Advances in Astrophysics

Download PDF (3543.5 KB) PP. 86 - 95 Pub. Date: August 1, 2019

DOI: 10.22606/adap.2019.43002

• H.D.S. Amaradasa
  Center for Astrobiology in Sri Lanka. Department of Physics, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
• G.D.K. Mahanama
  Center for Astrobiology in Sri Lanka. Department of Physics, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
• S.S. Abeywickrama
  Center for Astrobiology in Sri Lanka. Department of Physics, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
• A.G.P.D. Alahakoon
  Center for Astrobiology in Sri Lanka. Department of Physics, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
• K.P.S.C. Jayarathna
  Department of Physics, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
• N.C. Wickramasinghe^*
  University of Buckingham, Buckingham, UK

The systematic detection and tracking of meteor streams and global fireball events potentially provide a dataset of immense importance to our understanding of passing objects. To this end hemispherical and wide field of view cameras are used in meteor observations with a synchronized network of cameras to record intricate details about meteor activities. In this research a hemispherical robotic camera unit named AWITC was designed to monitor meteors entering earth’s atmosphere near Sri Lanka. The unit consists of an astronomy camera with a Complementary Metal Oxide Sensor (CMOS), a fish eye lens, a single board computer, a storage device, internet connectivity and other sensors allowing it to function with minimum human supervision. The images are saved with record of time, date and temperature. The time of the computer can be updated from both internet and GPS connections. The unit has two enclosures for protecting the electronics from solar radiation and rain and all the main devices reside in the internal enclosure. Temperature and humidity sensors are included to monitor the ventilation in the enclosure. A five element YAGI Wi- Fi antenna was designed to extend the wireless connectivity of the unit. The obtained images are saved in the internal storage and a copy is sent to a sever computer. All the software used, are uniquely developed for the unit and the cohesion of hardware and software were tested. The camera unit functioned for eleven months continuously and captured a large number of meteor activities.

Meteors, meteor streams, robotic camera, hemispherical, IOT

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