The SRO Virtual Astrophotographer

Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO) now offers the SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Program.  On most nights, selected deep sky objects are imaged on site at SRO.  The data is made available after several nights of imaging, exclusively to our SRO Virtual Astrophotographers Program members.  You can watch this live as it happens (see below) and you and other members receive the image files for your own use.  This option is ideal by those who do not have their own telescope in an area of excellent seeing or for those that are new to astrophotography and would like to learn how images are acquired and more importantly improve their skills in image processing.  Images are obtained with an RCOS Ritchey-Chretien telescope on a Paramount ME mount using a high quantum efficiency SBIG-6303 camera with adaptive optics and Astrodon filters.  You can see objects imaged with this telescope below.  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

SBIG-6303 with adaptive optics, FW-8 and 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.  The programs used include TheSkyX with T-point and camera control, FocusMax V4, CCDAutoPilot 5.0 and TCC RCOS Telescope Control.  The imaging system is an SBIG-6303 with adaptive optics and FW-8.                                                  
Always use the link below because the actual YouTube address can change.  

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 Images From Our SRO Virtual Astrophotographers

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

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

SRO Virtual Astrophotographer Awards and Publications

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