ObsTech Observatory
Autonomous.
Optimized.
Next-generation.
Sea West installed a PlaneWave DeltaRho 350 telescope for remote observing at ObsTech Observatory in Chile.
About the observatory
ObsTech Observatory is located in the Rio Hurtado Valley of Chile and began operation in 2015. ObsTech is a fully automated remote observatory with on-site technical support staff that offers affordable pier spots for astronomers, astrophotographers, and commercial satellite tracking companies. The observatory location was selected out of multiple prospective sites in the southern Atacama Desert region due to the excellent seeing conditions and with over 300 clear nights per year. ObsTech features over a dozen custom built roll-off-roof observatories that are fully automated to open during clear skies and automatically close during cloudy, or inclement weather. ObsTech has a highly trained staff that maintains and optimizes over 100 installed telescope systems as of 2023 from around the world and continues to add additional observatory buildings for new telescopes.
Telescope
PlaneWave Instruments DeltaRho 350
Dome
Custom roll-off-roof
Camera
ZWO ASI461MM Pro
Astrophotography
Public Outreach
Robotic Observatory
Software Automation
Project Scope
Sea West was hired to install a remote telescope system at ObsTech that would be used for advanced astrophotography. The telescope for this project was a PlaneWave DeltaRho 350 and was chosen for its wide field of view and fast focal ratio of f/3. Installed on the DeltaRho is a ZWO ASI461 medium format monochrome sensor to take advantage of the telescope’s large field of view. The entire telescope system is autonomously controlled over the internet via Voyager Advanced software for scheduling optimal imaging of targets based upon moon phase and altitude for obtaining the highest data quality possible. ObsTech has been a great partner to work with and Sea West looks forward to working with their team on future projects.
PARTNERS
Sea West Observatories would like to thank PlaneWave Instruments for manufacturing the DeltaRho 350 and L-350 direct drive mount utilized in this observatory package. ObsTech also provided incredible onsite pre- and post-installation support that ensured the project was successful.
