A recent conversation with Rupert Smith of Astrograph.net on Facebook led me to find out about the facility named e-EyE in Extremadura, Spain. Created and ran by Jose Luis Quiñones and his wife Cristina Fabo, this facility provides many things beyond remote hosting. This includes accommodation on-site, a conference room for courses, an area powered with mains electricity for star parties, a pool, an area for BBQs, etc. Most interesting for me was the actual observatories for remote hosting.
Currently there is one shed with six piers in it. These have individually-controlled, motorised roofs. Customers having their equipment hosted at a pier have full control over their own motorised roof, via ASCOM.
The site has an amazing night sky, with SQM readings ranging between 21.5 and 22.9 - little to no light pollution to speak of. Best of all, Jose Luis and Cristina are extremely friendly and accommodating, providing my wife and I with a very enjoyable introduction to the facility. Definitely somewhere we would want to stay a few nights as a break from everyday life.
Though we did not choose a particularly nice day to visit (we decided to go only the day before!), I was told that the number of clear nights per year at the e-EyE facility ranges between 136 and 236, as measured. They estimate an average of about 200 clear nights per year.
Though we did not choose a particularly nice day to visit (we decided to go only the day before!), I was told that the number of clear nights per year at the e-EyE facility ranges between 136 and 236, as measured. They estimate an average of about 200 clear nights per year.
The drive up from Gibraltar was very enjoyable, at just under 4 hours driving, over a distance of about 320 km. Certainly close enough for me to casually go over in a weekend to set up my equipment over there. I have already chosen my pier and it is reserved, pending receiving some equipment I need. I look forward to this tremendously, as it will allow me to image remotely from home and in an amazing night sky, many, many more nights a year.
To start off, I will have my Borg 77EDII telescope as my hosted telescope. In the future, I will probably upgrade to a longer focal length refractor, as I am quite keen on refractors and may want to zoom in more. I impatiently await everything I need so I can load up my car and stay a weekend at e-EyE, getting all my things sorted! I also look forward to a fantastic relationship with Jose Luis and Cristina, hosting courses up at e-EyE, like on PixInsight. More to come on that front!
To start off, I will have my Borg 77EDII telescope as my hosted telescope. In the future, I will probably upgrade to a longer focal length refractor, as I am quite keen on refractors and may want to zoom in more. I impatiently await everything I need so I can load up my car and stay a weekend at e-EyE, getting all my things sorted! I also look forward to a fantastic relationship with Jose Luis and Cristina, hosting courses up at e-EyE, like on PixInsight. More to come on that front!