Open-Source Skylight Project Uses RTL-SDR and a Projector to Display Real-Time Aircraft Overhead on a Ceiling

Skylight is an open-source project that transforms live aircraft tracking data into a ceiling-based visualization, creating the effect of looking through a roof at the sky above. Developed around inexpensive RTL-SDR hardware and a Raspberry Pi 5, the system decodes ADS-B aircraft signals and projects airplanes onto a ceiling in real time. Each aircraft is displayed with information such as airline, aircraft type, destination, and route details. The software also renders a live astronomical layer, including the Sun, Moon, stars, constellations, satellites, and the International Space Station at their actual positions based on the user’s location and time. The project supports both local radio reception and a free online ADS-B API, allowing users to test the system without specialized hardware. A mobile-friendly control panel enables live adjustments of settings such as display themes, orientation, sky elements, filters, and visualization options. The application is designed to run as a standalone appliance on a Raspberry Pi, automatically launching into a full-screen display mode. The repository provides installation scripts, deployment tools, configuration options, and documentation for adapting the system to locations beyond its reference setup near San Francisco International Airport. Built with TypeScript, React, Vite, Express, and several astronomy-related libraries, Skylight combines flight tracking, astronomy visualization, and digital art into an immersive home installation. The project is released under the MIT license and has attracted significant interest from the open-source and maker communities.