Reading through the comments here, I think a lot of folks are forgetting that there are different aspects to this hobby. We each have different parts that we get enjoyment from. For example, I know people who love to tinker with their rigs. Some people enjoy getting the most out of modest gear. Some people enjoy being outside. And yes.. some people like to sit at a desk, remote in and harvest data. For me, I don't like tinkering. I don't enjoy the routine of setting up, polar aligning, tearing down.. that part of the hobby got old real fast for me. Designing a rig, putting it together, and then collecting data.. lots of data, that is what I enjoy. And yes.. I enjoy processing.. sometimes I wish I could process as a career, lol. Anyway, I don't think anyone should besmirch anyone else for putting their scope at a remote site. I know Trevor was kidding but I'm seeing a little tension in the comments.. reminds me of the reaction from some when Smart Telescopes starting showing up. Personally, I run three rigs in my bortle 5 backyard. I'm not far from starfront and have considered possibly sending a small rig with a OSC down there. The price is excellent and all the rigs they are housing demonstrates pent up demand for this kind of service. I wish them well. CS!
"But when the community signs on it doesn't feel so lonely anymore..." That hit so hard for me. I need to get out more myself even with as busy as life as gotten. There isn't much of a community for astrophotography here where I live so seeing more of this facility does make me very happy.
I've wanted an observatory of my own for 30 years. Job, kids, wife, etc. kept that from happening. Dream almost died. I live under Bortle 8 skies with probably less than 30-40 clear nights a year. Having a scope at SFRO, while not my OWN observatory has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. And I can still have a scope in my backyard and shoot narrow band when the conditions allow. Now I am drinking from a firehose of data to process. A good problem to have.
Pretty cool Texas ranch! Love those long horns! Bray saw a need and filled a niche. Good on him. I’ll just continue to brave the partly cloudy skies and frozen fingers! lol. Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦
I too was thinking of sending one of my rigs in time too but nothing beats going out on your own, finding a nice spot, and taking pictures of the night sky on your own, under a blanket of stars. I definitely understand the convenience of sending your setup there if you arent able to take pictures every night, or have access to dark skies, but for me, im lucky to live in Nevada where i also get extremely dark skies and most nights are clear. But amazing thing what Astrofalls is doing for astrophotographers who dont have those privileges
Such a cool video mate, and it's nice to see opinions from folks on both sides of the fence on the remote vs backyard debate! - Both sides are right really, as long as a person is having fun and getting value from their time (and money!) - that said, I'm certainly more of a backyard guy myself, the data/tech side etc I could care less about, it's more of the experience of capturing it and making the photos that I enjoy, I really think I'd lose that by going remote! Clear skies mate! :-)
I think it's an amazing concept and such a great way to allow people to get photos they would never be able to get if you lived in highly light polluted skies.
I feel you. i love my backyard and am lucky enough to shoot on a week night and get up for work, shoot flats while i get ready, pull the telescope off the mount in a quick routine, pull my counter weight then cover my mount for the day and come back to the same backyard and do that process in reverse. Astrobackyarder foooo life here!!! clear skies
More power to Bray and colleagues! Lovely to see so many telescopes there and so many people in this hobby. To me however, and as an amateur, the journey is as important as the destination. To wait for clear skies, get frustrated, wait again, then get a few, scramble to set up your gear, struggle with seeing, and finally, finally see those subs role through...Now that's fun! However, I'm glad such options exist.
Oh no! We’re not cheaters! I just dropped off my telescope there 2 days ago. I think it’s going to be great. And I’ll still be imaging at home too, doing more planetary and solar. I agree that hands on is great, but remote is fun too!
After trying to add all of the scopes up, I figured around 50k a month min coming in once they fill up. To have all of your setup and trouble shooting done for you , with salaries, land, upkeep etc, that is a deal.
My rig is basically your travel rig . Besides the camera. I have a Canon EOS Rebel T3i, SA 2i , and the Rokinon lens. I’m in southern New Jersey. I am in bortle class 6 as well and every season I learn something new! I understand why people pay for this type of service but I would rather do it all on my own. $199 isn’t too steep when put in perspective… To each their own! I love the journey im on! Trevor you are the whole reason I pulled the trigger and got into all of this. Thank you and I hope you have plenty clear nights this fall / winter. 🌌 ❤
And when the hobby reaches the point that this kind of redundancy is unnecessary, they can cut all the piers off and tie the roof shut, then turn it all into storage units!
I would be trying to protect that area as much as possible against the elements such as weather, animals, etc. That is a LOT of telescopes in one place. They look very close together, I hope the calculations are correct for allowing ultimate freedom of movement between setups without worry about damage or other failures. Also, there should be at least a skeleton crew of well trained staff to oversee the lenses remain clean and clear. That place is a major responsibility and I pray that God oversees the entire project. What an awesome way to look at the night sky from some of the most peaceful and dark skies on the planet!!! I very much admire this. Clear skies!!!
