Kepler Visualizer – International Space Apps Challenge 2012

Kepler Visualizer aims to visualize the data gathered by Kepler mission in multiple presentation forms. It uses Arduino to visualize Kepler data and present it in an audio-visual form (LED lights and complementing sound) to aid us to visualize the changing star intensity.

The objective is to enable school children understand how kepler data is used to find extrasolar planets and visualize binary star systems, planetary transits, and variable stars..

Kepler Visualizer – International Space Apps Challenge 2012

As we know, Kepler project launched by NASA identifies stars potentially with planatary systems by monitoring their brightness.
The variations in the brightness of a star could be either due to a variable star – that is a star whose intensity varies with time or a binary star eclipsing each other or could be due to transits of exoplanets on the stars.

A python based application converts the star flux in FITS format to an signal that is transmitted serially to Arduino.

A program on the Arduino receives and converts this signal to power a servo motor, LED and buzzer combination.

Source:
Exoplanet-Arudino

To Do:

• A GUI for python program.
• Arduino connection diagrams.
• Synchronisation of motor and light.