Can I take a tour of the Roboscopes facility?
Do you share any of my personal details with third parties?
In full compliance with GDPR any details we have stored for you are purely for transaction purposes and are not viewed by either ourselves or third parties.
The only time we will use your email address or telephone number is if we need to contact you about your order with us.
Card details are never saved, as subscriptions are stored with our Card Merchant.
Your details ar eof course shared with payment gateways during checkout for verification purposes, as is the standard everywhere.
I received a credit note - How long does this last for?
Credit notes last for 60 days.
Please also note that membership credit notes, and imaging credit notes are not interchangeable.
What happens if my imaging session fails due to a weather instance?
Our backend system is designed to even out weather events which allows a smoother more efficient way to collect data.
This can be far more covenient than being clouded out with a conventional hourly slot booking system you normally see online, as you are not tied to a specific day/time to collect your data.
So in essence with our 7-29 day imaging window we should not get a failure except with the most extreme of wetaher events.
Where can I find information regarding Pier Mainenance or Weather Events?
Any announcements regarding Pier Maintenance or Wetaher events are posted to the Warm Room inside the 'Important Area' as and when they happen.
Updates within the last 10 days are displayed at the top of the Roboscopes website in an orange bar.
Are astronomy clubs or professional bodies allowed to sign upto a gold or silver membership?
No.
Astronomy clubs or professional bodies are required to purchase a platinum membership.
Are my astronomy club or other professional body allowed to utilise my membership?
No.
This goes against our terms of conditions.
You are welcome to show them how things work etc, but if they desire to use our services they must register with a Platinum membership.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes.
You can cancel your 12 month memberships at any time, although you may still be liable for some or all of your remaining membership term.
Our terms and condition page contains details of:
1) What you have signed up to.
2) Our terms of service.
3) Reasonable and acceptable terms for membership cancellation.
Can I have a gold or platinum memberships for less than 12 months?
No, Our minimum term for memberships is 12 months.
Can I share my membership / syndicate membership with a friend or third party?
No you cannot.
This goes against our terms of conditions and if we discover you have shared your membership we reserve the right to cancel your account with immediate affect.
Can I upgrade my membership?
Yes.
You can upgrade from Silver to Gold / Platnium / Rhodium at any time from within your Dashboard.
Some syndicate memberships can be upgrades to their join tiers, however if you are unsure at any point then please speak to us.
Do Roboscopes have imaging teams/syndicates available where a group share data from a telescope between them?
Yes.
We have a multitude of syndicate options available, all of which can be found in your Dashboard.
As of 23rd Dec 2021 we have the following:
* Pier 1 Syndicate
* Pier 2 Syndicate
* Pier 3 syndicate
* Pier 5 Syndicate
* Pier 14 Syndicate
.
How long does my membership last?
All memberships and syndicate memberships are for a 12 Month term.
Gold and Platinum memberships will auto renew, whereas Syndicates, Hosted or Full House will have to be renewed manually.
Can I spread the cost of my membership?
Unfortunately no.
To implement a system to do this would be costly not to mention our memberships are annual.
Is it safe to pay through your website?
Yes.
Our website is secured via HTTPS as shown via the padlock icon on your browser.
We do not store any card details on our servers.
All transactions are processed via our payment gateways STRIPE/Paypal directly.
What payment method can I use with Roboscopes?
Our memberships and hourly bookings can be paid for using debit/credit card via Stripe, or by Paypal.
Hosted memberships can be paid for via Direct Bank Transfer - Please ask for more information.
We do NOT accept American Express, Diner Club and some others.
Can I book my imaging run at a specific time?
This is not how Roboscopes works.
Our way of doing things is different and more flexible than a regular online hourly paid service you may have used.
Can I choose to have custom binning?
No.
We have set the binning in our systems to suit our location and sky condition, to alter the binning would result in poorer data.
Can I image using N2 / Nitrogen Filters?
Only if that filter is available on the pier that you have chosen.
Filters available for each pier are shown on their relevant equipment page.
Can I image with Clear filters?
Only if that filter is available on the pier that you have chosen.
Filters available for each pier are shown on their relevant equipment page.
Can I image with HB / Hydrogen Beta filters?
Only if that filter is available on the pier that you have chosen.
Filters available for each pier are shown on their relevant equipment page.
Can I image with more than one telescope at once?
Yes of course!
You can add different orders to your cart and pay for all of them together - in these cases your order will be sent to you all together and not in parts, so your data may take a little extra time to collect.
Can I see a job queue for my chosen pier?
Yes.
Yes, we have implemented a daily cron job that retrieves the current queue status of our piers, this can be accessed from the main menu.
The cron runs at 9AM GMT every day.
Can you image Comets and Minor Astronomical Bodies?