Cheaters as they may be, I would rather people get into and enjoy this hobby any way they can, then for people to NOT have this option just so I feel better about my Bortle 6 skies and 2-5 clear nights a month
What a great service. This would be good for people who can't physically lug a system about and set it up, all the time. I have fibromyalgia and find it hard to move setups around because the constant aching and inflammation in my muscles prevents me from doing so on a regular basis. So, something like this would be ideal for myself. And, for others with similar conditions.
What an incredible business model! Love what you're doing. Maybe I'll have a scope there someday? In addition to customers purchasing and shipping their preferred scope setups (i.e. custom pricing model), you could also have a tiered model of pre-defined systems that customers can choose to subscribe to. This would make setup and support more efficient.
It's no doubt quite the undertaking and when I first heard about what Bray was doing I was skeptical about how much demand there would be for this kind of service, but the results speak for themselves. That said, I am the kind of independent guy who loves the tinkering and that's part of the enjoyment I get doing things myself. I'm fortunate however to live under bortal 3/2 skies and I built my own observatory( at my home) on 5 acres in se Utah in a dry desert climate so something like this would not even be a consideration for myself. I can only imagine that there has to be a degree of stress with what Bray is doing, if not just the logistics alone. I'm sure things like insurance are not cheap and the worry of potential of a mega storm as we have seen in places lately where they shouldn't be. I wish him the best and hope that it continues to go as planned as Bray seems like a really down to earth good guy. My hats off to him for charging ahead and making it work, well done... Cheers from the high desert !
I keep seeing my scope also! Been up for 9 nights now and had a great run so far with weather. Staff is great! Love to get out under the stars, but the weather in north east is spotty at best.
I had no idea this was available. I think it is fantastic. We are in a world of increasing light pollution, and not everybody can go to a dark site., and I am sure there are people who have physical limitations that would benefit from this. I finally got a Star Adventurer and a new tripod, and I am in the process of figuring it out. I enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Folks buying one of the most portable mounts on the market to send to a remote site....aight then. But seriously though, I never bothered to look into this place and hear of personal reasoning for it, much respect Bray, and your team.
Great video. I've been wrestling with the idea of sending one of my two rigs down there for a year or so. I did the math and it works out to be around $500 a month for 12 months with shipping, gear upgrades for remote shooting, insurance etc. While getting that many clear nights would be cool, I think after a time, it would just get repetitive. Considering 200 nights a year in Bortle 1 the amount of data acquired would be nuts. I'll probably sit on the fence for a while and may pull the trigger but I enjoy my home setups and travelling periodically to chase specific targets. I kind of think of it like watching wildlife through webcam or shooting fish in a barrel. I think he fills a great niche but maybe not something that is right for me at this point.
I think it is cool concept and it makes no difference to me how people collect their data, but I would greatly miss being outdoors under dark skies. Having a rig under Bortle 1 conditions would be awesome, but standing under them a whole different story. Also once my rig is up and running, I spend time with my big binoculars, looking at other stuff. I think a local club having a rig there would be a huge boost. Gatherings around a large monitor, EAA style would make for some good times, especially for those new to the hobby. I do love that there is a business case for this, as so many people live lives not even aware how awesome the night skies are. Now if only my lotto numbers would come up.... - Cheers
2:23 already kinda expected this was fir rich people who live in megacity 1. Seriously imagine having so much soare income you can not only afford thousands in equipment, not only pay someone to house, setup and care for said equipment but also have little concern about anything happening to it, holy crap.
Like many here, I have multiple scopes and it would be fun to have one in a remote, darker sky observatory. But I do enjoy the set up under the stars in my backyard, getting everything going, then just sitting back and watching the sky or playing with a visual scope. Gathering data is the most enjoyable part; post processing (mainly because I lack skills and don't enjoy all the computer time) is my least favorite. Maybe some day. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Great video as always. And beautiful shot of the Milky Way, Lagoon anf Trifid popping out beautifully 🤩! But did you say „widefield“? I just re-discovered my beautiful 14mm lens 😅! I haven’t done the math, but it sure feels like it’s covering over a quarter of the whole horizon 😳🤩
I'm really excited about Starfront! They are only a couple hours drive from me and I'm planning to build a remote rig or three to send there next year. I currently run 4 rigs from my bortle 5 backyard, filled with trees. I have no access to south or west, so I miss a good bit of targets. For health reasons, I am unable to travel, so shipping some gear to Starfront works for me!
Haha! "A bunch of cheaters" that last line in there put a smile on my face. But I think it's really cool what is being done here. And as you stated, I love the opportunity it offers people who might otherwise never have it. Super awesome!
I'm curious as to what could be accomplished if all those telescopes were to work collectively on a task. Kind of like when they link radio telescopes around the world to effectively make a bigger scope.
As mentioned the "collective telescope" is already a plan, and entirely based on volunteer time since these are all privately owned. However this doesn't work quite like interferometry as that requires the light (whether radio or optical) to all hit a sensor at the same time in order to gain resolution improvements. The VLA has an interferometer based array but they use a system of tunnels and mirrors to ensure the light all reaches a given point simultaneously.
