LightBuckets facts for kids

LightBuckets is a special kind of observatory that lets people from all over the world use its powerful telescopes. It used to be in Rodeo, New Mexico, USA, but now it's in France. You can rent time on their telescopes through their website on the Internet. This means anyone, from hobby astronomers to professional scientists, can explore the night sky. LightBuckets also lets you see live views from their telescopes and has a gallery of amazing space pictures.

Scientists have used LightBuckets to confirm supernovas (huge star explosions) and even discover new asteroids. It's like having your own telescope in a far-off place, right from your computer!

LightBuckets, along with other online telescope services like Sierra Stars Observatory Network and iTelescope, was suggested for a program called Target Asteroids!. This program helps people who have internet access but might not have a powerful telescope of their own.

What is LightBuckets?

The dwarf planet Eris seen through a 24-inch LightBuckets telescope.

Orcus, a dwarf planet, as seen by a LightBuckets telescope.

Asteroid 17 Thetis imaged by a LightBuckets telescope.

LightBuckets was started in 2007 by Steve Cullen. The observatories began working on June 12, 2008. In 2011, Steve Cullen went back to working with computer software. This led to some changes for LightBuckets.

You can pay to use the telescopes in two ways: by signing up for a subscription or by paying each time you use them. The cost changes depending on which telescope you want to use. Unlike programs like Microsoft WorldWide Telescope or Google Sky, which show you old pictures of space, LightBuckets lets you see new, live images. It's similar to Slooh, another service that offers live views from telescopes in places like Chile and Spain.

LightBuckets Before 2011

Before 2011, LightBuckets had different telescopes and locations. Their telescopes included special Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes made by RC Optical Systems. One was a large 0.61 meter (24-inch) telescope called LB-0001. Another was a 0.37 meter (14.5-inch) telescope called LB-0003. Both were at the company's observatory in Rodeo, New Mexico. This location was known as H11 Rodeo by the Minor Planet Center.

LightBuckets also had a wide-field observatory (LB-0002) in Rodeo, New Mexico. This one had a 0.2 meter (8-inch) AstroSysteme Austria N8 Newtonian Astrograph telescope. They used special cameras from Apogee Instruments with these telescopes. These cameras had filters to capture different colors of light from space.

In 2009, LightBuckets worked with the International Year of Astronomy. They were part of a big project called "100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project." LightBuckets also used special domes made by Astro Haven Enterprises to protect their telescopes.

LightBuckets After 2011

After 2011, LightBuckets moved to France. They now have a new 32-inch robotic telescope called LB-0001. They also have four other telescopes:

• LB-0002: a 17-inch Planewave telescope.
• LB-0003: a FLT 110mm refractor telescope.
• LB-0004: a TMB 175mm refractor telescope.
• LB-0005: a 12-inch ASA Newtonian telescope on a special mount.

Discoveries and Milestones

LightBuckets telescopes have been part of many exciting discoveries and events:

• In 2008, the Puckett Observatory Supernova Search found a supernova called SN 2008gr in a galaxy named IC 1579. LightBuckets telescopes in Rodeo, New Mexico, helped confirm this discovery.
• By October 2009, the LB-0001 telescope in Rodeo, New Mexico, had helped discover at least 17 new asteroids. The Minor Planet Center recorded this telescope as a ".68m f/8 Ritchey-Chrétien" at H11 Rodeo.
• In September 2010, the LightBuckets LB-0001 telescope was part of a group of instruments that confirmed a powerful burst of energy from space called a gamma ray burst (GRB) GRB100901A.
• On May 18, 2011, LightBuckets announced they would stop operations in Rodeo, New Mexico. By then, LightBuckets had taken images for over 4,300 hours and completed more than 5,400 customer imaging requests. They had over 680 customers.
• In August 2011, a new telescope, LB-0006, a 0.43 meter (17-inch) Dall Kirkham, appeared on their website. This telescope is located in the South Alps of France.

See also

• Astrophotography
• Kitt Peak Advanced Observing Program
• List of astronomical observatories
• Software Bisque
• Slooh