We Built an Observatory!

Hey everyone, this video is about the starfront remote observatory. I show you its construction in progress, and explain more of the methodology behind our observatory. I also give you a breakdown of the basics for what is required for remote observing.
You can find our website for pier reservations here:
starfront.space/
The power strip I'm recommending is this one:
www.amazon.com/Kasa-Smart-Pow...
The mini PC we recommend is this one:
www.amazon.com/dp/B09SHRDZBQ?...
The pegasus powerbox is a nice luxury for remote USB/power cycling:
bit.ly/3KhCCKZ
Hope y'all enjoyed!

[@NebulaPhotos]

Looking good Bray - way to go!

[@astrofalls]

Thanks nico!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Well done, Bray!

[@astrofalls]

Thanks chuck!

[@raajessahu6301]

thank you bray

[@ianlauerastro]

Glad my guide cam is getting first light at the observatory before my telescope 😂 Observatory looks awesome, stoked to see it when it’s full of systems

[@astrofalls]

I used your camera again tonight :)

[@anthonyparrett2779]

There's never been a better time to be an astrophotographer. Thanks for making this happen!

[@TheDartFrog]

hmm, we have a little "summer cottage" thing where I usually do my astrophoto from, but as I've moved away from my parents for uni, I hardly ever get to spend time here nowadays (pretty much just during the summer..) really tempted to try to build some kind of a remote thing for my telescope here so that I can do astrophoto more often remotely haha

[@michaeltelesco4764]

Can’t wait!!! Little nervous going remote but it’s exciting!!

[@yoeuk]

Great work, Bray! Can't wait!

[@kfm6296]

Looks awesome Bray. Can’t wait for this to happen!!

[@ColeRees]

Good luck, bray! Been planning mine now for two years, can’t wait to make it happen as well!

[@Robservatory]

The pricing looks reasonable and Bray knows his stuff, so this looks like a nice spot to put a scope!

[@bradleypreiss9274]

This is such a great project! Thanks for the tour!

[@astrofalls]

Thanks Bradley!

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

Very nice, thank you for the update!

[@bmbaum]

Such a great project!

[@LeonBewersdorff]

That's looking fantastic 🙌

[@plumberman19]

I am more and more interested as these videos roll in. Im seriously considering this..

[@drunk_astronomy]

That building will look sick when it's full of rigs, very cool. 💯

[@astrofalls]

I’m excited for it! It’s gonna be a ton of work but it’ll be fun

[@drunk_astronomy]

@@astrofalls Hell yea, it’s great to see a plan come together. Btw I ordered one of your In the shadow of the moon prints yesterday. I’m super stoked to get it and have it framed, museum grade! Thanks Bray!

[@pickleroo253]

To be honest being from The UK I probably won't use your service I'm just glad you are using a ZWO am3 as that is my first mount. I know I'm learning all the time but I'm really in awe of the people who have the knowledge and experience to bring this level of dedication.

[@wdavis6814]

I've been wanting to buy some land out in West Texas for a time now to set something like this up. I've travelled out there a bunch of times and the observing conditions are phenomenal.

[@chrisruthford4492]

I want to live in the Davis mountains or Big Bend area badly, but I don't think my wife will go for it. I've got some land in a very rural area of east TX, but it's not dark there like it used to be.

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

Awesome project Bray! I wish you every success, and I'm sure you will do very well with this endeavour! I am even considering paying to have my mount setup there when it's completed, because the clouds/weather in England combined with LP is truly awful! God Speed my friend!

[@MrMrduke1975]

Pretty sweet! I appreciate you and your work. You have the dream job my friend. Wanted to add a cool thing if you could go at night away from the observatory and use your scope. Maybe I’m weird lol.

[@LogansAstro]

Fantastic video Bray - excellent walkthrough on how to get a scope setup remotely there which really demystifies remote imaging for people who aren't familiar with it. And it's awesome that you are trying to make it avoidable for the average astrophotographer that doesn't have the finances to fork out for Planewave gear to be set up on top of a South American mountain. If you are planning to have complete setups available for hire at some stage, I would be very interested in that possibility given that I am on the other side of the world and sending gear will be potentially problematic with shipping costs, insurance etc. .

[@astrofalls]

Thanks Logan! Will keep you posted. One interesting possibility is to just purchase a setup in the states and ship it to the site, you can avoid shipping that way

[@LogansAstro]

@@astrofalls Yes that is another possible option.

[@easyastroimages5818]

Fantastic business decision. I hope it keeps going well. I’ll have a spot one day soon. Ever thought about selling data from your scopes there? Another revenue stream?

[@tombock336]

Lets GO!!!!

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

I read it as remote viewing 😅 Still super cool! 👍

[@epielanonimo]

This is such a cool project. I'm really considering sending my modest equipment to a "cheap" remote observatory in Spain, cause I work in shifts and since I got my current setup I've been able to use it 2 times (work, weather, other plans), which sucks. i want to send a widefield setup (Samyang 135, Touptek 585 camera) piggibacked on a 200mmF4 newtonian reduced to F3 (for 600mm focal length) with another 585 camera, mounted on a UMi 17. I might even consider sending the widefield before I even get the newt if I can get some money for a filter wheel and rotator.

