Back to forums

Those who went remote - do you like it?

Remote Astrophotography
9 replies•367 views
Dan H. M. avatar
Dan H. M. avatar
Since remote imaging has become common over the past few years I thought I would get an idea of how those who have done it are finding it. 

Due to a significant change in my living situation I am no longer able to image from home.  And although I can get to dark skies in 2 hours, I can't just drop everything to make it there on any clear weekend (and clear weekends are rare enough as it is).  I expect to only be able to image, at all, about 2-3 nights a year, and likely only in the summer and early fall.  These factors have caused me to seriously consider putting together a remote setup at a hosting facility in the Southwest US.  I have the setup in mind, so I'm not too worried about what to send out there.  It would be a setup that I know I will like.  I'd be keeping my Epsilon here for the rare occasion I get to image locally.

What I'm more worried about is the cost, which seems to be the rent for a small apartment in some parts of the US, and complexity of setting up and maintaining.  I don't want an $800/month headache.  And that's not even counting the cost to fly out there.

So for those who have gone remote, have you found it to be worth the cost?  Would you do it again?
Well Written Engaging
Dan Kearl avatar
Dan Kearl avatar
Dan:
What I'm more worried about is the cost, which seems to be the rent for a small apartment in some parts of the US, and complexity of setting up and maintaining.  I don't want an $800/month headache.  And that's not even counting the cost to fly out there.


Bray Falls has a Texas location that is $200 a month if you want to check his site out.
If I went remote, I would look into his site.
Dan H. M. avatar
Dan H. M. avatar
Dan Kearl:
Dan:
What I'm more worried about is the cost, which seems to be the rent for a small apartment in some parts of the US, and complexity of setting up and maintaining.  I don't want an $800/month headache.  And that's not even counting the cost to fly out there.


Bray Falls has a Texas location that is $200 a month if you want to check his site out.
If I went remote, I would look into his site.

I don’t see that on his website.
Dan Kearl avatar
Dan Kearl avatar
Dan:
I don’t see that on his website.


Go to his latest posted image of the NA nebula and he gives details.https://starfront.space/
Dan H. M. avatar
Dan H. M. avatar
Dan Kearl:
Dan:
I don’t see that on his website.


Go to his latest posted image of the NA nebula and he gives details.https://starfront.space/

I see. Interesting project. It was actually Bray’s work that initially got me thinking about remote imaging. I’ll check out his videos on the project.
Well Written
Rafa avatar
Rafa avatar
Bray is for smaller set ups. you can get  descent one for $600.00
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Rafa:
Bray is for smaller set ups. you can get  descent one for $600.00

While he is geared towards smaller setups, he is offering hosting for upto 17 inch reflectors, and still costs less at $400. 

The only caveat is that he does not allow people to setup their own equipment due to the packed nature of the Observatory.
Bray Falls avatar
Bray Falls avatar
It depends on where you get your enjoyment from astrophotography. There is something different for everyone, maybe you enjoy being with the telescope in person, tinkering with the gear, or even just being under the stars.

For me it is all of this, but I additionally enjoy editing images, especially with good data. This has inevitably led me down the remote pipeline, to get more good data from dark skies. 

It doesn't replace the experience of in-person astrophotography, so I am still frequently out in the field. My priorities/goals for in-person astrophotography have consequently shifted towards things I can only do in person, like landscape astro, wide field Milky Way, timelapses, etc. 

So in a way, you can have your cake and eat it too! The experience is just better optimized. 

I also strongly sympathize with the living situation impacting your ability to do astro. After I moved out of my parent's home in Phoenix, I lost access to backyard observing. I have not had a good situation to do consistent observing since, except remotely. This is part of my motivation for my current observatory project, to make it affordable enough that people can start getting telescopes out of their closets and into the field doing photography.
Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging Supportive
Nick Grundy avatar
Nick Grundy avatar
I will not miss lugging 140lbs of gear from my garage to my backyard each night to get beat up by bortle 7 skies. Definitely won't miss moving it back to the garage in the morning either

and my life will be significantly better without polar alignment. 

of course I'll keep a small rig at home to play with and do solar. And I'm sure I can find creative ways to make it not work perfect as well
Rafa avatar
Rafa avatar
In a nutshell, if you can afford it, it is truly a no-brainer.
Details of all the pros available upon request….