A remote experience

DEEP SKY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY has many challenges, particularly when practiced under less-than-ideal skies. The difficulty of imaging through light pollution and poor seeing limits the targets you can capture to bright objects often recorded at low resolution. Additionally, long spans of cloudy weather can further reduce your output.

Fortunately, astrophotographers no longer have to remain tethered to equipment in the backyard, nor be forced to travel far afield for clear, steady, dark skies. The availability of high-speed internet even in remote locations has fostered the growth of remote-imaging facilities, where astrophotographers willing to invest in the support and maintenance of their equipment can capture deep sky wonders under some of the most pristine skies on Earth. Here are my suggestions for getting great results delivered to your computer each clear night.

Moving away from the scope

I began shooting the night sky when I retired, and I quickly began to experiment with ways I could remain comfortable indoors while my scope was dutifully recording targets outside. Over the course of several years, and with frequent telescope and camera upgrades, I managed to cobble together a system that could perform remotely, about 50 metres away.

But the humid, often cloudy skies of my home,