Summary
Discover AstroInky, a DIY Raspberry Pi-powered e-ink astronomy display that brings the stars and moon phases right to your living room. Functional, beautiful, and geek-approved.
Despite being some of the most observed phenomena in human history, the stars and moon cycles still leave many of us scratching our heads.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of mobile apps and smart devices designed to help us make sense of the night sky — many of which use your location to identify constellations, stars, and planets in real time.
But what if you want something more permanent and visually pleasing than an app on your phone? Enter AstroInky, a brilliant e-ink astronomy display built on a Raspberry Pi that doubles as a striking piece of home décor.
Meet AstroInky: The E-Ink Astronomy Display You Didn’t Know You Needed
Shared by Reddit user Nibron on the Raspberry Pi subreddit, AstroInky combines astronomy, e-ink technology, and DIY electronics into one sleek desktop device.
“Are we still doing e-ink projects?” Nibron asked. The answer? Absolutely — and this one deserves a place at the top of the list.
While Nibron designed AstroInky for personal use, they’ve generously published everything you need on GitHub — including the code, setup instructions, and even 3D-printable files for the case.
Be warned: it’s not the easiest project to customize, but it’s a rewarding one for anyone willing to dive in.
What You’ll Need to Build the AstroInky
The hardware components are refreshingly straightforward:
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Any Raspberry Pi with GPIO support
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Inky Impression 7-color 5.7″ e-ink display
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SD card
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Power supply
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Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
With those in hand, you can follow Nibron’s guide to bring the project to life.
AstroInky Features That Will Delight Any Stargazer
The AstroInky does far more than just show the moon. Here’s what it can do:
Moon Tracking
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Displays the current moon phase as an image
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Shows moonrise and moonset times
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Provides real-time azimuth and altitude based on your coordinates
Sky & Planetary Visualization
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Lists visible stars and planets (updates upon refresh)
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Renders an accurate view of the solar system with real-time planetary positions
Bonus Features via Button Press
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Pulls a random NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day with its title and description
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Displays fun facts about a random moon in the solar system
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Shows a personal “About” page and a helpful “Instructions” page
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Includes a shutdown function that displays a goodbye message
Perfect for E-Ink Fans and Space Enthusiasts Alike
If you’re a fan of e-ink displays, the AstroInky is a project that hits all the right notes — it’s functional, aesthetic, and delightfully nerdy.
Whether you’re a stargazer, a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, or someone who just wants a smart home display that’s out of the ordinary, this is one project worth exploring.
Check out the full AstroInky guide on GitHub to get started — and if you’re looking for a budget-friendly display, be sure to take a look at this affordable Seeed Studio e-ink screen that works seamlessly with Home Assistant.