Your channel is amazing thank you. I’ve had a 5 inch backyard reflector for 20 years and I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly. I’m looking up my game. My budget is around $1000. I was thinking of an eight or 10 inch reflector. iOptron 12" f/4 Newtonian OTA has my interest. What are your recommendations. This is for viewing only and has to transportable. Thank you so much
There is a lot of merit to both arguments, I sent my B team rig ( which got me some off colored comments in the Discord Server) I live in Central Cal and this summer has been brutal, plus Bortal 7 skies. I keep my A rig and head to Kings Canyon whenever I have time, and the weather permits. Hoping ultimately for a good experience at StarFront !
On field sufferfest FTW 👊 Real deal for me is being out there under night sky than being a couch potato. Even if it involves 200kms of round trip in my case - I rather choose it over remote. The camaraderie and the conversations on field brings along is worth it all. Thanks for the video and glad you chose backyard over remote despite the visit :) Having said that - more power to Astrofalls - he’s quite an inspiration 🙏🏼
When I first saw all those scops in the small scope building my first thought was oh no... These guys are going to get robbed... Then thought about that for a second.... LOL it would end up being the most well documented BY FAR of any robbery EVER! LOOOOOOOL
❤🌌Trevor Don't Be An Observatory Hater, That's Just Truly Snooty Nonsense. That's "It's My Way Or The Highway" Talk. You Should Be Promoting More Inclusion Into The Astrophotography Hobby. Are You Afraid This Alternative Method Of Capturing The Cosmos Might Decrease Your Channel's Views Or What? I've Got My ObservaDome That Is So User-Friendly & You Don't Have To Waste All That Time Setting Up Your Rig Each Time You View The Cosmos. Plus It Helps Keep A Telescope Safe & Secure. Clear Skies From Rick🌌❤
I enjoy getting images way more with my star tracker under clear skies. But i get much better images with my SW SA gti. Id love a better rig but between a young family and lack of time i have modest expectations and just enjoy any time under the stars. Everyone is on the journey, some just go further than others. Amateur, backyard, travel, remove. Do what gives you enjoyment
I am curious about their setup procedure. Whatever it is, it has to be reliable. Do they publish such things? Cable routing strategies, technical details of their setups, things they do every time they set up a scope.
Looks great, this site with all the gear. But for me, actually it is not a real option to send a whole gear to Texas from Switzerland because the freigth costs are tremendous and would be sufficient for another gear. What I'm wondering is, how this is insured. Are the costs covered in case of a rebuilt and replacement of the gear after a tornado visited the location? I hope that will never happen.
Great idea for those who can't use their gear as often as they'd would like. You still need the time to use it no matter where you are though, so this would be practical for a small fraction of astrophotographers. Personally, I enjoy the set-up portion almost as much as the capture and post processing. My backyard is where I want to be. My backyard is one of the reasons I bought my house 17 years ago.
I can't miss the connection to my scopes under my enviromental conditions, doing my best to enjoy the hobby. Part of the hobby is improving your equipment / technique etc. Like you said at the end, it feels like cheating. However, if you can afford it, and its what you want, then go for it.
A friend of mine has a rig at starfront. While I'm incredibly jealous by their constant stream of subs, I am more on your side of thought. I enjoy the physicality of it, being outdoors, seeing the skies for what they are. That and I can never decide which rig to use, picking one to send down would be impossible XD
Can you theoretically put the same settings on multiple of the same setups and multiply a stack of lets say Orion? Ie instead of 1 hour of integration from telescope you have 48 hours using 48 telescopes?
Because the price is decent, these 800 dollar piers at other remote sites is way to much for a small consumer scope, it's like buying a large Takahashi and throwing it out every year.
Not a bad living, mans making 340k a year just out of those 3 sheds, once the other two are up and running it'll be 5-700k a year just in subscription fees.
This looks awesome to me but it just doesn’t beat the og way of doing stuff. And I think a lot of people would like to keep something they put so much time and effort and of course money into getting in their possession. Even if we have worse conditions, we still have the joy of setting up our scopes, imaging, and creating a beautiful piece of art. I think you made the right choice Trevor :)
Great thing about life is there's often more than one way to enjoy something. I personally never loved to chore of driving to dark sky and camping out just to get clean data. Remote observing has been a big help in allowing me to create images without having to sacrifice so much of my free time.
@@regp5 Might as well download data from someone else, what's the point of spending so much money, sending the equipment there and shooting same objects as others?
@@Pawel-rv1ek The point is it's my equipment that I chose, configured, fine tuned, and have full control over. The data I collect with the system is MY data. I don't shoot the same things as everyone else I actually make a point to go after lesser imaged objects many of which are only viable under extremely dark sky. I also still image from my backyard and occasionally go out to dark sites. I'll never understand why people think you have to choose one or the other. It's OK for people to enjoy their hobbies in a different way than others.
@@regp5 I've never said you have to choose anything. Personally I would't feel any connection with the data if you know what I mean. A lot of people order the scopes and deliver them to telescope farms so they might never even see them. But do whatever makes you happy.