Our system can image comets etc but we do have a few caveats, we use a minor bodies data base to image these types of objects and when combined with our automation this add certain limitations to what we can & can’t do
• We can only put the minor body or Comet where the data base says (normally in the middle)
• Our system is setup to track stars not the minor body itself
• We need to comet or minor body name and do not require any coordinates
• Moon avoidance constraints are not applied to comets due to immediacy of required capture
• All comets are set at the highest priority in our software which is level 4
• Early morning & evening comets, our equipment starts up & shuts down when the sun reaches -15º below the horizon
• Each 1 hour imaging block takes 1.15 to 1.30 hours when you factor in Focussing, plate solving, dithering and other behind the scenes housekeeping
• Comets obviously move to a different part of the sky every evening so please select a suitable imaging period (Total imaging time) to ensure we can capture your data in one night eg if a comet rises at 3am and the sun reaches -15 at 5.30am we cannot image image a 3 hour block
• Remember usually, you are not the only customers with a job request in the pier, we do have other customers imaging deep sky objects. Our automated algorithms need time to juggle multiple jobs, customers and personal requirements so be flexible when placing your order to allow enough breathing room for our system to accommodate your order
• We only charge for the imaging time, not for the Focussing, plate solving, dithering etc
• If our system does not collect the data due to unrealistic requirements of your behalf we will not refund your money
Can you tell me the camera angle / orientation for my pier?
Although we do our best to note down the camera angle as best we can, we cannot guarantee the angle.
If you would like a sample image taken with your object to confirm angle then this can be arranged, just contact us.
Do all your piers have calibration frames?
Yes.
There is a standard set of calibration frames on each pier.
Every pier has a set of Flats & Dark frames.
We do not take Bias frames for CMOS sensors as they aren't required as the noise is so low on them to begin with.
Do I have to mention I have used "Roboscopes" to acqurie the data?
No you do not.
The data belongs to you and you alone, you don't need to state where or how you received the data.
Do you have a BIAS frame library?
Yes.
We offer Bias frames for all of our CCD cameras.
We do not offer Bias frames for CMOS cameras because the noise levels are negligable.
Do you have a DARK frame library?
Yes.
We have a standard dark library that is adjusted to suit each pier configuration such as the sub lengths.
If the pier you use has a shutter, we allow purchasing of custom dark frames to be done, however we cannot extend this to piers without a shutter.
Do you have a FLAT frame library?
Yes.
We have a standard set of flat frames for each pier.
All flat frames can be accessed from your "Dashboard"
How do I know what objects will be in the sky at any given time?
We reccomend using Telescopius to check what objects are in the sky at any given time.
For hourly bookings you will need to check whats available within 28 days.
Alternatively you can input the Roboscopes locations details into your planetarium software at home.
Our Location
Latitude: 38° 13' 10.89" North
Longitude: 6° 37' 54.32" West
Altitude: 560 Meters
Timezone: Western Europe
How do I process my images?
Unfortunately this is not an answer that has a concrete answer.
Each imager uses their own techniques with various programs to achieve their desired image.
We reccommend that you watch some YouTube videos or ask some other members in the Warm Room as to how they achieve their final images.
The beauty of processing is that there are so many different ways, so many different applications that neither is wrong or right.
I ordered data on a one shot color, but it's black and white.. why?
This is a question we get asked a lot. The frames from the One Shot Colour camera’s in their raw state do indeed come down in black and white. This is perfectly normal. As part of the pre-processing your data will need to be calibrated using the Bias, Darks and Flat frames available to download from your Dashboard on the website.
Once calibrated you need to convert them to colour using the Debayer tool in software like Pixinsight, Deepsky Stacker, Maxim dl. After this stage the frames can be aligned and stacked to create your Stacked Raw colour image. It may still look very dark as the data held in this file needs to be processed to bring the brightness levels into a range where your screen or monitor can see it
The bayer matrix parameters for each pier are located on there respective pier equipment page.
My job showed 100% complete yesterday but today it's showing less?
This is normal - Your job is showing as completed as the correct number of subs have been acquired.
However when we check the data some of it may have been poor so part of the job has been resubmitted to our system. This results in the percent completed going backward.
What are your moon avoidance parameters?
Lum - 120 & 7
G,B & OSC 120 & 5
Red - 110 & 5
OIII - 110 & 5
SII - 100 & 5
HA - 85 & 5
What happens if I wish to cancel my imaging run?
As long as your data acquisition hasn't started then you may cancel your order for a full refund.
If your image acquisition has already started we may offer you a credit note at our discretion.
What happens if my imaging run isn't completed within the 7 to 28 day time frame?
In most circumstances this would never happen, however data can be delayed due to weather, moon or horizon constraints.
As soon any events have passed we will resume any data acquisition.
In minor circumstances we will contact you about your order and discuss how to proceed further.
Who checks if my chosen object(s) are up and visible to image at any given time?
You do, as the imager it's your responsibility.
If we notice that you have booked an object thats not yet visible, or is below our horizon limits we will contact you and discuss options with you.
