Hi, gang.

I'm doing a research project and term paper on through-the-Internet telescopes available to the public. I have found a few services already, but I'm sure I've missed a bunch.

Here are the ones I've found so far:

• Global Rent-A-Scope (GRAS): http://www.global-rent-a-scope.com/
  
• Cherry Mountain Observatory: http://cherrymountainobservatory.com/home.html
  
• SLOOH: http://www.slooh.com/?gclid=COmg0sH7iJYCFQ-kiQodnjhQFg
  
• Seeing in the Dark: http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/explore-the-sky/internet-telescope.html
  
• Space Grant Internet Telescope Network: http://sgitn.space.edu/f1_Observatory Access/index.php
  
• Phoenix-10: http://www.spacetoday.org/DeepSpace/Telescopes/Internet.html
  
• Kitanomaru Internet Telescope (KIT): http://atlas.riken.jp/kit/e_KIT_Home.html
  
• Student Telescope Network (STN): http://mysite.du.edu/~rstencel/stn.htm
  
• NASA SkyView: http://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/titlepage.pl
  
• Northwest Astronomy Group (NWAG): http://www.marcchamberlin.com/telescope
  

I'm specifically looking for online scopes that can be useful for serious amateur research (you'll note that not all the services in my list meet that criterion, but I am trying to be exhaustive at first and then narrow my list down once I know what's out there).

Can anyone point me at observatories, scopes or services I've missed?

Thanks loads!

--Kelly Graves

Greetings Kelly-

I am the president of LightBuckets - we rent large aperture, research grade telescopes over the web.  In addition to premium optics, we have the most advanced web-based interface you will find.  We custom code everything using web 2.0 technologies so we can present things in ways the others just can't do with off the shelf software. 

For instruments, we use Ritchey-Chretien telescopes from RC Optical Systems (we have a 24", 20", and 14.5") as well as refractors from Takahashi.  Our 24" Ritchey-Chretien is by far the largest aperture instrument available for public use over the web.  What's more, that particular scope features an Apogee Alta U42 camera which has a quantum efficiency of 90%.  By comparison, the cameras being used by the others you listed will have a QE of between 50-60%.  Finally, we also have instruments in both the northern and southern hemisphere so customers can image the entire sky.

You can read more at www.lightbuckets.com.  I am also happy to speak with you offline.  Please feel free to email me at steve at lightbuckets dot com.

All the best, 

Steve Cullen

Hi -

A good collection of observatories offering time.  I have to add our name to the list, though.  Tenagra Observatories has been offering scope time since 2002.  Our flagship telescope is a 32" f/7 Ritchey which is TRUELY the largest scope in the world offered to the public.  Other instruments are the extreme wide-field 16" f/3.5 scope with a 1.5 degree square field.  We also have a 14" f/9 instrument in Western Australia.

While quite usable for the finest pretty pictures, Tenagra has a history of research, especially the 32".  ALL scopes have UBVRI standard photometric filters.  The 16" also has LRGB for deep color imaging with a minimum amount of exposure time to get really deep due to the fast nature of the system.

We are located in S. Arizona.  Information is available on the website:  tenagraobservatories DOT com.

Tenagra:

Our flagship telescope is a 32" f/7 Ritchey which is TRUELY the largest scope in the world offered to the public.  .

Your honesty is appreciated...

Tenagra:

Other instruments are the extreme wide-field 16" f/3.5 scope with a 1.5 degree square field.  We also have a 14" f/9 instrument in Western Australia.

While quite usable for the finest pretty pictures, Tenagra has a history of research, especially the 32".  ALL scopes have UBVRI standard photometric filters.  The 16" also has LRGB for deep color imaging with a minimum amount of exposure time to get really deep due to the fast nature of the system.

Very Nice indeed. That scope's a monster!!! The price is very reasonable also. Thanks for the info. Definetly worth consideration.