This is the hobby killer. I would never send my scope there, the problem, cold, clouds etc are what is rewarding this hobby and keeping you motivated. not sitting at sofa watching your remote images.
@Tp_astro unequivocally, yes. Does it stop being your telescope because it goes from one yard to another? I've left my scope in my backyard for years using RDP for control, this is the same thing but the backyard is further away
I get the idea of it but i would find it a hassle if i wanted my camera rotated to frame a specific target or if you needed to ring up and ask if someone can put a flat panel on to take calibration frames. On the other hand could you image every one of those scopes collectively pointing at one target on a collaborative image.
I have been imaging there for a month. I have not needed any support from the team there. I can shoot darks and flats, rotate the camera, reboot my computer, turn power on and off, and get automated information about the status of the roof and the weather.
Its just not the same. Ive tried remote imaging for a year and the images just feel cheap and not earned. One of the best parts of astrophotography for me is that there is a story behind every image i take. I remember the people there with me, the challenges, the weather, and other unique events. Remote imaging just doesnt have any of that. But to each their own. Different strokes for different folks.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I loved this one. This is a great premise and for those who’ve chosen that route, God love em. I, like you, feel the need for some degree of challenge to my endeavors. Something feels wrong if whatever I’m doing is too easy, however I might define that. Example, I love sailing. Not just as a weekend endeavor but actually living and traveling on the waters of the world, ya da, ya da, ya da. It’s very challenging sometimes but I love that about it. In addition to the sense of freedom, the smell of the ocean, the sunrises and sunsets, news faces also comes the challenges of keeping the boat moving and in one piece. Same with stargazing and astro imaging. The challenges of set up, equipment, weather, all make the final image that I’m happy with well worth the time and effort it took to create it. LOVE YOUR UNDER THE BREATH SNARKY COMMENTS AT THE END! Couldn’t stop chuckling.
If you think going remote is "easy" you know nothing about it. In fact it is far more challenging to make other people setup your equipment and then reun it thousands of miles away while troubleshooting every issue without having access to it.
Whilst I am unlikely to ever be in the position of having a remote set up I completely get the concept. Why spend all that money and only get to use it maybe (in my case) a few times a month? If you are spending that much on gear then you want the maximum return. It's like having a Ferrari and only ever using it to pop to the shop for milk.
Keep seeing my scope in the video! Been loving my experience having a rig there.....Starfront staff has been awesome.
Reading through the comments here, I think a lot of folks are forgetting that there are different aspects to this hobby. We each have different parts that we get enjoyment from. For example, I know people who love to tinker with their rigs. Some people enjoy getting the most out of modest gear. Some people enjoy being outside. And yes.. some people like to sit at a desk, remote in and harvest data.
For me, I don't like tinkering. I don't enjoy the routine of setting up, polar aligning, tearing down.. that part of the hobby got old real fast for me.
Designing a rig, putting it together, and then collecting data.. lots of data, that is what I enjoy. And yes.. I enjoy processing.. sometimes I wish I could process as a career, lol.
Anyway, I don't think anyone should besmirch anyone else for putting their scope at a remote site. I know Trevor was kidding but I'm seeing a little tension in the comments.. reminds me of the reaction from some when Smart Telescopes starting showing up.
Personally, I run three rigs in my bortle 5 backyard. I'm not far from starfront and have considered possibly sending a small rig with a OSC down there. The price is excellent and all the rigs they are housing demonstrates pent up demand for this kind of service. I wish them well. CS!
@@DSOImager How dare you come to the internet and be reasonable. For shame!
@@regp5😂
Jokes often contain a hint of truth, revealing how someone is really feeling.
Wow he's really building up! On another note, it had a kinda eerie walking through a graveyard vibe, when Ash said, "Oh there he is."
"But when the community signs on it doesn't feel so lonely anymore..." That hit so hard for me. I need to get out more myself even with as busy as life as gotten. There isn't much of a community for astrophotography here where I live so seeing more of this facility does make me very happy.
Glad you felt that too - after I recorded that I almost hugged Nathan
I've wanted an observatory of my own for 30 years. Job, kids, wife, etc. kept that from happening. Dream almost died. I live under Bortle 8 skies with probably less than 30-40 clear nights a year. Having a scope at SFRO, while not my OWN observatory has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. And I can still have a scope in my backyard and shoot narrow band when the conditions allow. Now I am drinking from a firehose of data to process. A good problem to have.
I bet it sounds cool when things start up and everything is slewing! ⚙⚙
Pretty cool Texas ranch! Love those long horns! Bray saw a need and filled a niche. Good on him. I’ll just continue to brave the partly cloudy skies and frozen fingers! lol. Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦
I too was thinking of sending one of my rigs in time too but nothing beats going out on your own, finding a nice spot, and taking pictures of the night sky on your own, under a blanket of stars. I definitely understand the convenience of sending your setup there if you arent able to take pictures every night, or have access to dark skies, but for me, im lucky to live in Nevada where i also get extremely dark skies and most nights are clear. But amazing thing what Astrofalls is doing for astrophotographers who dont have those privileges
it helps justify more than one scope... so there is that
@@sageastreaus7905 A lot of us do both.