[@old_photons]

This is interesting to see. A suggestion to consider, provide the terms, conditions, and like business info on the site would be helpful in accessing your services. If it is on the site, I failed to find it.

[@shotsbystefan]

This is awesome! I have one question though; what about collimation?

[@hael8680]

Amazing undertaking!! Would you make a video on the connection/software to a remote rig? That's the missing bit.

[@astrofalls]

Yes this is definitely something I will touch on

[@mecatx]

Great project. I am using Slooh at present, but would like another option. need info coast.

[@rudyastro]

Living the dream man. I’d love to come down and check it out someday 🫡 good luck with the project and clear skies!

[@rs1107]

🔭"And I Can't Find My Way Home"🔭

[@kmh032008]

This is a great setup! Question - What about bandwidth? I could imagine everyone uploading their images to home in the AM could get challenging.

[@astrofalls]

We have fiber internet! So this won’t be a concern

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

Thank you Bray for the great video! I appreciate your concerns on safety, I would rather you install it and I don't mind paying for it. I am looking for an observatory home for a large CDK 14" and I am not sure if you would accept that type of scopes. I wish all the success to your business venture!

[@astrofalls]

Thanks! We can definitely handle a CDK14. In fact we have a couple of CDK17s and CDK12.5s already set to be installed.

[@morfoto]

Looking great, very interested in this! The website could use some more detail, though. All it has is the reserve/deposit option but no other information about what comes after the deposit, or how much a pier will cost moving forward after the deposit...

[@astrofalls]

We are sending out an email in a couple days with our shipping address and instructions, and I’ll have a video soon with more details on this front. And the deposit is equal to one months lease!

[@kenkoskela3357]

Hi, Bray - Thanks for the great update. For those of us with PLL Eagles, do you still recommend a wireless switch? Is there still an advantage to having one?

[@astrofalls]

Yes still recommended. This lets you power cycle your computer if needed

[@JackGroves-tv9sc]

Hi bray - i assume since the protocol will be for you and your partners to install the equipment that that would also entail polar alignment too?

[@astrofalls]

That is correct! I’ll use a polemaster or asiair to do this for everyone’s scope. If you have a mount with point modeling we can also make adjustments on the fly later

[@John_Hudson_922]

Love the idea. Sorry if I missed this in the video, where is this located exactly? Also what are the monthly rates?

[@astrofalls]

Central texas under b1/b2 skies. Lowest pricing tier is $199/month

[@John_Hudson_922]

@@astrofalls thanks. if you fill up will you build another one?

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

Could you please tell if you will accept small and big telescopes. Specifically, will you accept something like PlaneWave L-350 mounts?

[@astrofalls]

We will accept all telescope sizes! If you have an L350 that is fine too

[@johnadastra1754]

For the PC to turn on with a power cycle on and no push switch is this WOL - Wake on LAN, or is this referring to something else. Many thanks.

[@Tp_astro]

Nicee

[@mariospenard5125]

Very interesting. Is the deposit payment is the monthly cost to operate a setup... say 100mm refractor will cost 199$ per month? Thank you

[@AstroDanno]

How many total piers are available? This is very tempting. My front yard sucks! 😂

[@astrofalls]

We have space for 100 right now, but we plan to expand as much and as quickly as possible!

[@davedaniels3252]

What application software do you suggest for the BeeLink SER5 MAX to control a ZWO AM5 mount? The SkyX does not seem to support AM5's.

[@davedaniels3252]

In your tour video, I think you mentioned NINA, but not sure I heard it clearly

[@TevisC]

A few things I didn't see in the comments or mentioned in this video. 1. Concern for dust buildup on the optics? Up to owner to put auto cover on, I guess? Filtered positive air pressure system? 2. Structural ability to handle strong winds? What is the structure engineered to tolerate? 3. Insurance in case of tornado damage? 4. What are the size classifications, refractor, reflective and sct?

[@TevisC]

Nevermind #4 website updated since I last checked it out

[@astrofalls]

1. Dust is inevitable, but on site support is available for cleaning. 2. We experienced a very strong storm yesterday and everything help up perfectly, not sure what the exact numbers are for the load tolerance. 3. Insurance is up to each individual user, we will link an insurance provider, but it is very cheap (around $100 per year likely)

[@barbaraharris6102]

Nice. What about price?

[@astrofalls]

Check out website, it is $199 per month for a small scope

[@mpk2707]

I went to the website and there was no "general information" stating the obvious information that the booking of a Pier is the price pr. month. No location information or Avg clear days pr month/year, how you get your gear on site etc....

[@jesuschrist2284]

Why the kryptonite?

[@hael8680]

Microphone

[@diabolumberto]

where is the location ?

[@astrofalls]

Very central texas in bortle 1!

[@keithhanssen7413]

How will you counter that blistering Texas heat in summer?

[@astrofalls]

@@keithhanssen7413we will be running AC in the buildings on a timer to keep the heat at a reasonable level

[@ronlevandoski4805]

Bray: Tell us where this place is located. Shouldn't have to ask really.

[@astrofalls]

Central texas, I’ve mentioned it before several times

[@ronlevandoski4805]

@@astrofalls exactly WHERE in central TX?

[@rorobishop9661]

@@ronlevandoski4805 Rockwood tx