We're all made of star stuff

Do you love astronomy? Have you ever thought of getting into astrophotography but are just daunted by everything you need to get started?

I love astronomy, physics, science, and astrophotography. I love that I can point my telescope at a patch of sky, tell it to acquire images all night long and wake up every morning looking forward to the data I collected. I'd love to share this with people like YOU!

There is nothing better than waking up to a gift of the cosmos after every clear night.

I'd be thrilled to help you love this hobby as much as I do!

Not only do I want to make astrophotography more available, I want to make it more open. The beauty of the cosmos is up there waiting - waiting for it to be captured, shared, and enjoyed by all.

We often get so busy with our lives we don't stop to look.

We often live in parts of the world where we forget what it means to look! If you live in a city center and you look up at the night sky you may only see the brightest of stars and brightest of planets. It's easy to take our skies for granted when we forget what is up there!

We want to give you the gift of the heavens.

We'll make sure you have high quality data, tools and resources needed to process this data and the rights to use the data as you see fit with minimal restriction!

• We grant you the freedom to use the data and enjoy the benefits of using it.
• We grant you the freedom to study the data and to apply knowledge acquired from it.
• We grant you the freedom to make and redistribute copies, in whole or in part, of the information or expression.
• We grant the freedom to make changes and improvements, and to distribute derivative works.

Share the works on social media, use it on your blogs, make prints, hang it up on the wall. This is your cosmos!

All data will be licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. We just ask that you link back to the source (our website where you download the data)

I'm new to this - what exactly does "Data" mean?

Digital Astrophotography uses high end cooled cameras to image the cosmos with precision. The images are saved as individual "Sub exposures" often a few minutes long. These sub exposures are then "Stacked" (consolidated) and processed to reduce noise, improve signal and then these integrated images are then post-processed to pull out the faint objects we're imaging to produce beautiful photos.

** Update:  Check out one of our latest blog posts to download some sample data and see one of our guides of processing the Heart Nebula.

Why this campaign?

We want to share the cosmos with you.

It's in my DNA to share. I've found the best way to learn something and experience something is to share it and teach it to others.

Waking up to beautiful data I can integrate & process is great - but helping people like you get into the hobby, learn to process data and have access to data acquired by great equipment in great skies is what keeps me going.

I've already invested heavily in some amazing gear - the only thing left is amazing skies! I want to share these skies with you!

If this campaign is successful and there is interest in opening the cosmos, we may seek out not for profit status to make a sustainable long-term project and outreach program to broaden our reach.

No telescope required!

All you need is a computer.  We'll provide how-to guides, data, and resources to help you get started. 

If you choose a reward that includes raw data, you will need tools to calibrate, integrate and process this data. We'll send you guides on open source, commercial and free software you can use.

Do you already have a telescope?

If you have a telescope, you can keep using it! In fact, you can use our data to supplement data you get from your own location.

If you live in the southern hemisphere, we'll happily image targets you can't get!

What We Need & What You Get

The goal of this campaign is to get our equipment to dark skies and share the privilege of such beautiful skies to all. And I mean ALL.

It's that simple!

When it comes to astrophotography "Signal to Noise Ratios" mean everything.  In dark skies, we get more signal. With more signal, we have better data. With better data, we spend more time collecting more targets than we do having to spend time to overcome the noise to capture those targets.

Darks skies is "Win-Win".

To show what dark skies mean, check out this approximation of the bortle scale.  Most of us live/work in bortle ratings above 6 here in the US unless you live in a rural area. Even if you live in rural areas, you see the "light domes" of the cities that are near you. Light pollution is a real problem, but since we can't solve light pollution, we can open dark skies to more people by taking advantage of observatories in these bortle 1-2 zones.

If we make our goal

Our goal is to raise at least $6k to be able to co-locate our fully automated scope in a dark sky, secure and connected observatory for 1/year. The entirety of the $6k will be used to pay for the pier, power, electricity, and internet connectivity in an established & secure observatory with on-site staff to assist, as necessary. 

All the observing equipment is already owned, setup and fully integrated & automated. 

Stretch goals

If we make 10k, everyone will get 2 years of open data from dark skies!