DO BOTH!!!
Such a cool video mate, and it's nice to see opinions from folks on both sides of the fence on the remote vs backyard debate! - Both sides are right really, as long as a person is having fun and getting value from their time (and money!) - that said, I'm certainly more of a backyard guy myself, the data/tech side etc I could care less about, it's more of the experience of capturing it and making the photos that I enjoy, I really think I'd lose that by going remote!
Clear skies mate! :-)
Thanks Luke! Totally agree
I am ready to ship my rig there next week I can't wait.
I've been live at Star Front since last August. My experience has been fantastic. The tech support is great. Been imaging for 11 nights straight!
I think it's an amazing concept and such a great way to allow people to get photos they would never be able to get if you lived in highly light polluted skies.
I feel you. i love my backyard and am lucky enough to shoot on a week night and get up for work, shoot flats while i get ready, pull the telescope off the mount in a quick routine, pull my counter weight then cover my mount for the day and come back to the same backyard and do that process in reverse.
Astrobackyarder foooo life here!!! clear skies
I have my rig up and running there, and I am so very happy!
More power to Bray and colleagues! Lovely to see so many telescopes there and so many people in this hobby. To me however, and as an amateur, the journey is as important as the destination. To wait for clear skies, get frustrated, wait again, then get a few, scramble to set up your gear, struggle with seeing, and finally, finally see those subs role through...Now that's fun! However, I'm glad such options exist.
Well said!
What an awesome idea for people that can’t image from home.
They just received my packages. So looking forward to get started down there.
"Bunch of cheaters!" that was the best part of the video :) clear skies!
Ya I laughed so hard. Was not expecting that🤣👍
I can just google any astrophotography photo I want how about that 😏
Visual is king 😔✊
Haters gonna hate..... :)
Oh no! We’re not cheaters! I just dropped off my telescope there 2 days ago. I think it’s going to be great. And I’ll still be imaging at home too, doing more planetary and solar. I agree that hands on is great, but remote is fun too!
How is this ‘cheating’? 😂
Incredible facility. Great to see how much it's grown since Bray first introduced it.
I never thought I could image at daytime. A different timezone gives many possibilities.
After trying to add all of the scopes up, I figured around 50k a month min coming in once they fill up. To have all of your setup and trouble shooting done for you , with salaries, land, upkeep etc, that is a deal.
My rig is basically your travel rig . Besides the camera. I have a Canon EOS Rebel T3i, SA 2i , and the Rokinon lens. I’m in southern New Jersey. I am in bortle class 6 as well and every season I learn something new! I understand why people pay for this type of service but I would rather do it all on my own. $199 isn’t too steep when put in perspective… To each their own! I love the journey im on! Trevor you are the whole reason I pulled the trigger and got into all of this. Thank you and I hope you have plenty clear nights this fall / winter. 🌌 ❤
I love the business plan. Steady and predictable monthly cash flow to expand more
And when the hobby reaches the point that this kind of redundancy is unnecessary, they can cut all the piers off and tie the roof shut, then turn it all into storage units!
What an amazing program. Cheers starfront!
I would be trying to protect that area as much as possible against the elements such as weather, animals, etc. That is a LOT of telescopes in one place. They look very close together, I hope the calculations are correct for allowing ultimate freedom of movement between setups without worry about damage or other failures. Also, there should be at least a skeleton crew of well trained staff to oversee the lenses remain clean and clear. That place is a major responsibility and I pray that God oversees the entire project. What an awesome way to look at the night sky from some of the most peaceful and dark skies on the planet!!! I very much admire this. Clear skies!!!
Cheaters as they may be, I would rather people get into and enjoy this hobby any way they can, then for people to NOT have this option just so I feel better about my Bortle 6 skies and 2-5 clear nights a month
What a great service. This would be good for people who can't physically lug a system about and set it up, all the time. I have fibromyalgia and find it hard to move setups around because the constant aching and inflammation in my muscles prevents me from doing so on a regular basis. So, something like this would be ideal for myself. And, for others with similar conditions.
Everyone should have a setup here ! We get clouds oct-June and it’s on my list to do
What an incredible business model! Love what you're doing. Maybe I'll have a scope there someday? In addition to customers purchasing and shipping their preferred scope setups (i.e. custom pricing model), you could also have a tiered model of pre-defined systems that customers can choose to subscribe to. This would make setup and support more efficient.
High point scientific actually is advertising such a turnkey system. It’s on their homepage.
