those who live further south, it would be better to have 4mm, probably then you can shoot more or less clear auroras that do not rise high above the horizon.
 

I have such a DVR, but I moved its insides to another case. Of course, you can choose any other one, the main thing is that its power is enough to serve all your cameras, taking into account their resolution and maximum hard disk capacity.
https://www.hikvision.com/cis/products/IP-Products/Network-Video-Recorders/Pro-Series/ds-7608nxi-k2-8p/

you also need a POE-enabled switch with lightning protection,for example:
https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005005439512183.html?sku_id=12000041701499283

https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005005438933025.html?sku_id=12000034607588808

 

Edited September 24, 20241 yr by Samrau

to broadcast on YouTube, these cameras may need to be flashed and the RTMP protocol added, which may not be in these cameras by default.

 

I, for one, I'm impressed with the quality that you can get.

I truly appreciate you taking the time and posting all the info here.

 

This here seems to be the same (?) camera available from Amazon.

 

https://www.amazon.com/DS-2CD2087G2H-LIU-Detection-Aperture-Compatible-Hikvision/dp/B0CJ562SKZ?th=1

 

 

I hope we gain readers here, more relevant questions, and helpful input from those who have the information

 

 

23 minutes ago, NightSky said:

Я, например, впечатлен качеством, которое вы можете получить.

Я искренне ценю, что вы нашли время и разместили здесь всю информацию.

 

Похоже, это та же самая (?) камера, которая доступна на Amazon.

 

https://www.amazon.com/DS-2CD2087G2H-LIU-Detection-Aperture-Compatible-Hikvision/dp/B0CJ562SKZ?th=1

 

 

Я надеюсь, что здесь у нас появятся читатели, больше актуальных вопросов и полезный вклад от тех, у кого есть информация

 

 

Yes, this is the camera

The frame rate with the highest resolution is 13 frame

DS-2CD2087G2H-LIU  -  Exposure time 1/12 - 1/100000

DS-2CD2047G2H-LIU/SL  -   1/3 - 1/100000

Edited September 24, 20241 yr by Samrau

@NightSky 

My ZWO camera is the ASI715mc, I bought it for planetary imaging, but it also comes with a ultra wide angle lens for all-sky imaging. I'm pretty sure most ZWO cameras come with one. 

I use the software sharpcap to control the camera, there's a whole bunch of settings you can change, lots of output file type options too. I take 16 bit images in SER and convert them to AVI with PIPP (another software) for video, and I also convert the SER frames to TIFF for editing as pictures.

Pretty much nothing is needed except a tripod and computer/laptop, the camera has a thread built in to screw into the tripod.

 

This is a comparison with my DSLR and the ZWO camera, the ZWO has different colour due to the infrared but it cuts right through haze and light pollution. I bet a full spectrum modded DSLR will look the same as the ZWO camera.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zPDBTWZ6LPkhurRCrQgwvyyJVMj0avGi/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qLMqEfm4nN8C1-qhBK4crc59Dcp4kKSW/view?usp=drive_link

@Loganas

This is great, I have been wondering how an astro modified camera would work with the Auroras, and you came in and showed us Ha!

Next question to you -

since the ZWO with the infra red seems to lose the color of the Auroras, is there anyway to add a filter to it that restores the color, or is that what you get?

I understand it's for deep sky imaging, so the needs are different.

 

Also, would there be differences in how an astro modified camera captures the Auroras between a full spectrum mod  / Visible light mod / Visible + H Alpha mod?

Since we're on an Aurora enthusiast website, we'd probably want to shoot with the one that will give us the best colors.

1 hour ago, NightSky said:

@Loganas

This is great, I have been wondering how an astro modified camera would work with the Auroras, and you came in and showed us Ha!

Next question to you -

since the ZWO with the infra red seems to lose the color of the Auroras, is there anyway to add a filter to it that restores the color, or is that what you get?

I understand it's for deep sky imaging, so the needs are different.

 

Also, would there be differences in how an astro modified camera captures the Auroras between a full spectrum mod  / Visible light mod / Visible + H Alpha mod?

Since we're on an Aurora enthusiast website, we'd probably want to shoot with the one that will give us the best colors.

Infrared glows pinkish purple with these cameras, the aurora has a dominant IR emission so it glows pink. You can get rid of the IR with a cut filter for natural colour, but that'll just look the same as an unmodded DSLR so there isn't really a point.

The majority of light seems to come from 800nm-900nm, so an H alpha cam will look the same as a regular DSLR as it cuts off before 700nm. A full spectrum mod is just a DSLR with the UV-IR cut filter removed, so it'll look the same as my ZWO camera.

 

I use my ZWO cam for time lapses and just seeing if there's aurora at all, since its way too hard to detect visibly with my light pollution, then I shoot with my DSLR for the pretty and colourful images.

Edited September 25, 20241 yr by Loganas

12 hours ago, Loganas said:

You can get rid of the IR with a cut filter for natural colour, but that'll just look the same as an unmodded DSLR so there isn't really a point.