If we make 15k, everyone will get 3 years of open data! from dark skies

Share this campaign with your friends and family - the more we raise the longer we can have access to dark skies, the more targets we can image and the more data we can share!

If we don't make our goal

We're still going to dark skies.  If we don't meet or exceed our campaign goals then we'll have to restrict our shared data to those who contribute since the costs of making it free for all would be more expensive than I can self-fund. 

So yes, if you commit to any of our rewards, you will get data.  If we don't meet our total goal, then we'll see about other ways we can work on making it happen.

I'm not giving up that easy ;)

We either surpass our goals and help astrophotographers in general, or we raise enough to help those who contributed.

We want to exceed our goals!

That's right, if you share this campaign and we exceed our base goal and hit stretch-goals then everyone receives the extra rewards!

Stretch Goal 1:  10k Raised - 24 months of open data from our dark sky observatory,

Stretch Goal 2: 15k Raid - 36 months of open data from our dark sky observatory,

Our goal is to keep our telescope collecting data every night we can operate. 

Perks

Rewards will start upon conclusion of this campaign, however, there will be a short break with imaging to move our equipment and set up at the new observatory. We'll announce that timeline as we figure out the contract and availability of pier/adapters needed from our vendors.

All Perks

All persons who contribute in any Perk level will receive login access to our website, an ad-free experience when logged in, early access to all content, processing guides, how-to guides and special insider access to everything Astrophotography. We'll share videos of how we acquire images, our scopes operating, how things are set up, how we image, how we choose targets. Our goal is to open the cosmos, but also ensure open access to it.  Not just so you can consume it, but so you can learn from it.

Email

Want to just pitch in a few bucks to help us out? Select an email reward and we'll write you a personalized thank you letter with a little surprise within it! We'll also make sure you never see ads on our website, it's the least we can do!

Open Images

Looking to help us with a bit more money but not interested in processing the data? We'll give you full access to our full high-res images on our fast cloud storage. No more chasing around how to right-click download target or any of that. You get access to the library of all processed images, ad-free access to our content and first access to all our guides and content. One day we will surely turn you into a master image processor ;)

Student

Permanent access to as many raw integrations and processed images as we can get. Forever. This is highly discounted for students/kids.  We love students and we want you to enjoy the cosmos.  Enjoy high speed cloud downloads, ad free web content and first access to content.

Hobbyist

This campaign is for you!  Don't spend 10k+ to get amazing gear and dark skies, supplement your own efforts or just use data collected here and start creating beautiful images! You get access to our imaging calendar, pending requests and first access to all our content and ad-free access to the website. Hobbyist contributors get high speed access to individual subs, calibration frames, calibrated stacks, and any images that we process. 

How it's made

This is a premium all in one comprehensive insight into how to do AP, how to everything works with an intimate one on one comprehensive class on Astrophotography.  We'll set up personal sessions with you where you can request specific targets and we'll run through the entire process of acquisition and basic processing with you over a 6-8 hour period of sessions (we're flexible!) - We request that you have a copy of PixInsight already - there is a free trial if you don't already own the software. A computer with Windows 10, Linux or MacOS is required for PixInsight.  We're limiting this session to PixInsight since we're already familiar with the tool and we can help you become familiar too!  You will also get access to everything in our Hobbyist perk for the lifetime of the operation so you will get a ton of data to process!

• PixInsight - Calibration, Integration & Processing
• Sequencing - Planning, Optimizing, Monitoring
• Tracking - Calibration, "Seeing", Understanding
• Understanding SNR & Astrophotography
• How/why we have our configuration the way we do + More
• Collaborative on one one!

Addon

How do I do this?

We'll help you figure it out. Buy this addon-on and we'll do a 1:1 online/chat/zoom/virtual collaboration to show you how to process data collected from our observatory!

Custom Target

Want to get a specific target with custom parameters? Choose this addon and we'll get your target on our calendar with your requested parameters! We'll let you know when it's in season, optimum filters, exposures and integration time for best data and you will be the first to get access. If this custom target requires a hardware configuration we're not operating in, we'll let you know when we can swap over.  (Such as 840mm focal length for galaxy season or 545mm focal length for wide field imaging)

Observatory

Our equipment is already automated and fully operational. Our goal is to image as often as there is clear skies. 