It's no doubt quite the undertaking and when I first heard about what Bray was doing I was skeptical about how much demand there would be for this kind of service, but the results speak for themselves. That said, I am the kind of independent guy who loves the tinkering and that's part of the enjoyment I get doing things myself. I'm fortunate however to live under bortal 3/2 skies and I built my own observatory( at my home) on 5 acres in se Utah in a dry desert climate so something like this would not even be a consideration for myself. I can only imagine that there has to be a degree of stress with what Bray is doing, if not just the logistics alone. I'm sure things like insurance are not cheap and the worry of potential of a mega storm as we have seen in places lately where they shouldn't be. I wish him the best and hope that it continues to go as planned as Bray seems like a really down to earth good guy. My hats off to him for charging ahead and making it work, well done... Cheers from the high desert !
I keep seeing my scope also! Been up for 9 nights now and had a great run so far with weather. Staff is great! Love to get out under the stars, but the weather in north east is spotty at best.
Oh Man! That "Bunch of Cheaters" was unexpected yet epic 😆🤣 Loved it 😂❤
I had no idea this was available. I think it is fantastic. We are in a world of increasing light pollution, and not everybody can go to a dark site., and I am sure there are people who have physical limitations that would benefit from this. I finally got a Star Adventurer and a new tripod, and I am in the process of figuring it out. I enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Folks buying one of the most portable mounts on the market to send to a remote site....aight then. But seriously though, I never bothered to look into this place and hear of personal reasoning for it, much respect Bray, and your team.
Great video. I've been wrestling with the idea of sending one of my two rigs down there for a year or so. I did the math and it works out to be around $500 a month for 12 months with shipping, gear upgrades for remote shooting, insurance etc. While getting that many clear nights would be cool, I think after a time, it would just get repetitive. Considering 200 nights a year in Bortle 1 the amount of data acquired would be nuts. I'll probably sit on the fence for a while and may pull the trigger but I enjoy my home setups and travelling periodically to chase specific targets. I kind of think of it like watching wildlife through webcam or shooting fish in a barrel. I think he fills a great niche but maybe not something that is right for me at this point.
I think it is cool concept and it makes no difference to me how people collect their data, but I would greatly miss being outdoors under dark skies. Having a rig under Bortle 1 conditions would be awesome, but standing under them a whole different story.
Also once my rig is up and running, I spend time with my big binoculars, looking at other stuff.
I think a local club having a rig there would be a huge boost. Gatherings around a large monitor, EAA style would make for some good times, especially for those new to the hobby.
I do love that there is a business case for this, as so many people live lives not even aware how awesome the night skies are. Now if only my lotto numbers would come up.... - Cheers
You handled this topic perfectly. Well done and thanks as always.
2:23 already kinda expected this was fir rich people who live in megacity 1.
Seriously imagine having so much soare income you can not only afford thousands in equipment, not only pay someone to house, setup and care for said equipment but also have little concern about anything happening to it, holy crap.
Im impressed with those roll off roof buildings. You should do a video with info about them.
Like many here, I have multiple scopes and it would be fun to have one in a remote, darker sky observatory. But I do enjoy the set up under the stars in my backyard, getting everything going, then just sitting back and watching the sky or playing with a visual scope. Gathering data is the most enjoyable part; post processing (mainly because I lack skills and don't enjoy all the computer time) is my least favorite. Maybe some day. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Great video as always. And beautiful shot of the Milky Way, Lagoon anf Trifid popping out beautifully 🤩! But did you say „widefield“? I just re-discovered my beautiful 14mm lens 😅! I haven’t done the math, but it sure feels like it’s covering over a quarter of the whole horizon 😳🤩
I'm really excited about Starfront! They are only a couple hours drive from me and I'm planning to build a remote rig or three to send there next year. I currently run 4 rigs from my bortle 5 backyard, filled with trees. I have no access to south or west, so I miss a good bit of targets. For health reasons, I am unable to travel, so shipping some gear to Starfront works for me!
My Texas home and property offers a rural Bortle 3 with nearly complete view to the horizon.
So does my OK home.
Haha! "A bunch of cheaters" that last line in there put a smile on my face. But I think it's really cool what is being done here. And as you stated, I love the opportunity it offers people who might otherwise never have it. Super awesome!
What an amazing idea this is! Thanks for showing us!!
Wow mind blowing to have this facility! Fab video Trev
Gotta admit it's a very cool concept!!
Love the ending line!
I'm curious as to what could be accomplished if all those telescopes were to work collectively on a task. Kind of like when they link radio telescopes around the world to effectively make a bigger scope.
Well they discovered a planetary nebula so theres that.
As mentioned the "collective telescope" is already a plan, and entirely based on volunteer time since these are all privately owned. However this doesn't work quite like interferometry as that requires the light (whether radio or optical) to all hit a sensor at the same time in order to gain resolution improvements. The VLA has an interferometer based array but they use a system of tunnels and mirrors to ensure the light all reaches a given point simultaneously.
@@brentnewton7055 Interesting. Thanks for explaining.
Your channel is amazing thank you. I’ve had a 5 inch backyard reflector for 20 years and I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly. I’m looking up my game. My budget is around $1000. I was thinking of an eight or 10 inch reflector. iOptron 12" f/4 Newtonian OTA has my interest. What are your recommendations. This is for viewing only and has to transportable. Thank you so much
There is a lot of merit to both arguments, I sent my B team rig ( which got me some off colored comments in the Discord Server) I live in Central Cal and this summer has been brutal, plus Bortal 7 skies. I keep my A rig and head to Kings Canyon whenever I have time, and the weather permits. Hoping ultimately for a good experience at StarFront !
