Chapter 1: The Rise of Armchair Astronomy

Amateur astronomy is entering a remarkable phase known as armchair astronomy. This article delves into how individuals can explore the universe without ever stepping outside.

In the latest episode of The Cosmic Companion, we discuss the concept of Astronomy from Home. Our guest, Alex Curry, a co-founder of Telescope Live, shares insights into modern amateur astronomy—now more accessible than ever.

Reflecting on past experiences, I recall nights spent with my father, where we would load our 8" telescope into the car and drive to a mountain as twilight fell.

We would pack a cooler filled with dry ice to keep our "cold camera" chilled for capturing celestial images. Surprisingly, film is more effective in cooler temperatures.

Upon arriving at our destination—often Mt. Kearsarge near Concord, NH—we would set up the telescope and load the dry ice into the camera. By this time, Polaris, the North Star, would be shining brightly, allowing us to align the telescope properly.

As the night deepened and our targets appeared, we would open the cold camera's shutter, exposing images for varying lengths of time, from mere seconds to nearly an hour. Throughout this process, constant adjustments were necessary to account for the Earth's rotation.

After taking just a few photos, we would pack up and return home, where we would develop the film in our darkroom. This often culminated in creating several prints as dawn approached.

Amateur astronomy has seen remarkable technological advancements over the past few decades. Digital photography has transformed the landscape, making astrophotography simpler and providing instant results while eliminating the need for cooling equipment. Ironically, those coolers were also handy for keeping drinks cold—if you didn't leave them in too long!

Computerized tracking systems have simplified the process of locating and following celestial objects. However, the costs associated with telescopes and the logistics of traveling to dark sky sites can still present significant challenges for budding astronomers.

The first remote-controlled telescope was developed at Kitt Peak Observatory near Tucson, which contributed to the future Hubble Space Telescope project. Nowadays, robotic telescopes are accessible to astronomy enthusiasts worldwide.

Several observatories, including Telescope Live and Insight Observatory, now offer the public remote access to their robotic telescopes, while Kitt Peak has introduced human-guided remote options.

In this episode, we'll explore how to engage in astronomy from home. First, let's welcome Alex Curry, co-founder of Telescope Live.

To get started with home-based astronomy, it's essential to find a network of telescopes and connect with a community. Some platforms, like Telescope Live, operate on a subscription basis, while others, such as Insight Observatory, charge per observation. Prices can be quite reasonable—starting at just four dollars a month with Telescope Live or approximately $20 per image with Insight.

Typically, astronomical images designed for color photography are captured in red, green, blue, and luminance wavelengths, collectively referred to as LRGB images. Another popular astrophotography technique involves the SHO or HSO method, which captures wavelengths from hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen produced by excited electrons in stars within molecular clouds.

Each exposure is sent to the user as a series of black-and-white images, usually in FITS format (Flexible Image Transport System). This format is uncompressed, allowing for resizing without loss of detail, and includes extensive metadata about the image, such as telescope and camera details, and location.

Due to Earth's rotation, each exposure is slightly offset from the others. To begin the editing process, an application that can align these images and blend them into a composite is essential. Numerous programs are available for this purpose; my personal favorite is Astro Pixel Processor. Experiment with different options to find what suits you best!

The final composite image can then be enhanced using your preferred photo editing software. With countless photo editors available, the possibilities are nearly endless. Have fun, experiment, and showcase your astrophotography creations! We’d love to see your favorite works in the comments.

So why not embark on astrophotography from the comfort of your home? It's a fantastic activity for the whole family!

Next week on The Cosmic Companion, we'll discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the field of astronomy. Don't miss our special interview with Dr. Yosuke Kobayashi from The University of Arizona and Steward Observatory, where we will talk about his groundbreaking emulator for studying galaxy formation in the early universe. Join us starting Tuesday, August 16, on The Cosmic Companion!

Clear skies!

James Maynard, a New England native and founder of The Cosmic Companion, has a background in physics, chemistry, and history. He now resides in Tucson with his wife, Nicole, and their cat, Max.

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Chapter 2: Remote Astronomy Resources

In this chapter, we'll explore some valuable resources for remote astronomy.

The second video features a meeting of the SJAA SIG, focusing on Telescope Live and its offerings. This session provides insights into how users can access telescopes remotely and engage with the broader astronomy community.