Norfolk All-Sky Camera

A DIY All-Sky Observatory

Perched on a rooftop in Norfolk, Virginia, this fisheye all-sky camera keeps a continuous watch over the heavens above the Chesapeake Bay. Built around a dedicated ASI678MC astronomy sensor, the rig adjusts its exposure automatically to render everything the sky has to offer, from bright daylight to the faintest stars.

Tracking the Cosmos

The camera has been recording constellations, meteor showers, satellite passes, and rocket launches since late 2023, quietly compiling a multi-year archive of orbital motion and celestial events. Overlaid live weather data — temperature, humidity, wind, and visibility — turns each frame into a snapshot of local atmospheric conditions.

Clouds and Coastal Weather

When cloud formations roll in off the Atlantic, the wide fisheye lens captures their full sweep in a single frame. From dramatic cumulus towers to fast-moving fronts, the camera documents the full character of coastal Virginia's ever-changing sky.

A Community Sky-Watching Project

Run as a passion project by a dedicated hobbyist, the stream invites viewers to watch the stars, listen along, and chat with fellow sky-watchers from anywhere in the world — a small window onto the same sky shared by everyone below it.