😂 it’s one of my dreams to put a rig in one of these locations in South Africa, close to the Southern African Large Telescope.
Or to start a business hosting telescopes there.
@@murraymacd Exactly what I was thinking re: a move to Thailand
Great video and sense of humour!
On field sufferfest FTW 👊
Real deal for me is being out there under night sky than being a couch potato. Even if it involves 200kms of round trip in my case - I rather choose it over remote. The camaraderie and the conversations on field brings along is worth it all. Thanks for the video and glad you chose backyard over remote despite the visit :)
Having said that - more power to Astrofalls - he’s quite an inspiration 🙏🏼
I live in rural Texas, and have no need for this. But I'm glad that city folk have this available for them.😂
I feel lucky living in a Bortle 3 area.
The moment I saw all those telescopes I was thinking all of them were 1 million all combined 🤯
Dude left the cobweb cleaning snip in the video without editing it out, as a subtle feedback to the maintainers do be more careful 😆
When I first saw all those scops in the small scope building my first thought was oh no... These guys are going to get robbed... Then thought about that for a second.... LOL it would end up being the most well documented BY FAR of any robbery EVER! LOOOOOOOL
Hi sir what a Dawes limit. For 8" it is 0.57". Dawes limit is related to what
Trevor my friend! Every video which you upload it is a happy lesson for me!❤
Nicely done 🫡
Now this makes sense cheers.
❤🌌Trevor Don't Be An Observatory Hater, That's Just Truly Snooty Nonsense. That's "It's My Way Or The Highway" Talk. You Should Be Promoting More Inclusion Into The Astrophotography Hobby. Are You Afraid This Alternative Method Of Capturing The Cosmos Might Decrease Your Channel's Views Or What? I've Got My ObservaDome That Is So User-Friendly & You Don't Have To Waste All That Time Setting Up Your Rig Each Time You View The Cosmos. Plus It Helps Keep A Telescope Safe & Secure. Clear Skies From Rick🌌❤
I enjoy getting images way more with my star tracker under clear skies. But i get much better images with my SW SA gti. Id love a better rig but between a young family and lack of time i have modest expectations and just enjoy any time under the stars. Everyone is on the journey, some just go further than others. Amateur, backyard, travel, remove. Do what gives you enjoyment
Would have been funny to see a Seestar in there.
What the fuck is a Seestart?
Nothing against the Seestar
I think there people working on just that.
I am curious about their setup procedure. Whatever it is, it has to be reliable. Do they publish such things? Cable routing strategies, technical details of their setups, things they do every time they set up a scope.
Never heard of this...crazy...crazy cool
What an awesome idea
Thank you for the super interesting video!
What do you guys do for security?
Looks great, this site with all the gear. But for me, actually it is not a real option to send a whole gear to Texas from Switzerland because the freigth costs are tremendous and would be sufficient for another gear. What I'm wondering is, how this is insured. Are the costs covered in case of a rebuilt and replacement of the gear after a tornado visited the location? I hope that will never happen.
Great idea for those who can't use their gear as often as they'd would like. You still need the time to use it no matter where you are though, so this would be practical for a small fraction of astrophotographers. Personally, I enjoy the set-up portion almost as much as the capture and post processing. My backyard is where I want to be. My backyard is one of the reasons I bought my house 17 years ago.
I can't miss the connection to my scopes under my enviromental conditions, doing my best to enjoy the hobby. Part of the hobby is improving your equipment / technique etc. Like you said at the end, it feels like cheating. However, if you can afford it, and its what you want, then go for it.
A friend of mine has a rig at starfront. While I'm incredibly jealous by their constant stream of subs, I am more on your side of thought. I enjoy the physicality of it, being outdoors, seeing the skies for what they are. That and I can never decide which rig to use, picking one to send down would be impossible XD
Nice bro love from India ❤
Hi Trevor question I got do you sell any of the beautiful images you take?
Have you not setup the star hut after the move by now?
Hey AstroBackyard. I have a small beginner telescope and I'll get a slightly bigger one later this year. Could you give me some tips?
Man, this is so cool. 👍
Can you theoretically put the same settings on multiple of the same setups and multiply a stack of lets say Orion? Ie instead of 1 hour of integration from telescope you have 48 hours using 48 telescopes?
Because the price is decent, these 800 dollar piers at other remote sites is way to much for a small consumer scope, it's like buying a large Takahashi and throwing it out every year.
I like astrophotography from the backyard but I understand that people want a scope under Bortle 1 skies
Not a bad living, mans making 340k a year just out of those 3 sheds, once the other two are up and running it'll be 5-700k a year just in subscription fees.
