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Deep Sky Imaging Experience - Perfect Gift!

£199.00✓ 2 year warranty

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Model: ds_gift_experience

Capture your own deep sky image using a remote observatory in Spain, with expert guidance from world-renowned astro imager Gary Palmer.

Duration: 2-2.5hrs Price: £199 Format: 1-2-1 Virtual Voucher Validity: 6 Months

This is a fantastic opportunity to use premium deep sky imaging equipment in a remote observatory with expert tuition from one of the UK’s best solar/deep sky imagers.

It is an excellent gift for somebody interested in Astronomy or Astrophotography or someone who wants to advance their knowledge of deep sky imaging.

You will come away with your own unique data set of at least 8 hours on a target of your choice! (Subject to being able to image that target at the time of year of your experience from Southern Spain).

Overview

Capture your own Deep Sky image!

Our remote observatory in Southern Spain offers exquisite, dark, clear skies from which we operate several telescopes configured for deep sky astrophotography.

Your experience will be split into two parts. During part one, expert Astro-photographer Gary Palmer from Astro Courses UK will give you a brief tour of the system and the software we use to control the image sequencing before you choose the target you would like to image.

Together, you will frame the target and choose the filters you want to use, the exposure durations and quantities.

We will then collect between 8 and 10 hours of data for you over the next few weeks (subject to weather). Once we have sufficient data, we will arrange part two of your 1-2-1, during which Gary will run you through calibrating and integrating the captured data and then processing the data to produce a final coloured, sharpened image.

You can, of course, keep the digital images produced during your experience, including the raw data.

What’s Included

An initial 60 minutes one-to-one with expert astrophotography Gary Palmer to choose and setup your desired target
8-10 hours of imaging time on your target
A second 60-90 minute one-to-one with Gary to stack, calibrate your imaging data and then further process the data to produce a final image
The experience is conducted via Zoom in an online, virtual environment
Learn about the Deep sky imaging, the equipment and software we use
Capture your data
Process your data to create a finished image
Download the final, processed image as well as any raw data captured during your session

Software

The software below is what we will use during the experience, but many of the steps can be applied to other software as well. We will do our best to answer questions about other software, but the core experience will be based around the software we already know and use ourselves.

Sequence Generator Pro - For observatory/telescope control, image sequencing, and planning.
Pixinsight - For data calibration, integration and processing.
Photoshop - For final image tweaking and manipulation.

How it Works

Purchase an experience voucher. We will then email you a voucher code and an image you can print or email to the recipient. The purchased voucher is valid for six months and will include details on booking the experience.

Availability

The experience is weather-dependent. We need clear, dry conditions to open the roof and image. Please book your experience on a weekday between 6-10 pm. We will then let you know close to the time whether weather conditions are suitable.

If, due to weather or technical availability, your experience cannot proceed, we will reschedule. If the weather becomes adverse during your experience, we will extend your experience or reschedule the remaining time.

Once booked, you can reschedule your experience if you give at least 48 hours' notice. Otherwise, your experience voucher might be cancelled without a refund.

Participant Guidelines

The experience, equipment and software used may vary to suit the day's weather conditions.

Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult throughout the experience.

Flexibility

If you are interested in a particular aspect of deep sky imaging or wish to do something slightly different, we can tailor the experience for you. Please get in touch beforehand to discuss your requirements.