How to Set Up a Backyard Light‑Pollution Monitoring Station Using DIY Sensors and Open‑Source Software

Light pollution is more than an eyes‑train for stargazers; it disrupts ecosystems, wastes energy, and skews scientific measurements of the night sky. Fortunately, you don't need an expensive observatory to track it---just a modest backyard, a few off‑the‑shelf parts, and some open‑source tools. Below is a step‑by‑step guide that walks you through building, calibrating, and running a reliable light‑pollution monitoring station you can expand and share with the community.

What You'll Need

Tip: Start with the simplest configuration (ESP32 + TSL2591 + Wi‑Fi) and add peripherals later as you get comfortable.

Wiring the Core Sensors

Below is a wiring diagram for the ESP32 + TSL2591 setup (the Arduino Nano variant follows the same pins, just adjust VIN/3.3 V accordingly).

ESP32 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pin&tag=organizationtip101-20   →  TSL2591
3V3         →  VCC
GND         →  GND
GPIO 21 (SDA) →  SDA
GPIO 22 (SCL) →  SCL

If you add a BME280:

GPIO 21 (SDA) →  SDA (shared)
GPIO 22 (SCL) →  SCL (shared)
3V3         →  VCC
GND         →  GND

All I²C devices can share the same bus; just make sure each has a unique I²C address (default for TSL2591 = 0x29, BME280 = 0x76/0x77).

Firmware: Collecting & Publishing Data

3.1 Install Libraries

# PlatformIO (recommended)
pio lib https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Install&tag=organizationtip101-20 "Adafruit TSL2591"
pio lib https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Install&tag=organizationtip101-20 "Adafruit BME280 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=library&tag=organizationtip101-20"
pio lib https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Install&tag=organizationtip101-20 "ArduinoJson"

3.2 Sample Sketch Overview

#include <https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wire&tag=organizationtip101-20.h>
#include <Adafruit_TSL2591.h>
#include <Adafruit_BME280.h>
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <ArduinoJson.h>

// ----- CONFIG -----
const char* https://www.amazon.com/s?k=SSID&tag=organizationtip101-20      = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID";
const char* password  = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";
const char* mqttServer = "192.168.1.100";   // IP of your MQTT https://www.amazon.com/s?k=broker&tag=organizationtip101-20
const uint16_t mqttPort = 1883;
const char* mqttTopic  = "https://www.amazon.com/s?k=backyard&tag=organizationtip101-20/lightpollution";

// ----- GLOBAL OBJECTS -----
Adafruit_TSL2591 tsl = Adafruit_TSL2591(2591);
Adafruit_BME280 bme; // I²C address 0x76 by default
WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);

// ----- https://www.amazon.com/s?k=helper&tag=organizationtip101-20 Functions -----
void connectWiFi() {
  Serial.print("Connecting to Wi‑Fi");
  WiFi.begin(https://www.amazon.com/s?k=SSID&tag=organizationtip101-20, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print('.');
  }
  Serial.println(" OK");
}

void reconnectMQTT() {
  while (!client.connected()) {
    Serial.print("Connecting to MQTT...");
    if (client.connect("BackyardStation")) {
      Serial.println(" OK");
    } else {
      Serial.print(" failed, rc=");
      Serial.print(client.state());
      delay(2000);
    }
  }
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wire&tag=organizationtip101-20.begin();

  // Initialise https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sensors&tag=organizationtip101-20
  if (!tsl.begin()) {
    Serial.println("TSL2591 not found!");
    while (1);
  }
  tsl.setGain(TSL2591_GAIN_LOW);
  tsl.setTiming(TSL2591_INTEGRATIONTIME_600MS);

  if (!bme.begin()) {
    Serial.println("BME280 not found!");
    while (1);
  }

  // Network
  connectWiFi();
  client.setServer(mqttServer, mqttPort);
}

void loop() {
  if (!client.connected()) reconnectMQTT();
  client.loop();

  // ---- Read https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sensors&tag=organizationtip101-20 ----
  uint16_t ir, full;
  tsl.getFullLuminosity(&full, &ir);
  uint32_t visible = full - ir; // Approximation of visible light
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Float&tag=organizationtip101-20 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Temperature&tag=organizationtip101-20 = bme.readTemperature();
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Float&tag=organizationtip101-20 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Humidity&tag=organizationtip101-20    = bme.readHumidity();
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Float&tag=organizationtip101-20 pressure    = bme.readPressure() / 100.0F; // hPa

  // ---- Build JSON Payload ----
  StaticJsonDocument<256> doc;
  doc["ts"]        = (uint32_t)time(nullptr);
  doc["visible"]   = visible;
  doc["ir"]        = ir;
  doc["temp"]      = https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Temperature&tag=organizationtip101-20;
  doc["https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Humidity&tag=organizationtip101-20"]  = https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Humidity&tag=organizationtip101-20;
  doc["pressure"] = pressure;

  char https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Buffer&tag=organizationtip101-20[256];
  size_t n = serializeJson(doc, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Buffer&tag=organizationtip101-20);
  client.publish(mqttTopic, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Buffer&tag=organizationtip101-20, n);

  // Sleep 5 minutes (adjust as needed)
  delay(300000);
}

Key points

• Dynamic range: The TSL2591's 600 ms integration time captures faint skyglow while preventing overflow during twilight.
• MQTT payload: JSON makes it easy to ingest into time‑series databases.
• Power saving: On battery‑run stations, replace delay() with esp_deep_sleep() to reduce consumption dramatically.

