Logically we understand that the other planets in the solar system, as well as humanity’s contributions to the cosmos such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station, are zipping around us somewhere — but it can be difficult to conceptualize. Is Jupiter directly above your desk? Is the ISS currently underneath you?
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering such things, you might want to look into making something like Space Monitor. Designed by [Kevin Assen], this little gadget is able to literally point out the locations of objects in space. Currently it’s limited to the ISS and Mars, but adding new objects to track is just a matter of loading in the appropriate orbital data.
In addition to slewing around its 3D printed indicator, the Space Monitor also features a round LCD that displays the object currently being tracked, as well as the weather. Reading through the list of features and capabilities of the ESP32-powered device, we get the impression that [Kevin] is using it as a sort of development platform for various concepts. Features like remote firmware updates and the ability to point smartphones to the device’s configuration page via on-screen QR aren’t necessarily needed on a personal-use device, but its great practice for when you do eventually send one of your creations out into the scary world beyond your workbench.
If you’re interested in something a bit more elaborate, check out this impressive multi-level satellite tracker we covered back in 2018.
Now that’s interesting, I wonder if it would be strong enough to point a yagi antenna… Thinks Ham thoughts
But what are the chances of any signals coming from Mars?
About a million to one.
The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one.
Ogilvy, the astronomer, assured me we are in no danger. He’s convinced there can be no living thing on that remote, forbidding planet.
Poor Ogilvy!
Lots of signals bouncing off of the moon. I’m sure it could be added to the program
I would say “pretty good” since there are active probes both on the surface and in Mars orbit. To tell the truth, I’ve never heard of a ham trying to detect signals from active Mars missions
OK, the Woosh went by me too, but I heard it going by so looked it up.
I did not know it was made into a musical. That’s, uhm, weird.
I do recall the radio play though: By chance spinning through the dial I tuned into a 70’s rebroadcast of the 1938 version, a few minutes after it had started. It was pretty cool for a young science geek to have stumbled upon.
FWIW, the radio broadcast said the chances are “a thousand to one”. Inflation I guess.
oh, NOW I get it :(
Ok now this is really cool, awesome project. Love it!
This is super cool. How about mounting a laser pointer to it and taking it outside so it can actually point to the thing like at star parties?
Yes! Genius upon genius. With some tinkering would be very suitable for those of us with a telescope but only microscopic levels of brain power to invest in star-gazing. Point out interesting celestial beings viewable in the night sky at my location.
Tie it in with the real time aircraft position data so you can avoid trouble with thee FAA.
Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator you say? [re-reads monitor] oh wait, nevermind, carry on.
imo it was better as a smartphone app :)
i guess google sky map expired but basically you were the servos and the phone told you which direction to point. i’m not actually a fan of it as UI — it’s got a huge neato factor but if you’re really looking for things in the sky then non-accelerometer-based positioning is an easier way to navigate a star chart. so i don’t miss google sky map (and for all i know stellarium has the same feature and i don’t use it)
The Star Walk app still works! This is a good month to see lots of planets.
Very nice! Mount a green laser pointer on it to better see the target in the sky.
Puts me in mind of Lovecraft’s “Dreams in the Witch House” where the narrator gets cursed and an irresistible urge to track Aldebaran was one of the first symptoms.
Or, for something even easier, how about just two stepper motors stuck together?
https://www.instructables.com/Space-Pointer/
Disclaimer: Mine!