using AD7746 as moisture/rain drop detector?

Projects General Guidance
1

I am in the process of building a cloud sensor / weather station which will form part of an automated astronomical observatory.

in order to control a heater system i need a device that can detect rain drops hitting it or a film of moisture left after the rain has stopped.

my first idea was to use a wet leaf type sensor mounted externally on the top of the housing, but i've been looking at the boltwood cloud sensor: Diffraction Limited - Astronomy & Scientific Imaging Solutions which uses a system that detects "any material with a high dielectric constant" from this description i would guess that it uses a capacitance sensing device, which lead me to the SparkFun Capacitive Sensor Board - AD7746 Breakout : Capacitive Sensor Board - AD7746 Breakout - SEN-07918 - SparkFun Electronics

My understanding is that a capacitance sensor can operate through plastic, so all of the sensor components can be sealed inside the enclosure.

would this board be suitable for the application i have in mind?

2

after a chat with a couple electronics boffins at my local astronomy society i have decided that this sensor should be suitable for the job, I ordered one yesterday and expect it to arrive tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll post my findings once i have had a play with it.