Read this in other languages: Español
AstroPhotographer is an advanced, automated intervalometer specifically designed for astrophotography. Based on the ESP8266 microcontroller, this device allows precise control of the shutter and focus of DSLR or Mirrorless cameras through a relay system, providing comprehensive management for long photographic sessions.
- Precise Control: Management of shutter speeds and intervals between photos via a 2-channel relay module.
- Profile Management: Non-volatile storage of up to 6 customizable shooting profiles (name, shutter speed, interval, and photo limit).
- Intuitive User Interface: Menu navigation using a rotary encoder and real-time visualization on a 16x2 LCD display (I2C).
- Global Statistics: Persistent recording in EEPROM memory (LittleFS/Preferences) of the total historical photos captured and the total running time of the device.
- Acoustic Notifications: Integration of an active buzzer for sequence completion alerts.
- Adaptive Logic: Software compensation for native reverse logic found in standard relay modules, and hardware/software managed debounce for the rotary encoder.
- ESP8266 Microcontroller (NodeMCU V2/V3 or Wemos D1 Mini).
- 16x2 LCD Display with I2C adapter module.
- Rotary Encoder (Standard 5-pin module or "bare" encoder with internal Pull-Up resistors enabled via software).
- 2-Channel Relay Module (Reverse Logic in this specific build).
- Active Buzzer.
- Camera trigger cable compatible with your specific camera port.
- Logic Level Shifter (3.3V to 5V).
The following table describes the connection of the peripherals to the ESP8266 GPIO pins according to the firmware configuration:
| Component | Component Pin | ESP8266 Pin |
|---|---|---|
| LCD Display (I2C) | SCL | D1 |
| SDA | D2 | |
| Camera Relays | Focus IN | D0 |
| Shutter IN | D3 | |
| Rotary Encoder | Pin A (DT) | D5 |
| Pin B (CLK) | D6 | |
| Switch (SW) | D7 | |
| Buzzer | Positive (VCC/IN) | D8 |
Note: Ensure proper power supply (VCC 3.3V/5V and GND) to the LCD, rotary encoder, and relay module using the board's power outputs or an external regulated power source.
My hardware assembly
| Perfboard (Top View) | Perfboard (Soldering) | Case Mounting (1) |
|---|---|---|
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| Case Mounting (2) | Case Mounting (3) | Final Assembly |
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Author's note: I know, this is a bit of a mess; I'm working on a future version that uses Bluetooth instead of a display. Any help is welcome.
To compile this project in the Arduino IDE, you must install the ESP8266 board support and the following libraries:
- LiquidCrystal_I2C (v2.0.0) by Martin Kubovčík / Frank de Brabander: For display management.
- Ai Esp32 Rotary Encoder (v1.7) by Igor Antolic: For asynchronous reading and hardware acceleration of the encoder. (Note: Fully compatible with ESP8266 despite its name).
- Preferences (v2.2.2) by Volodymyr Shymanskyy: Used to emulate secure EEPROM writing via the LittleFS file system.
The system is operated entirely through the rotary encoder (Rotate to navigate/adjust, Press to select).
- Main Menu: Access to start sequence, manual configuration, profile loading/saving, and statistics visualization.
- Start Sequence: Allows forcing the focus (clockwise rotation) or taking a test shot (counter-clockwise rotation) before starting automation. During the session, the display shows a progress bar and elapsed time.
- Configuration: Real-time adjustment of shutter time, interval between photos, and capture limit (0 = infinite).
- Profiles: The system allows editing each profile's name character by character for easy identification of photographic setups (e.g., "Milky Way", "Startrails").
If you haven't already, add the ESP8266 board support to your Arduino IDE:
- Go to File > Preferences.
- In "Additional Boards Manager URLs", add:
https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json - Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager, search for
esp8266and install it.
- Clone this repository.
- Open the main file
Astrophotographer.inoin the Arduino IDE. - Install the libraries mentioned in the dependencies section via the Library Manager (
Ctrl+Shift+I). - Select your specific ESP8266 board in Tools > Board.
- Compile and upload the firmware to the microcontroller.
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.