That's what I was thinking, but not knowing I figured I'd ask someone smarter

 

But yes, using the ZWO just to know if it's there is smart. I did the same with "lesser equipment" last week with the Aurora, I kept taking pics of the sky while I waited for it, because I knew my (DSLR) camera would see it better than I could. When I spotted it in the sky with my own eyes I still took a pic to make sure I wasn't imagining, too!

 

@Samrau Thanks a lot for making this post, this is so interesting. Lot's of good information and I am really surprised at how well the videos turned out!

Yes, anyone who has interest in setting up a security camera and has access to a decent view of the northern sky can get a pretty good start with the info Samrau provided.

 

I for myself was so deep looking into different cameras and the accessories to go with one (or two) that when I woke up this morning I had just had a dream that I already had the equipment and I was looking at the files on my PC....LOL  My poor ol' brain went to over drive!😆

 

 

Some of the aurora chasers and photographers I know here in the Great Lakes region have had very good success using "Wyze" brand security cameras to monitor the aurora with a high level of detail, albeit in a decently dark area.

@Sam Warfel  -- the Wyze cameras look very simple, and certainly not a strain for one's wallet ($36 for the newest model!).

It would be great if we could have some examples of what they can catch - videos specifically. If you know of anyone that has caught Auroras with them and has their video (or pics) viewable somewhere, it would be great to see what they can do

1 hour ago, Sam Warfel said:

Some of the aurora chasers and photographers I know here in the Great Lakes region have had very good success using "Wyze" brand security cameras to monitor the aurora with a high level of detail, albeit in a decently dark area.

I was thinking especially of the wide angle capture abilities of those security cameras and how it might actually be possible to capture what many of us saw on May10-11 this year directly above us in the form of a radially spoked wheel with white spokes for the best analogy I can think of.  The spherical distortion probably wouldn’t be a huge concern I would hope.  

5 hours ago, hamateur 1953 said:

I was thinking especially of the wide angle capture abilities of those security cameras and how it might actually be possible to capture what many of us saw on May10-11 this year directly above us in the form of a radially spoked wheel with white spokes for the best analogy I can think of.  The spherical distortion probably wouldn’t be a huge concern I would hope.  

I'm interested in it too. I'm still working on an All-Sky IP camera. I still have AX620U+OS04A10 2K from Omnivision. The light sensitivity is 0.0001LUX, but there are not enough pixels for clarity. The OS08A10 matrix has a 4K resolution, but the photosensitivity is lower, since the pixel size is not much smaller than that of OS04A10, with a single 1/1.8" matrix size. With a 1.85mm fisheye lens, the edges are trimmed, but the picture is clearer than 1.7mm, which fits completely into the 1/1.8" matrix. Of the problems: the protective dome gives glare from street lights and spotlights. I solved the issue with fogging, I additionally insulated it, now the protective dome is heated by the processor's own heat.

Sony today offers a very good solution - the Starvis 2 IMX585 and IMX485 matrices. They are designed for use in video surveillance systems, also IP with POE support. If I don’t find a cheaper solution in the near future, then I will use these matrices for a full-fledged IP All-sky camera.

3 hours ago, Samrau said:

Sony today offers a very good solution - the Starvis 2 IMX585 and IMX485 matrices

That looks promising ( https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/technology/security/index.html )

 

I was going to ask if you know if they're available in consumer products yet, but I also spotted this

 

https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi585mc-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-camera.html

There's the ZWO camera we already talked about, utilizing this Starvis tech!

 

And here's the module -  https://www.e-consystems.com/camera-modules/sony-starvis-2-imx585-4k-camera-module.asp

(I wouldn't know what to do with it, I'd need a smart person for that   )

 

 

And while getting into that rabbit hole I see that my main camera already uses the stacked, back-illuminated tech that is defined by the "IMX".  I guess it means I don't need to chuck it in the thrash in favor of a Sony product, as it already uses a Sony IMX sensor

 

But of course, a camera / system dedicated for low light performance is going to outperform a "general use" camera in the end.

@NightSky

Hello everyone! IMX can be different. SONY has its own methodology for evaluating matrices for photosensitivity. They call it SNR 1s, and the lower its value, the better. You need to find out which model the IMX matrix is on your surveillance camera and draw conclusions. The IMX307 is a good model from the cheap line. Most of the available surveillance cameras and car DVRs use the IMX307 2K and IMX415 4K models, but the latter loses in terms of photosensitivity.

https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/products/is/security/security.html

An IMX676 square sensor would be suitable for an ALL-sky camera, but I don't like its light sensitivity.

I won't be able to answer with confidence about accessibility, but I can get modules from Aliexpress and also pick up the right lens, housing and other modules for them. The Chinese can do whatever you want.

Edited September 26, 20241 yr by Samrau

13 minutes ago, Samrau said:

I won't be able to answer with confidence about accessibility, but I can get modules from Aliexpress and also pick up the right lens, housing and other modules for them. The Chinese can do whatever you want.

That's the part where someone who is just a camera button pusher like me gets so lost

I couldn't put together a bird feeder, much less any kind of components for any kind of camera

My camera is "just" a mirrorless DSLR, but it has a Sony IMX609 sensor. Like I said - I know it's not near the same as a camera dedicated for low light, but at least it uses the stacked, back-illuminated tech, so it's a step in the right direction.

