Custom Astrophotography Builds
Unlock the cosmos with a personalized astrophotography setup from ASG Astronomy. We specialize in custom telescope builds, ensuring every component is perfectly integrated for superior performance. Our process is seamless and secure, guiding you from consultation to capturing your first light.
Here’s how we create your custom astrophotography system:
- Expert Consultation: We work with you to analyze your equipment and design a custom system that perfectly fits your budget and astrophotography goals.
- Ship Your Equipment: Send your gear to our Oregon facility. Our location can offer significant savings on your equipment.
- Full System Build: We assemble your entire rig, handling all cable management, onboard computers, software, and drivers to create a complete, “plug-and-play” unit.
- Live Remote Testing: Your setup is mounted in our dual 2.2-meter dome for testing, and you can remotely access and control your telescope before it ships.
- Secure Global Shipping: We box and/or crate your complete astro rig to any location in the world, from a remote desert to your backyard.
We handle the technical work and the logistics, so you can focus on capturing stunning images of the night sky with unparalleled ease and accuracy.
What's the Process?
We make it easy in 5 steps!
1. Expert Consultation & Equipment Analysis
This step is where we ensure every piece of your setup is perfectly matched and poised for peak performance. Our team acts as your personal consultant, providing a level of analysis that goes far beyond simple compatibility checks.
Custom System Design: We work with you to understand your astrophotography goals and budget. Whether you’re aiming for wide-field shots of nebulae or detailed close-ups of distant galaxies, we help you select or confirm the best equipment for your specific needs.
Deep Technical Analysis: We meticulously analyze the critical components of your imaging train. This includes a detailed review of your camera, scope, and accessories to ensure they work together harmoniously. We check for proper sampling, focal lengths, and other key parameters to guarantee your system is optimally configured to avoid common pitfalls and make sure expectations are met. This deep-dive analysis ensures you get the most out of your gear.
Expert Recommendations: If you’re still building your setup, we can provide tailored recommendations for specific equipment, ensuring your purchases are a sound investment that aligns with your long-term astrophotography goals. Our expertise helps you avoid costly mistakes and get a system that’s right for you from day one.
2. Send Your Equipment to Our Oregon Location
The first step in creating your dream astrophotography setup is getting your gear to us. We’ve streamlined this process to be as simple and cost-effective as possible.
You Buy or Send: You can either purchase new equipment and have it shipped directly to our facility, or send us the components you already own. We can handle the entire setup from telescope, mount and camera to the computer and electronics needed to tie it all together.
The Oregon Advantage: Our Oregon location is a strategic choice for both domestic and international clients. Oregon has no general state sales tax, which can result in significant savings on your total equipment purchase. This is especially beneficial for international customers who can have all their gear shipped to us without incurring this extra cost, making it a highly economical option.
3. Full System Build, Integration, and Setup
This is where your vision becomes a fully functional, ready-to-image system. Our team of experts meticulously assembles and integrates every component you’ve provided, turning a collection of parts into a cohesive, high-performance observatory.
Flawless Mechanical and Optical Assembly: We handle the entire build process, from mounting the telescope on its mount to securing your camera, filter wheel, and other accessories. We ensure precise alignment and balance for optimal performance.
Integrated Onboard Computers and Smart Devices: We don’t just build the hardware; we build the brain of your setup. We can integrate and configure onboard computers (like an ASIAIR or a dedicated mini-PC) directly onto your rig. This minimizes the number of cables and streamlines your entire workflow.
Professional Cable Management: A tangled mess of cables is a leading cause of frustration and lost imaging time. We meticulously route and secure all cables for power, data, and control. This professional-grade cable management prevents snags, reduces potential points of failure, and ensures your system operates smoothly and reliably, especially during long, unmonitored imaging sessions.
Software and Driver Configuration: We install and configure all necessary software and drivers to get your system talking. This includes connecting your mount, camera, and accessories, as well as setting up essential remote tools like plate-solving, guiding, and sequencing software. When you receive your system, it’s a truly “plug-and-play” experience—no software headaches, just stellar performance.
4. Rigorous Testing and Live Remote Access
Before your system leaves our facility, we put it through its paces to guarantee flawless performance under real-world conditions. This step provides the ultimate peace of mind, allowing you to confirm that your rig is ready to capture amazing images from day one.
Dome Testing for Peak Performance: We mount your complete astrophotography rig inside our dual 2.2-meter domes for comprehensive, real-sky testing. This is not just a quick check; it’s a full-scale performance validation. We test everything from mount tracking and guiding accuracy to focus control, plate solving, and overall system stability.
Live Remote Access: This is where our service truly stands out. While your equipment is in our dome, we can provide you with live remote access to your system. You can log in, take control, and drive your telescope from anywhere in the world. This allows you to:
Verify Performance: See your rig in action and confirm that everything is working as you expected.
Test Your Workflow: Practice your imaging process and make sure your software and hardware are communicating perfectly.
Build Confidence: You’ll know with certainty that your system is calibrated, optimized, and ready to perform the moment it arrives at your location.
Final Adjustments: Based on our testing and your remote access experience, we can make any final tweaks or adjustments to ensure your system is perfectly tuned before we move on to the next step.
5. Secure Crating and Global Shipping
The final step in our process ensures your valuable equipment arrives at its destination in the same perfect condition it was in when it left our dome. We treat the logistics with the same precision and care as we do the technical build.
Professional Crating and Boxing: Once your rig has been fully tested and approved, we meticulously prepare it for transport. We can either box it for standard shipping or build a custom wooden crate for maximum protection. This is especially crucial for larger mounts and optical tubes, as it safeguards them from the bumps and stresses of transit.
Ready for Remote Locations: We have extensive experience preparing and shipping complex astrophotography systems to challenging and remote locations. Whether your rig is headed to a dark-sky site in the Chilean desert, a permanent observatory in New Mexico, or simply back to your home, we ensure it’s packed to withstand the journey.
Worldwide Logistics: Our logistics team handles all the details, from arranging secure transport to preparing the necessary documentation. We work with trusted carriers to get your complete observatory to you safely and efficiently, no matter where you are in the world.
Ready to start your custom build?
Contact us for more details