Backend: Storing & Visualizing Data

4.1 Set Up InfluxDB & Grafana

1. Docker quick‑start (runs on a spare PC, Raspberry Pi, or VPS):

   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Docker&tag=organizationtip101-20 run -d \
     --name influxdb \
     -p 8086:8086 \
     -v $PWD/influxdb:/var/lib/influxdb2 \
     influxdb:2.7
   
   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Docker&tag=organizationtip101-20 run -d \
     --name grafana \
     -p 3000:3000 \
     -e "GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD=admin" \
     -v $PWD/grafana:/var/lib/grafana \
     grafana/grafana:10.2
   

2. Create a bucket in InfluxDB (e.g., lightpollution) and a token with write access.

3. Configure MQTT → InfluxDB bridge (use Telegraf or mqtt2influx). Example Telegraf config:

   From City Lights to Rural Nights: How to Choose the Perfect Star‑Gazing Spot

   How to Build a DIY Star‑Gazing Observatory Dome Using Recycled Materials and Minimal Tools

   From Sky to Smartphone: Using Apps to Identify Stars and Constellations

   From Backyard to Wilderness: Innovative Ways to Reinvent Your Star-Gazing Experience

   How to Conduct a Light Pollution Survey in Your Neighborhood and Advocate for Dark‑Sky Policies

   How to Plan a Multi‑Night Star‑Gazing Road Trip Across the Southwest's International Dark Sky Parks

   High-Tech Gadgets for Advanced Astronomers: From Apps to Adaptive Optics

   Best High‑Altitude Camping Spots in the Southwest for Crystal‑Clear Stargazing

   How to Calibrate Your Telescope's GoTo System for Accurate Star Alignment Every Time

   How to Plan a Week‑Long Star‑Gazing Road Trip Across the American Southwest

   [[inputs.mqtt_consumer]]
     https://www.amazon.com/s?k=servers&tag=organizationtip101-20 = ["tcp://192.168.1.100:1883"]
     topics = ["https://www.amazon.com/s?k=backyard&tag=organizationtip101-20/lightpollution"]
     data_format = "json"
   

4. Build a Grafana dashboard:

   • Panel 1: visible lux vs. time (line chart).
   • Panel 2: Night‑sky magnitude conversion (apply -2.5*log10(visible/REFERENCE) where REFERENCE = sensor‑specific).
   • Panel 3: Temperature, humidity, pressure overlay (helps spot correlations).

   Grafana's templating lets you switch between multiple stations if you expand the network.

4.2 Optional Cloud Solution

If you prefer not to host your own stack, services like ThingsBoard , Blynk , or Google Cloud IoT Core accept MQTT payloads and provide basic charting. The firmware stays identical---just change the MQTT endpoint.

Calibration: Turning Raw Counts into Meaningful Units

5.1 Dark Calibration (Zero Point)

1. Cover the sensor with an opaque cap for at least 10 minutes.
2. Record the average visible and ir counts---these become the dark offset.
3. Subtract this offset in the firmware before publishing.

5.2 Bright‑Sky Reference

A widely accepted reference is the Bortle Scale or the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) "Night Sky Brightness" values. To map sensor counts to mag/arcsec²:

mag/arcsec² = -2.5 * log10( (visible - dark_offset) / K )

• K is a calibration constant derived from a known location (e.g., a professional SQM reading).
• Perform this once at a dark site, then reuse the constant for all future measurements.

5.3 Periodic Re‑Calibration

Temperature affects photodiode response. Schedule a nightly calibration routine that logs dark offsets and automatically adjusts K if you have a reference SQM device nearby.

Deploying the Station

1. Select a Spot -- A clear view of the zenith, away from trees and porch lights. Aim the sensor's acrylic window straight up.
2. Mount the Enclosure -- Use a sturdy pole or wall bracket; ensure the box is level to avoid water pooling.
3. Seal the Cable Glands -- IP‑rated grommets keep moisture out while allowing power and Ethernet (if used) to pass safely.
4. Power Management -- If you hook up a solar panel, add a MPPT charge controller and a 12 V → 5 V buck converter with over‑voltage protection.
5. Network Check -- Verify the station reconnects after power loss; enable Wi‑Fi auto‑reconnect in the code (WiFi.setAutoReconnect(true)).

Extending the Project

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Concluding Thoughts

By combining low‑cost photodiodes, a tiny Wi‑Fi microcontroller, and free analytics tools, you can transform a modest backyard into a scientifically valuable observatory. The data you collect not only enriches personal stargazing but also contributes to global efforts to understand and mitigate light pollution.

Feel free to share your station's schematics, calibration constants, and Grafana dashboards on GitHub or an open‑source community hub. The more nodes we have, the clearer the night‑time picture becomes---both for astronomers and for the ecosystems that depend on darkness. Happy monitoring!