 

But of course, I'm still on the lookout for a system that I only need to plug in - which is the level of tech I can handle

A Wyze, a Hikvision or one of those fancy ZWOs could be the answer. The additional benefit with the ZWO would be being able to shoot the deep sky as well, with proper accessories.

Or then....... I have to have both................

 

(shoot me now?) 🙈

35 minutes ago, NightSky said:

That's the part where someone who is just a camera button pusher like me gets so lost

I couldn't put together a bird feeder, much less any kind of components for any kind of camera

My camera is "just" a mirrorless DSLR, but it has a Sony IMX609 sensor. Like I said - I know it's not near the same as a camera dedicated for low light, but at least it uses the stacked, back-illuminated tech, so it's a step in the right direction.

 

But of course, I'm still on the lookout for a system that I only need to plug in - which is the level of tech I can handle

A Wyze, a Hikvision or one of those fancy ZWOs could be the answer. The additional benefit with the ZWO would be being able to shoot the deep sky as well, with proper accessories.

Or then....... I have to have both................

 

(shoot me now?) 🙈

If the installation distance is more than 5 meters, then the best option is an IP camera. If it is less than 5 meters, then you can use USB only by specifying in advance the maximum allowable length of the USB cord for a specific camera.

Decide for yourself exactly what you want to receive from the cameras. Learn more about ZWO.

Probably, after that, you can make a decision.

And don't belittle your abilities 😉

I've been dragging my feet about the decision for so long now that two X big flares have happened and I have not moved an inch with my decision. Which also means I can't get any of the cameras by the time I need them now...

 

LOL - I'm such an idiot

 

Hi What do you think this camera would be like for capturing the night sky ?
its a 180 panoramic  16MP  F1.6 Color night vision -
sorry for the lack of detail I know very little about cameras. I'm just interested in buying a POE camera to view the sky

https://reolink.com/us/product/reolink-duo-3-poe/

On 9/24/2024 at 10:56 PM, Samrau said:

to broadcast on YouTube, these cameras may need to be flashed and the RTMP protocol added, which may not be in these cameras by default.

 

this problem can be solved by using a USB webcam, extending the cable to be just about long enough that it can stick out your window or you can put it on a table in your backyard and you will be able to see what's on it in real time on your computer, and you can easily livestream the footage by downloading OBS studio/streamlabs and there should be an option to put in a window as an element in the livestream, then rescale it just correctly so that you can't see the other elements of the camera app(and also don't forget to do it on a spare computer that is logged into your google account) and then you enter the stream key and you're good to go. no flashing or adding protocols needed, a normal person can do that

17 hours ago, Kosmo said:

Hi What do you think this camera would be like for capturing the night sky ?
its a 180 panoramic  16MP  F1.6 Color night vision -
sorry for the lack of detail I know very little about cameras. I'm just interested in buying a POE camera to view the sky

https://reolink.com/us/product/reolink-duo-3-poe/

Hello! Unfortunately, I didn’t find information on the photosensitivity of the sensor, so I can’t say anything for sure.

even at a price without a discount of $180, it is unlikely that there are two photosensitive matrices there. Usually a camera with one good sensor has this price.

11 hours ago, YourLocalCapybara2 said:

this problem can be solved by using a USB webcam, extending the cable to be just about long enough that it can stick out your window or you can put it on a table in your backyard and you will be able to see what's on it in real time on your computer, and you can easily livestream the footage by downloading OBS studio/streamlabs and there should be an option to put in a window as an element in the livestream, then rescale it just correctly so that you can't see the other elements of the camera app(and also don't forget to do it on a spare computer that is logged into your google account) and then you enter the stream key and you're good to go. no flashing or adding protocols needed, a normal person can do that

The title of the topic and its premise should speak for itself, otherwise I could give you many more options on what to shoot with and how to broadcast. If you have questions about IP cameras, then ask

 

Edited December 28, 2024Dec 28 by Samrau

Thanks for the Reply @Samrau

Can you post updated links to the camera you use or one that you would recommend, the links in your original post dont work for me.

 

Thanks

Edited December 28, 2024Dec 28 by Kosmo

4 hours ago, Kosmo said:

Thanks for the Reply @Samrau

Can you post updated links to the camera you use or one that you would recommend, the links in your original post dont work for me.

 

Thanks

https://www.amazon.com/DS-2CD2087G2H-LIU-Detection-Aperture-Compatible-Hikvision/dp/B0CJ562SKZ?th=1

 

4 hours ago, Kosmo said:

Thanks for the Reply @Samrau

Can you post updated links to the camera you use or one that you would recommend, the links in your original post dont work for me.

 

Thanks

4к - DS-2CD2087G2H-LIU

2к - DS-2CD2047G2H-LIU/SL

You can also search for cameras from any manufacturer that use sensors:

OS04A10 from Omnivision, Starvis IMX307, IMX485, IMX585 from Sony.

Edited December 28, 2024Dec 28 by Samrau

Thanks @Samrau

Did you change any of the images settings or did you use the defaults  ?