Remote imaging versus hands-on astrophotography: the debate continues

I started out imaging from my home in San Diego (coastal southern California). I soon learned that I was actually able to use my equipment only a few times a month due to weather and sky quality. This often resulted in often only 6 to 12 hours of integration time on a target and a lot of down time for the equipment.

With a few equipment additions I had a portable refractor rig that allowed me to travel to the eastern part of the county where the sky quality is much better, and I would also join others at popular dark sites. The face-to-face socializing was really enjoyable. The only limitation being how long I could stay at these dark sites with my rig. The issue was that with work/family obligations I was still constrained to 15 or so hours of integration time before I had to breakdown the rig and head home.

Mid 2024 I realized my home based (not portable) rig was not getting much use, and I saw the increase in popularity of the remotely hosted sites. Because I really wanted to use my home-based rig in worthwhile conditions, so I decided to take it to HCRO in NM where it could get a lot more use than at my home. This turned out to be a great (but expensive) move. The huge increase in the use of this equipment in pristine sky conditions justified the cost (IMHO). The social aspect of being part of the HCRO community is wonderful, but its not the same as being at a dark site with others. However, I do enjoy going to HCRO a couple times a year (Greg is a great host).

I decided to keep my portable rig because it is a lot of fun to join others at dark sites, setting up equipment, trouble shooting, and imaging. My expectations are now more realistic with the acknowledgement that being out under the stars with other amateur astronomers is really half the fun. I leave it to my equipment at HCRO to fulfill my need to get really incredible images.

Salvatore Iovene · Jan 29, 2026, 05:10 PM

Making it mandatory per session and promoting it to the row of fields that are immediately available

This would be my choice. Anything more complicated can be covered in the comment section.

Tony Gondola · Jan 29, 2026, 05:16 PM

Just my opinion but being under “relentless pressure” and counting time as money just doesn’t sound like much fun…

Sometimes, I completely agree with you.

Arun H · Jan 29, 2026, 06:06 PM

Speaking of relentless pressure- even at my cloudy site, I’d find myself under pressure to image something if the skies were clear. Or travel to my local dark sky site. That takes away from the fun. This is a hobby not an obsession. So now, I  much more relaxed and will only image something I am excited to image and put family and work first.

I agree, from time to time I just leave the equipment where it is and take a rest when astronomy starts to get stressy and assemble a puzzle for having fun… then when puzzling get stressy I go back to astronomy 👍️

I wonder if putting a Bortle number would work? I’ve just set up all my own kit at a new remote obs in South Africa (just a little TV76 on an unguided HEQ5). The skies are amazing. On a moonless night, the SQM clocks over 21.7/21.8 regularly - when the moon is up and blazing that drops to 18.5 or below. What Bortle scale would I put…and if I didn’t have an SQM then what…?

I think it already is mandatory to say whether an image is Backyard or Traveller etc - it should be mandatory to also specify Remote (apologies if it already is). And then folks can just factor that in when looking at an image as that tag will give a good proxy for the kind of conditions that image was taken in?

(PS - the crazy thing about LP is that in my Bortle 9 inner city location, the best SQM I’ve ever got was just over 18 - that really puts into perspective the LP issues that Backyarders have to deal with: when a full moon in a dark sky is still not as bright as your LP…this is why I completely agree that there is more skill and determination involved in the images that folks extract from their Backyards - the 3 feet wide CDKPlanewave scopes on the top of Aconcagua/Everest/Uhuru/near earth orbit are basically a financial arms race but that’s a well worn argument that is not worth re-opening)

Rainer Ehlert · Feb 2, 2026, 03:25 PM

I guess this has not yet been decided by Salvatore

I suppose that a Bortle Scale value is after all an estimation, and it doesn't need to be measured by an SQM. You could simply go by the descriptions of what it scale value represents.

Please note that this can already be added to AstroBin, for each acquisition session. The problem is that it's a bit buried (behind an “Additional property” dialog.

What I plan to do:

• Make it a first class citizen (the field should fit with some creativity)

• When missing, show an “Estimated Bortle Scale” based on location (where available)

I'll plan this for the close future (it's not terribly complex).

Salvatore Iovene:
When missing, show an “Estimated Bortle Scale” based on location (where available)

Bob Lockwood · Feb 2, 2026, 05:26 PM

Salvatore Iovene:
When missing, show an “Estimated Bortle Scale” based on location (where available)

Hi Salvatore,

I'm not sure adding an 'Estimated Bortle Scale' is really fair since it doesn't know the actual conditions for the location. As an example, if I don't put in a Bortle number, it will state I'm in a Bortle 4-4.5. That's just not correct as I measure on average 21.3 depending on what chart you look at and being about 40 miles east of San Diego and if a thick marine layer comes in, it could go down to a good Bortle 2.

I believe if you want to be specific as Astrobin should be, SQM should be the only choice.
Not a subjective scale where everyone can say whatever they want estimate based on what they “see”.

It is 2026 and using such scale is pointless. It is like measuring temperature by asking people how warm they feel.

Salvatore Iovene:
That's true but how many people have an SQM?

One thing about Bortle scale is it really is a very local estimate. And not really noteworthy because the only way to change it personally is to filter it.

That is what I do. I have two LP filters to kill the light pollution my idiot neighbors force me to endure. And I have installed wall topper extensions to my block walls to barricade their ignorance from my immediate area. The newest A ’holes next door are prison guards and light up their back yard at night. She took exception to my camera on my back wall I use to observe my mount and telescope with my phone app. Once it was clear what kind of Ken and Karen neighbors they were, a wall topper went up blocking them out. 😝

And she had a tantrum in her driveway the day the installers were here. I found her pacing and yelling on her phone quite amusing. But the wall is mine, and local codes allow my wall topper. I effectively have 8 foot high walls to shade me from them, and the condo complex across the drainage wash behind us (I call it my mote to keep the condo clowns at bay). We actually find our “Bin Laden” compound very nice now. No more rocks or dirt clods from the condo brats in our pool, and no more pointed questions from the A ‘hole next door. (Like how many cameras do you have aimed at my house. (None. My cameras are for MY use.)

I chose to control matters in my own way. Makes them good neighbors. 😉 And it is the ultimate middle finger. I tried to reason with them, but they just got more obnoxious. Now, no irritation on my side of the wall, and a giant blank space to accent their prison decor.

Luka Poropat · Jan 22, 2026, 05:18 PM

In 20-50 years I expect a similar forum post to this titled: “Amateur space telescope imaging vs traditional on Earth methods” ?

This will most certainly happen in the not too distant future. Then the Chilescope group (and the like) will suffer envy! That said, the Chilescope+ groups will then immediately be welcomed into the “normal” people club! Not sure whether that says more about those in the Chilescope+ groups or those who endlessly bitch about those who do belong to that group, or any other groups. I say this in jest, because I think this question, as posted, is a real valid one and asks for personal feelings about how these different modes affects the individuals who practice the different modes, or all of the modes. Though I absolutely do not jest about amateur space telescopes. Already have heard serious inquiries. The only thing that will stop such a thing is if the Kessler Syndrome initiates, and then no one will be putting up anything, no matter how frivolous. And that is no joke!