SKYCAM // PROJECT BRIEF

Skycam Groningen

The story, systems and experiments behind the live sky cockpit.

The camera began with one practical purpose: checking the weather above the lake where I enjoy sailing. Before leaving home, I could see whether there was useful wind, threatening cloud cover or simply a beautiful sky.

Then the weather camera got slightly out of hand. Today, the live view combines local weather sensors, rain radar, astronomy, orbital tracking, aircraft received by my own ADS-B station, seismic information and public safety messages.

Everything is presented through SkyHUD: a transparent, cyberpunk-inspired interface that adds information without hiding the sky.

The result can be used as a living window onto Groningen—or as the forward viewport of a suspiciously over-engineered house-sized spacecraft.

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LOCAL RF SUBSYSTEM

LIVE AIR TRAFFIC

ADS-B // DIRECT RECEPTION

Aircraft are received directly by my local ADS-B receiver and projected into their calculated positions in the camera image.

IDENTITYCallsign · aircraft type · airline logo

GEOGRAPHYCountry flags · origin/destination ICAO

TELEMETRYAltitude in metres · distance · heading · speed in km/h

FLIGHT STRIPSCompact tower-style stack · new arrivals enter at the top

PRIORITYMedical aircraft · trauma helicopters

RADAR FUSIONAircraft positions on the combined rain/ADS-B radar

01 ATMOSPHERE

LOCAL	Temperature · real-feel · humidity · pressure · dew point
WIND	Speed · direction · gusts · historical graphs
RADAR	Live precipitation radar
ALERTS	KNMI warnings · Groningen-relevant NL-Alerts

02 ENVIRONMENT

SOLAR	Sunrise · sunset
LUNAR	Moon phase · moonrise · moonset
SEISMIC	Regional magnitude · depth · distance · age
SAFETY	KNMI warnings · Groningen-relevant NL-Alerts

03 ORBITAL

ISS	Predicted and optically visible passes
OBJECTS	Starlink · bright satellites · visible planets
MODEL	Calculated positions projected into camera space
EVENTS	Solar and lunar eclipses announced in advance
STATUS	Camera · sensors · tracking systems

FOR THE NERDS

THE CHAIN BEHIND THE VIEW

Behind the peaceful view is a substantial technical chain. Current sensor, orbital, astronomical and locally received radio data are converted into calibrated screen positions and operational cockpit messages.

OPTICSReolink RLC-811A · 4KAttic-window sky capture

COMPOSITORDedicated Linux · OBS StudioContinuous data, rendering and 4K broadcast

INTERFACEHTML · CSS · SVG · JavaScriptTransparent OBS Browser Source

HOME DATAHome AssistantLive sensors, weather, history and system status

AIRCRAFTdump1090 · SkyAware · readsbLocal reception, enrichment and camera projection

ORBITALCelesTrak · Satellite.js · Astronomy EngineISS, Starlink, planet, Sun, Moon and eclipse calculations

PROJECTIONCalibrated camera modelAzimuth and elevation converted into image positions

SAFETYKNMI · NL-AlertFiltered, cached and converted into HUD messages

DISPLAYAutomatic day/night modesAdaptive readability with an unobstructed sky

CREATIVE ENGINEERING

SkyHUD is where my interests and skills in programming, web development, automation, graphic design, electronics, photography, science and creative problem-solving collide.

The dedicated Linux machine runs the project continuously: collecting data, performing calculations, rendering the transparent cockpit in OBS and sending the finished 4K livestream onward.

A significant part of SkyHUD is developed with ChatGPT as coding partner and debugger.

I provide the ideas, measurements, screenshots and occasional swearing. ChatGPT helps with JavaScript, CSS, data processing, orbital calculations and moving interface elements by one or two pixels until my OCD declares the cockpit operational.

SkyHUD is continuously evolving. New sensors, trackers and visual experiments tend to appear whenever I discover another suspiciously empty part of the screen.

VIEWING TIP

SkyHUD contains fine lines, small labels and transparent details. Watch in 4K on a monitor or, preferably, fullscreen on a television.

Leave it running and enjoy whatever passes above Groningen.