SRO Virtual Astrophotographer

The SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program
Where you choose the target, SRO does the imaging, and you receive the data!

Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO) now offers the SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program. At SRO, deep sky objects chosen by SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program members, and then are imaged on site at SRO. The data is made available after several nights of imaging, exclusively for our SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program members. You can watch the imaging live as it happens (see below) and members receive the image files for their own use. This option is ideal by those who do not have their own telescope at SRO or for those that are new to astrophotography and would like to learn how images are acquired and improve their image processing skills. Images are obtained with a 16" Ion Milled RCOS Ritchey-Chretien telescope on a Paramount ME mount using a high quantum efficiency full frame ZWO ASI 6200MM CMOS back-illuminated camera and the Starlight Xpress AO (USB version). A Starlight Xpress 9 position FW houses Astrodon Gen 2 LRGB and NB filters. Focusing and rotation via Optec Gemini Focusing Rotator. The computer is a Custom PrimaLuceLab Eagle4 Pro (modified with 62 GB RAM and a 4 TB internal SSD). The cost of joining the SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program is $279/month. No contract required. If you are interested in the SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program, contact us at: Info@SroService.com.

RCOS Ion Milled f/9 Truss on a Paramount ME

Full frame ZWO ASI-6200MM backlit CMOS camera with Starlight Xpress AO and UltraStar Guider. Large Starlight Xpress Maxi 9 position FW with Astrodon filters

Live Streaming Display

In order to watch the imaging computer screen press the play button below. During the day there is no or little activity. On nights with good imaging conditions you will see the the telescope control and imaging system at work at SRO.

If the time in the link is lagging, just refresh and restart the link.

Images From Our SRO Virtual Astrophotorapher Program Data

M1 by Bray Falls: December 15, 2020 (LRGB + Ha/SII/OIII) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

Sh2-274 by Bray Falls: February 15, 2021 (LRGB + Ha/SII/OIII) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

NGC 1999 by Bray Falls: March 9, 2021 (LRGB + Ha) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

NGC 4565 (Needle Galaxy) by Bray Falls: April 24, 2021 (LRGB-Ha) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

NGC 2276 by Bray Falls: May 21, 2021 (LRGB-Ha) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

M27 (The Dumbbell Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: July, 4, 2021 (LRGB-SHO) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week. APOD on July 12, 2021

M82 by Bray Falls: February 1, 2021 (Ha-LRGB) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

Heart of M42 by Bray Falls: March 2, 2021 (RGB-Ha). SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) by Bray Falls: April 16, 2021 (LRGB) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

NGC 4321 by Bray Falls: May 8, 2021 (LRGB-Ha) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

M13 by Bray Falls: May 29, 2021 (LRGB) - SRO Virtual Astrophotography: Best Image of the Week

NGC 6960 (The Western Veil Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: August 21, 2021 (LRGB-Ha/SII/OIII)

NGC 6888 (The Crescent Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: September 1, 2021 (LRGB-Ha/SII/OIII) .

M33 by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: October 24, 2021. LRGB/Ha image with total imaging time of 17.3 hours

IC 1805 (Melotte 15) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: December 7, 2021. Ha/SII/OIII image with total imaging time of 21 hours

The Cone Nebula by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: January 1, 2022. LRGB/Ha with a total imaging time of 26 hours.

IC405 (The Flaming Star Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: March 1, 2022. Ha-SII-OIII with a total imaging time of 25 hours.

M63 (Sunflower Galaxy) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: April 1, 2022. LRGB image with a total imaging time of 23 hours.

M87 by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: May 15, 2022. LRGB image with a total of 21 hours of imaging time.

NGC 6946 (Fireworks Galaxy) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: LRGB-Ha with a total image time of 23 hours on June 30, 2022.

NGC 6543 (Cat's Eye Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: LRGB-Ha/SII/OIII with a total image time of 28 hours on July 15, 2022.

NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: October 11, 2021. LRGB/HaOIII image with total imaging time of 30 hours

The Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: November 25, 2021. LRGB/Ha image with total imaging time of 30 hours

NGC 1435 (Merope Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: December 10, 2021. LRGB image with total imaging time of 13 hours

M42 by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: December 15, 2021. LRGB/Ha with a total imaging time of 18 hours.

M51 by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: January 15, 2022. LRGB with a total imaging time of 30 hours.

M106 by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: March 15, 2022. LRGB image with a total imaging time of 22 hours.

M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) by Bray Falls & Keith Quattrocchi: May 15, 2022 (LRGB) - Total imaging time of 30 hours .

M20 by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: June 15, 2022. LRGB-Ha image with a total of 23 hours of imaging time.

M8 (Lagoon Nebula) Mosaic by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: LRGB-Ha with a total image time of 43 hours on June 30, 2022.

NGC 7380 (The Wizard Nebula) by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi: Ha/SII/OIII with a total image time of 39 hours on August 15, 2022

SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Awards and Publications

APOD: May 14, 2021: M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) by Bray Falls: Image compiled April 16, 2021 (LRGB)

APOD on July 12, 2021. M27 (Dumbbell Nebula: LRGB/SHO Image by Bray Falls and Keith Quattrocchi.

Sky & Telescope: August 1, 2021: M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) by Bray Falls: Image compiled April 16, 2021 (LRGB).