- If you choose a winter object in June you will be waiting a few months before your dataset is captured so please check before ordering.
Who do you use unity gain with CMOS sensors?
We decided to use Unity Gain with our range of CMOS sensors because it gave the best combination of:
1. Dynamic range
2. Noise floor
3. Signal to noise ratio
4. Flexible sub lengths for most deep sky objects
Who is responsible for the sub lengths chosen?
You are, we just supply the equipment and the location.
It's upto you as the imager to check these things, however your more than welcome to ask in the Warm Room for tips.
Who's responsibility is it to check if objects are suitable for the equipment I have booked?
The responsibility is yours as the imager.
If you fill in the details for the equipment in Telescopius it will give you a very good idea if the equipment is suitable for your chosen object.
If you are unsure, please ask us.
Why do you bin some cameras at 1x1 and others at 2x2?
On average our location has a seeing of 1-2"/px although it can go below 1"/px in the winter.
We decided to simplify the imaging process by binning out cameras to suit our location, so where possible we keep our image scale above 1"/px.
In our experience oversampling can be more damaging than undersampling because you simply lose to many subs due to atmospherics. Where as with undersampling you just lose some extra detail.
Why do you have horizon limits in place?
We have horizon limits in place because the lower down you image the thicker the atmosphere gets causing atmospheric refraction amongst other things.
All telescopes are affected by this to some extent but as a rule of thumb wide-field sets are more accomodating.
Our horizon limits are strictly enforced and we will not image items below those limits so please be mindful of this when booking.
Why does it take 7 to 28 days to acquire my data?
Our system uses algorithms which take things like sky position, horizon limits and moon avoidance parameters into account - not to mention our 4 tier Priority system.
The result of these algorithms in many cases will result in your data being taken over multiple nights.
Other points to take into account are that we do not bother imaging deep sky when the moon is very close full.
We only take RGB data when the moon meets the avoidance parameters. Likewise we only take Luminance when the moon is below the horizon.
Can I sign upto silver membership and still image at the discounted rates?
No.
Discounted rates are only available to Gold, Platinum and Rhodium members
Why are Roboscopes hourly prices more competitive than other providers?
In order to keep our costs down, we decided to cut away features and services that we felt the broader user base may not use.
Our whole mission is to make remote imaging affordable.
Services and Fetaures cost money so it's a trade off between price & niceties
Do I have to state how and where I acquired the data I have received?
No.
The data belongs to you, regardless if your a member of a syndicate or an hourly user.
Most people these days tend to say that their images were remotely acquired.
Do you have a portal, ftp or remote folder that I can access to see images as they are being taken live?
No we do not.
Security of the Roboscopes network is paramount so we do not allow any remote access to it's services.
Customers are more than welcome to ask for a sample frame from their dataset if some data has been taken.
You can see if data acquisition has commenced by checking out the Pier Queues.
How do I collect my data/subs once it has been completed?
Your data will be uploaded to your personal WebDav folder and you can download it via adirect link in your 'My Memberships' area
Data can also be downloaded through our dataset portal
How do I download my data?
Your data can be downloaded via WebDav or through our dataset portal.
Details of each are shown in your 'My Memberships' area.
How long will my data be stored on the Roboscopes servers?
Your data will be stored on our servers for upto 28 days.
Once this time has elapsed our server will automatically remove the dataset.
Is my data quality checked before I receive it?
Data from hourly purchases is checked with Blink before we dispatch it to the customer.
In severe cases we will resubmit data to our systems to be retrieved again.
All good data and bad data is sent to you the customer, as peoples own standards vary.
We cannot check every single frame to make sure it's perfect and if we miss bad frames that leave you short, we will of course retake them.
Who retains the intellectual property rights to the data once received?
For hourly users, the data belongs to you and you alone.
For Syndicate users, the data belongs to you as much as as it does your fellow members, however you can do with it as you wish.
* You chose the object
* You claibrated the data
* You processed the data into your final image
Roboscopes has no rights to the data apart from ensuring data protection whilst it's stored on our server.
Can I book time on Syndicate piers if I am not a syndicate member?
No.
Syndicate piers are for syndicate members only.
Can I request one of my syndicate submissions to be removed from the joblist?
Yes.
On the syndicate jobs list any of your own submissions will have a button that says 'request removal' - This will notify us to remove your job from the pier queues and will mark your job as deleted.
Can I see a list of jobs other syndicate members have requested?
Yes.
Our syndicate jobs list can be found within the main menu.
This page can be narrowed down to a specific syndicate pier.
Is my syndicate data checked before I receive it?
Syndicate datasets are uploaded as they are.
Sometimes this results in bad frames that have to be sorte dout by you, the members however if the submission falls short of the frames required, you are able to resubmit a submission for the missing pieces.
We opted for this approach after consultation with Syndicate members.
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