Tuesday June 15, 2004

If you've ever been interested in exploring the cosmos via telescope, but either don't have the time, the money, or a location conducive to good viewing, then you should check out SLOOH. This subscription service gives you access to a set of remotely controlled telescopes located at 7900 feet on Mount Teide on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Subscribers can sign up for an unlimited number of "group missions" -- regularly scheduled viewings of interesting celestial objects -- and experience the mission in real-time from a browser with the ability to snap photos as the mission progresses. Subscribers also have the right to a limited number of "solo missions," which allow the subscriber to specify the celestial coordinated to be visited during the mission.

Here's a shot my friend Monty took on a Venus Transit mission last week:

I am not affiliated in any way with this service -- just speading the cool. Check it out!.