4:24 Now I know someone who has to shoot new flats 🥲
This looks awesome to me but it just doesn’t beat the og way of doing stuff. And I think a lot of people would like to keep something they put so much time and effort and of course money into getting in their possession. Even if we have worse conditions, we still have the joy of setting up our scopes, imaging, and creating a beautiful piece of art. I think you made the right choice Trevor :)
No reason to think of it as an either / or choice
Great thing about life is there's often more than one way to enjoy something. I personally never loved to chore of driving to dark sky and camping out just to get clean data. Remote observing has been a big help in allowing me to create images without having to sacrifice so much of my free time.
@@regp5 Might as well download data from someone else, what's the point of spending so much money, sending the equipment there and shooting same objects as others?
@@Pawel-rv1ek The point is it's my equipment that I chose, configured, fine tuned, and have full control over. The data I collect with the system is MY data.
I don't shoot the same things as everyone else I actually make a point to go after lesser imaged objects many of which are only viable under extremely dark sky.
I also still image from my backyard and occasionally go out to dark sites. I'll never understand why people think you have to choose one or the other. It's OK for people to enjoy their hobbies in a different way than others.
@@regp5 I've never said you have to choose anything. Personally I would't feel any connection with the data if you know what I mean. A lot of people order the scopes and deliver them to telescope farms so they might never even see them. But do whatever makes you happy.
This is the hobby killer. I would never send my scope there, the problem, cold, clouds etc are what is rewarding this hobby and keeping you motivated. not sitting at sofa watching your remote images.
"This is a hobby killer [for me]." Fixed that for you. People enjoy astrophotography in different ways you don't always agree with
I don't sit on the sofa. If I'm not out at my local rig, I sit in my easy chair....... :)
@@brentnewton7055 Yeah but can you even say is it their image at all
@Tp_astro unequivocally, yes. Does it stop being your telescope because it goes from one yard to another? I've left my scope in my backyard for years using RDP for control, this is the same thing but the backyard is further away
@@brentnewton7055 ye
I get the idea of it but i would find it a hassle if i wanted my camera rotated to frame a specific target or if you needed to ring up and ask if someone can put a flat panel on to take calibration frames. On the other hand could you image every one of those scopes collectively pointing at one target on a collaborative image.
More automation features are certainly needed to be truly remote, but motorized rotators and flats panels are still an option even from home
I have been imaging there for a month. I have not needed any support from the team there. I can shoot darks and flats, rotate the camera, reboot my computer, turn power on and off, and get automated information about the status of the roof and the weather.
Question if all those scopes go after the same target I assume the pictures you get would be crazy using all of the data
Thats been done
How are they able to access it from hundreds or thousands of miles away?
@@-SpaceFrog- Internet.
I live in NJ and have a rig there but there are people in Asia and Europe too.
Its just not the same. Ive tried remote imaging for a year and the images just feel cheap and not earned.
One of the best parts of astrophotography for me is that there is a story behind every image i take. I remember the people there with me, the challenges, the weather, and other unique events. Remote imaging just doesnt have any of that.
But to each their own. Different strokes for different folks.
If you were to do the math of the cost having your own OBS / clear nights, then Starfront is a bargain.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I loved this one. This is a great premise and for those who’ve chosen that route, God love em. I, like you, feel the need for some degree of challenge to my endeavors. Something feels wrong if whatever I’m doing is too easy, however I might define that. Example, I love sailing. Not just as a weekend endeavor but actually living and traveling on the waters of the world, ya da, ya da, ya da. It’s very challenging sometimes but I love that about it. In addition to the sense of freedom, the smell of the ocean, the sunrises and sunsets, news faces also comes the challenges of keeping the boat moving and in one piece. Same with stargazing and astro imaging. The challenges of set up, equipment, weather, all make the final image that I’m happy with well worth the time and effort it took to create it. LOVE YOUR UNDER THE BREATH SNARKY COMMENTS AT THE END! Couldn’t stop chuckling.
If you think going remote is "easy" you know nothing about it. In fact it is far more challenging to make other people setup your equipment and then reun it thousands of miles away while troubleshooting every issue without having access to it.
Isn't there something missing imaging remotely? Like looking up at the sky?
To see clouds and light polution... nope, not missing it all all
Good thing I didn't send my eyeballs there with my telescope, so I can still look up at the sky.
@@LandonReid-l9l Wait - I wasn't supposed to include those in the packages I shipped????
Yeah, I was wondering where the sky went. I went outside, looked up, and it was just... gone...
Why not just do telescope live?
Thank you. News!
Whilst I am unlikely to ever be in the position of having a remote set up I completely get the concept. Why spend all that money and only get to use it maybe (in my case) a few times a month? If you are spending that much on gear then you want the maximum return. It's like having a Ferrari and only ever using it to pop to the shop for milk.
Did you just said "Bunch of cheaters!" at the end? xD xD
why am i just now realizing how similar bray and Trevor look
I wish I lived in the US!! Can you tell me what the music is called?? I've heard it alot on astro related you tube videos. Great video btw
You don't have to be US based? people from all over the world have sent scopes there.