Chilescope team is happy to announce the new version of our web site!
We have transferred the web site to the new more efficient planform and also added a lot of functionality.
New platform and better integration with hardware
We have updated the technological stack of the portal:
- we changed from a large monolithic system to micro services,
- the backend was optimized and was refactored from .Net framework 4.5 to .Net 6,
- the frontend was developed on React,
- and all new applications were deployed on Azure clouds
Thanks to this, we were able to increase the speed of the portal! For example, a page with a list of shooting sessions used to load in an average of 22s, now it loads in an average of 1.5s, and a detailed session's page used to load in 5-7s, and now it takes 587ms. And in the future, these changes will speed up the process of developing and deploying new features!
Real Time Sessions
Sometimes users need to image in real time. As you know the period of the sessions planning on coming night is limited by 2 hours before sunset (sun at alt -15 deg). Now you have opportunity to create sessions after 2 hours before sunset and all coming night period! More of that Real Time Sessions go with 20% discount from regular prices (all other discounts are active)!
This makes the planning system more flexible and makes better telescopes utilization.
To plan the Real Time Session simply go to the main page of website find the schedule graph and find the not occupied time slot within the coming/going night. Click this time slot and you will be transferred to the standard session planning window.
Crowd Imaging
We invite our users to collaborate in the astrophotography projects!
The team work has a lot of benefits:
1. Collecting funds from participants allows to collect much more data and run more deep view and sometimes unique projects
2. Communications within the Crowd Imaging projects allows to share your experience and to learn new imaging and processing strategies
3. Working in the team of hobby colleges is much more fun!
How it works
Each our subscriber can become the Crowd Imaging initiator.
The project initiator has total access to the project account. He can plan/cancel/edit sessions and plans, request refunds and so on.
To start the project, the project initiator needs to input some data on the Crowd Imaging page on Chilescope web site:
1. The object he suggests for imaging
2. The project description. Why you think this object is so interesting and worth to be the project target. Imaging strategy: filters, exposures, total exposure time. What is the main goal or unique result he wants/suggest to achieve?
3. Total points amount to be collected for the project
4. Number of participants he invites
5. Amount of points from each participant to be collected. For example, total project fund- 1000 points. Initiator invites 4 participants. Each participant will fund 200 points.
6. Date of the finish of funds collection
7. Date of imaging project start
All our subscribers can see the suggested projects and can join them.
To do this simply press “Join” and your observing points share will be automatically added to the project account. You can use both points from your account or pay via PayPal.
You can cancel your participation any time before the Date of the finish of funds collection. In this case the points return to your account.
The points are locked on the project account after the Date of the finish of funds collection.
Every project member can see project statuses and can communicate with team members via the chat on the project web page.
If total amount is not collected till the Date of the finish of funds collection the project is automatically canceled and the points return back to each participant accordingly.
If total amount is collected till the Date of the finish of funds collection the imaging project starts.
The project initiator plans observing session and plans according to the imaging strategy.
All participants have access to the imaging data from the very start of the project. The project has special folder on the ftp server.
After all project sessions are finished and data is collected the project team can download the data and start with processing. Again you can communicate in the chat discussing the processing tools, strategies and results.
We expect really unique results from the Crowd Imaging projects! It can be small rarely imaged galaxies on 1m telescope or super faint nebula on 500cm. But whatever it is we hope our subscribers get unique experience and reach outstanding results!
Market Place
During years we have accumulated huge volume of data! Some objects were imaged with total exposure up to 100s hours! For those who want to try themselves in processing of unique, very deep view objects we now propose the imaging datasets! Each dataset has description (object, filters, exposures and so on), all calibration files and preview.
You can purchase datasets both by using your points and paying via PayPal.
We will add datasets as they are ready.
We have added a lot of useful information to the session planning section to make the planning process more convenient.
-Moon above\below horizon
- The graph of Moon altitude
- The graph of object altitude (after coordinates inputting)
- The camera FOV and scale
- Moon phase
- We have improved the session checks