• 120mm Triplet Esprit Apochromatic Telescope
• Apex .65x Focal Reducer & Flattener (widefield configuration) F4.55 speed at 454mm Focal Length
• Esprit Flattener (longer focal length - 840mm)
• Optec Flip-Flat - Automated Flats, Flat darks, and robotic lens cover
• Pegasus Power - Remote control of power, USB, and automatic Dew Prevention 
• ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Color APS-C Camera
• Triad Ultra,  Optolong L-eXtreme, and Optolog L-Enhance Filters.
• Optec precision Robotic Focuser
• ZWO Robotic Filter Wheel
• Computer with acquisition, weather, sequencing, and cloud-sync software

We use the ZWO Cooled ASI2600MC Pro Camera. This is a full color aka "OSC" Color Camera. We dither between every exposure, run autofocus through temperature changes, and seeing changes.  Our integrations are fully bayer-drizzled so you receive very high-quality data.

The 2600mc pro color camera provides extremely deep well, 16bit ADC, extremely low read noise and high quantum efficiency. It's a very modern sensor that provides extremely detailed, rich, and high-resolution data.  

Risks & Challenges

Since we already have the gear and we're already doing observations in our backyard, the biggest risk is just being up front with what we can achieve. Our goal is to image as much as we can, but that goal is limited by mother nature.

Funded/Unfunded

• If we receive enough funding to set up in a dark sky, there will be a short intermission of imaging to move our equipment and set up.
• If we don't receive enough funding to set up in a dark sky, we'll continue to image however the imaging sequences will be slightly longer and more involved or we may have to target specific weekends at dark sites for those who purchase custom sequences. 

Weather Risk

• Clouds, Smoke, Bad Weather, Natural disasters.  Heading out to dark skies will make our data much better than I can get near the comfort of our house, but it won't mean mother nature won't strike.

Weather Mitigation

• Community - While there may be nights that we can't collect more photons, we'll be happy to collaborate share and be creative. We'll be sure to create content, update guides and just share the cosmos with you. If you purchase a "How do I " add-on reward, we'll create an online meeting to collaborate with you on learning the ropes of image processing. Perfect for those rainy nights!
• We'll keep an updated observation calendar and notify you if there are long term impacts from weather/smoke/fire/natural disasters.

Moon Risk

• The moon goes through waxing and waning cycles. It goes from a new moon that is great for broadband imaging (galaxies and dark nebula) to a full moon, which pushes us towards narrowband imaging.

Moon Mitigation:

• Narrowband Imaging - Our set up currently uses an APS-C cooled astro camera that is full color. We use a Triad Ultra Quadband Narrowband filter during bright moon phases to target objects that emit light in Ha, Hb, OIII and SII.  We love imaging when the moon is up & we'll never waste a cloudless sky.
• Broadband Imaging - If most of our targets that are "in season" for that month are broadband targets, we'll persevere on. We use the Optolong L-Pro filter which helps mitigate moonlight and skyglow from impacting our ability to image.
• Our telescope has a robotic filter wheel that allows us to change filters depending on seeing conditions and imaging parameters.

Equipment Failure

• Things break - our telescope & gear is high quality gear, but it is also running for long durations on a nightly basis. Sometimes bugs will get in, dust will hit, or smoke will dirty our lenses, or we'll have a mechanical or electronic failure.
• Covid shipping delays - if anything breaks or needs servicing, there may be delays due to restriction during COVID. 

Equipment Failure Mitigation:

• Images are backed up, any consumable parts will be on-site (batteries, USB cables and things that tend to fail open to the elements through the nights), Computer parts.
• On-site staff available to respond as needed
• Observatory has automatic controls for weather, storms, dust, smoke. Our scope has additional capability such as a robotic cap that can close should we detect any issues before the observatory closes.

Other Ways You Can Help

We know not everyone loves to image or wants to stockpile up a bunch of data, but we'd really appreciate if you could share with friends and family who may be interested! I want to share the wonders of the universe with everyone ;)