Remote telescope rental
Seestar S50 Pro & S30 Pro

Two skies. Your imaging windows.

Green marks the planned imaging window on a 24-hour dial. Clock hands show the time at each telescope.

These are session windows, not a live weather or availability indicator. Texas bookings and exact times still require confirmation. Follow your confirmed booking times; weather and observatory conditions may reduce usable imaging time. UK and Texas clocks change on different dates.

Email address required for telescope access

You need a free ZWO/Seestar account. Please use the email address linked to that account when booking, so we can identify the correct account for timed telescope access. If your checkout email is different, reply to your booking confirmation with your booking reference and your ZWO/Seestar account email before your session.

We need your account email only. Never send us your password or verification codes. Access must be arranged before you connect; completing payment does not itself activate telescope access.

Inner Mongolia S50 Pro & S30 Pro — booking terms

For the additional Texas S30 Pro, read the Texas booking terms and request process. Texas dates and session times are confirmed separately before payment.

Your booking and preparation

Your £30 booking provides remote access to your chosen telescope — either the Seestar S50 Pro or Seestar S30 Pro — during the confirmed observing window of up to nine hours. Each booking is for one telescope; the two telescopes have separate availability calendars. These terms apply to both services. Check your date and exact start and finish times carefully. Times are shown in UK time, including GMT or BST as applicable. Refund calculations use the duration confirmed for your booking, not an assumed nine hours.

This is a self-guided service for experienced Seestar users and astrophotographers. Read your joining instructions and have the required app, account and a reliable internet connection ready before your session.

Weather and safe operation

Remote astronomy depends on conditions at the telescope’s location. Clear skies, uninterrupted observing and particular imaging results cannot be guaranteed. Cloud, rain, snow, excessive wind, humidity or other unsafe conditions may delay observing or require the observatory to close. Safety decisions must be respected.

Our weather-refund policy

If weather prevents observing for four hours or more in total during your confirmed session, you may choose a proportionate refund for all time lost to weather, or the same value as credit towards another booking. Separate interruptions are added together; they do not need to occur consecutively.

The refund is calculated using the price you paid and the duration of your confirmed session. For example, four hours lost from a nine-hour booking costing £30 gives a refund of £13.33. Once the four-hour threshold is reached, all weather-lost time is included, not just the time beyond four hours.

If weather leaves fewer than two usable observing hours during your confirmed session, you may choose a full refund or a replacement night, subject to availability.

Weather disruption totalling less than four hours does not qualify for a refund under this voluntary weather policy, unless fewer than two usable observing hours remain. This does not affect your statutory rights.

What counts as lost time?

Lost time means periods within your confirmed booking window when weather prevents the telescope from being used for observing. We assess this using available observatory records, weather information and any supporting information you provide.

Reduced transparency, moonlight, atmospheric turbulence or disappointing image quality do not alone count as lost observing time where observing remains possible. Time lost because a chosen target is below the horizon or obstructed is also excluded. If the service is otherwise not provided as agreed, your statutory rights still apply.

Equipment and connection problems

If a fault with the telescope, observatory equipment or observatory internet connection prevents access, contact us promptly. These problems are assessed separately from the four-hour weather threshold. We will offer an appropriate remedy, which may include replacement time, a price reduction or a refund, without limiting your statutory rights.

Problems with your own device, internet connection or failure to use access that was available do not normally qualify for a refund, unless caused by incorrect instructions or another failure on our part.

Cancellations and changes

If Dark Clear Skies cancels your session, you may choose a full refund or an alternative available date.

If you need to cancel or change your booking, contact us as soon as possible. We will consider whether the slot can be rebooked and any costs saved. Any cancellation deduction will reflect our reasonable net loss, and any statutory cancellation rights remain unaffected.

Safe use

Use only the controls covered by your access instructions. Do not change account credentials, network settings, firmware, calibration or observatory settings without our agreement. Do not share access details. Never power down the telescope remotely.

We may temporarily suspend access where reasonably necessary to protect the equipment or other bookings. Any refund will be assessed according to the circumstances and your statutory rights.

Reporting a problem and refunds

Email paul@darkclearskies.co.uk with your booking reference, approximate interruption times and any relevant screenshots. Please report problems promptly, ideally during the session, so we have an opportunity to help.

We aim to review reported disruption within three working days. Approved refunds will be issued to the original payment method within 14 days of agreement. Bank processing times may vary.

These terms do not affect your statutory consumer rights.