Show HN: Open-Source International Space Station Tracker ESP32/Arduino for $20

59 points by keyth72 3 days ago

International Space Station Tracker on an ESP32 CYD (Cheap Yellow Display) costing $20. Live update over Wifi, touchscreen, backlight power management. Cheap and interesting classroom STEM project. Fully open source.

consumer451 - 8 hours ago

This is a complete tangent, but a photographer recently captured what is likely the all-time best shot of the ISS.

https://old.reddit.com/r/spaceporn/comments/1lfgtiw/on_sunda...

keyth72 - 7 hours ago

WOW that is a cool shot, thanks for sharing!

matteason - 8 hours ago

Really neat! If you're interested in adding clouds to your basemap I built a service [0] which generates free, almost-live cloudmaps (with alpha channel or precomposited onto a Blue Marble image) as part of my own ISS tracker project

[0] https://github.com/matteason/live-cloud-maps

fillskills - 7 hours ago

Wow, this is pretty legendary work: https://iss.matteason.co.uk/
keyth72 - 7 hours ago

That's really cool! Starred so I can find it later, might be challenging putting it on the esp32 but if there's an easy way to downsize the images then it should be do-able. Thanks!

SiempreViernes - 7 hours ago

Aaaw, this only displays the position on a screen :( I was hoping for the cool version where a small arm is physically pointing at the ISS.

keyth72 - 6 hours ago

Or maybe this is the one you meant: https://www.reddit.com/r/arduino/comments/11pxh3h/iss_tracke...
keyth72 - 7 hours ago

I saw that one! Very impressive project with 3D printed parts. Here is that project for anyone interested: https://projecthub.arduino.cc/alex_chang/satellite-tracker-2...

coffeecoders - 6 hours ago

This looks like a fun project. Any reason for using resistive touch model?

keyth72 - 5 hours ago

It's what I learned on, and there seems to be more info available out there about it (for now), but capacitive touch CYD would probably be better/more responsive. The resistive touch option seems to be a few dollars cheaper in general on Amazon.

panki27 - 9 hours ago

Looks like a fun tinker project. Could be easily extended with a GPS receiver to show your location on the map.

calgoo - 7 hours ago

A SDR could be cool too, and basically let it connect live to ISS when the GPS confirms its above. CPU and memory might be an issue, but getting some 145Mhz / 437Mhz SDR and an external antenna jack on the board could be a cool way of letting the device listen in when the ISS is above.
keyth72 - 7 hours ago

Definitely alot of directions you could go with it, looking forward to seeing what people do with the code!

potsii - 7 hours ago

Another variant of the generic:

"Read a REST endpoint via HTTP and draw it on a display with LVGL"

But also funny because OP used two MCUs, when a single ESP32 could do all of this.

endofreach - 7 hours ago

you seem to be (someone who wants to appear) more experienced. maybe you could give constructive feedback rather than ridiculing. what a negative comment just to feel better about yourself. sad.
- keyth72 - 7 hours ago
  
  No need to perpetuate any negativity, I can take it ;) constructive feedback is appreciated though!
keyth72 - 7 hours ago

Yup, that's all it is! Really simple beginner project, with room to grow on the hardware.