LightBuckets Observatory

LightBuckets Observatory is a commercial remote-telescope facility that lets astronomers around the world rent time on professional-grade telescopes over the internet.

About LightBuckets Observatory

LightBuckets operates as a network of remotely hosted telescopes rather than a single public site. It began at a facility in Rodeo, New Mexico, registered with the Minor Planet Center under observatory code H11, and has since expanded to include telescopes based in France.

Telescopes & research

Instruments in the network have included 0.61-metre (24-inch) and 0.37-metre (14.5-inch) Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes at the original New Mexico site, alongside a newer 32-inch robotic telescope and several smaller instruments, including a 17-inch Planewave reflector and refractors ranging from 110mm to 175mm. Astronomers renting time on LightBuckets' telescopes have used them for asteroid discovery and supernova confirmation work.

Location & getting there

This entry corresponds to the network's original site near Rodeo, New Mexico, in the United States, though LightBuckets now also operates telescopes hosted overseas.

Visiting LightBuckets Observatory

LightBuckets is a remote-access facility built for renting telescope time online rather than in-person tours, so there is no public visiting programme; check the operator's website for details on booking observing time instead.

See your named star from here

Because LightBuckets telescopes can be pointed at any coordinates on request, they could in principle be used to observe a star you've named. Name a star or look up its position in our star catalogue.