PushNav : ~₹4,500 plate-solving push-to for manual scopes (open source)

[Arun Venkataswamy]

Hi,

Sharing PushNav, a plate-solving push-to system I've been building. Open source on GitHub, GPL-3.0. https://meridianfield.github.io/pushnav/

Adds push-to navigation to a manual telescope for around ₹4,500 in hardware. No motors, no encoders, no GoTo mount. A USB camera in place of the finder feeds tetra3 (ESA's lost-in-space solver), and your scope's live pointing shows up on every connected planetarium app, or inside PushNav itself.

Hardware (~₹4,500):

• Waveshare OV9281 mono global-shutter USB camera (~₹3,000) + 25mm f/2.4 M12 lens (~₹1,500)
• 3D-printed bracket that replaces the finder

 
Software (running on your laptop):

• Uses tetra3 plate solver, ~20–140 ms per frame
• Cross-platform from day one. Windows, macOS, Linux with native camera backends per OS (Swift on macOS, V4L2 on Linux, DirectShow on Windows)
• LX200 over Wi-Fi. Works with Stellarium (desktop), SkySafari Plus, Stellarium Plus (mobile), INDI, ASCOM
• Runs standalone too. Built-in what to See target picker : A 161-object curated catalog, fuzzy search across 12,522 NGC objects + 8,825 bright stars, and manual RA/Dec. No planetarium app required.
• Always-visible 3D Sky View dome shows current pointing, target, and a telescope marker on the pointing axis
• One-time calibration: point at any bright star and sync, no named-star list
• Built-in mobile web interface. Scan a QR code on the PushNav screen for at-the-eyepiece push direction, no app install
• Audio feedback for lock / lost / GoTo events

 

Docs: https://meridianfield.github.io/pushnav/

Why I built it: https://medium.com/@arunvenkats/how-i-added-camera-based-push-to-navigation-to-my-manual-telescope-for-50-3519ee44065f

GitHub: https://github.com/meridianfield/pushnav

Detailed information on the camera performance and other relevant data are in the documentation.
 
Questions and feedback are welcome.

Let me know if anyone wants to build it!

Regards,
Arun

[Arun Venkataswamy]

Forgot to add the picture of the device :)

Attached here.

Regards,

Arun

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Arun Venkataswamy

http://wondroussky.blogspot.in/

"கற்றது கைமண் அளவு, கல்லாதது உலகளவு" - ஔவையார்
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[Akarsh Simha]

Hey Arun

Amazing work bringing the cost of an electronic finder down so much! Will look into your work for inspiration for my solver.

Regards

Akarsh

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[Piyush Chourashiya]

Superb, Arun. This looks great

Best Regards,
Piyush Chourashiya
(+919632222710)

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[Arun Venkataswamy]

On Tue, 2 Jun 2026 at 04:36, Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Arun

Amazing work bringing the cost of an electronic finder down so much! Will look into your work for inspiration for my solver.

Thanks Akarsh

Regards,

Arun

[Arun Venkataswamy]

On Tue, 2 Jun 2026 at 07:33, Piyush Chourashiya <piyu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Superb, Arun. This looks great

Thanks Piyush

Regards,

Arun