[UPDATE # 3] The Retirement of Advanced Requests in TL4 - Your Questions Answered
Hello everyone!
Following our recent Telescope Live 4 (TL4) announcements, we’ve seen a lot of discussion - especially about one of the biggest changes coming with the new platform: the retirement of Advanced Requests.
We know this is a major shift for many of you, and we want to take the time to address your most pressing questions and concerns.
To provide full transparency, Alex recently recorded a video explaining the decision, what it means for you, and what’s coming next.
Watch the full video here
For those who prefer reading, this blog post will summarize the key points and provide detailed answers to the most common questions we’ve received from the community.
Prefer to Listen Rather Than Read?
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This blog post is now also available in audio format.
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Why Are Advanced Requests Being Retired?
At Telescope Live, our mission has always been clear: to make astrophotography more accessible, removing the barriers that have traditionally made this hobby difficult to pursue.
We’ve done this by cutting costs for the end users, opening the gates to an endless stream of observations, and helping users overcome the steep learning curve that astrophotography often presents with curated learning resources for top-notch astrophotographers.
We understand that for some of our most experienced users, retiring Advanced Requests may feel like a step away from our original identity.
However, this change is actually a key part of fulfilling our mission, ensuring that more users than ever before can enjoy high-quality astrophotography without the obstacles that once stood in the way.
It’s also important to remember that Telescope Live has never been a replacement for the hands-on experience of capturing data with your own telescope.
Instead, we’ve always seen it as a way to complement and enhance the astrophotography journey - whether by giving users access to remote telescopes under the world’s best night skies, or by providing data from celestial targets that would otherwise be out of reach.
For many astrophotographers, local conditions - light pollution, weather, or geographic limitations - make regular observations challenging.
Telescope Live has always been about breaking down those barriers, making it possible for anyone, regardless of location, to engage in deep-sky imaging.
At the same time, for those who already capture their own data, TL serves as a powerful extension of their personal observations, offering datasets that allow them to explore new processing techniques, compare results, or build richer, more complete astrophotography projects.
By evolving toward a more accessible, dataset-driven model, we are ensuring that even more people - from beginners to seasoned astrophotographers - can experience the joy of exploring the cosmos through high-quality imaging.
Your Questions Answered
Let’s start with the “Elephant in the room”.
Q1: Will I Still Be Able to Choose My Own Targets and Exposure Times?
With TL4, you will not be able to manually submit individual imaging requests as you did with Advanced Requests.
However, we know how important target selection and optimized exposures are for high-quality astrophotography, which is why TL4 introduces a more refined approach to dataset creation.
Here’s what’s changing:
- Instead of relying on one-size-fits-all presets, each dataset is specifically designed for the best possible capture of its target.
- Exposure times, filters, and integration strategies are tailored to the object - eliminating under- or over-exposed data.
- Advanced calibration ensures consistency and reliability across all datasets, reducing processing difficulties.
Additionally, you’ll still have a say in what gets observed, and there will be a possibility of complete “hands-on-control” on our telescopes (more about this in Q4 and Q5).
Q2: What if I Need to Capture a One-Off Event (Comet, Supernova, Conjunction)?
One of the key benefits of TL4’s Partner Network is that we’ll have more telescopes, more availability, and more flexibility to capture unique celestial events.
While you won’t be able to submit direct observation requests, our expanded network will allow us to respond more quickly to transient astronomical events, ensuring that more of these rare moments are captured and made available as datasets (more about this in Q5).
Q3: I Have Saved Up a Lot of Credits for Advanced Requests. What Can I Do?
Your credits are not going anywhere! You can:
- Use them in TL3 for Advanced Requests until three months after TL4’s launch.
- Spend them on TL4’s curated datasets, including premium Partner Network data.
- Utilize them for new features coming in the future, like potential Syndicate and/or individual Rentals.
We’ll provide ongoing updates about the final timeline for Advanced Requests, and we’ll make sure you have plenty of time to use your credits as you transition to TL4.
Q4: I Want Hands-On Imaging, Not Just Pre-Collected Data. Will That Still Be Possible?
We understand that direct control over imaging sessions has been an important feature for many users.
While TL4 is designed around curated datasets, we know well that some astrophotographers prefer a more hands-on approach.
As part of this transition, we are considering temporary solutions to help users adjust, including a potential Syndicate Rental system. This would provide an opportunity to:
- Book telescope time for a set period.
- Have some control over imaging schedules.
- Capture live data and download it directly.
At this stage, Syndicate Rentals are not a confirmed long-term feature, but rather an option we are evaluating to help ease the transition for those who relied on Advanced Requests.
We will assess interest and feasibility before making any further decisions and keep you posted about this very specific observation opportunity.
Q5: Could You Introduce a Community-Requested or Crowdfunded Observation System?
While TL4 does not include a formal crowdfunded observation system, we are working on ways to make the community more involved in shaping future datasets.
One approach we are exploring is a dedicated forum space where users can propose celestial targets they’d like to see observed.
Partners and Telescope Live staff will moderate discussions, providing feedback on feasibility and helping prioritize requests based on community interest and telescope availability.
This would allow users to have more visibility into how new datasets are chosen while giving Partner observatories a chance to incorporate community-driven suggestions into their imaging plans.
For now, the Target Suggestion System will primarily function through this forum-based interaction, and we’ll continue to refine how user-driven observations are handled as TL4 evolves.
What’s Next?
We know this is a big transition, and we want to make it as smooth as possible. Here’s what you can expect:
- Advanced Requests remain available in TL3 for at least three months after TL4 launches, so there’s still time to complete the great majority of ongoing projects.
- We’ll provide more details on new features like Syndicate Rentals and community-driven observations in future updates.
- A sneak peek of TL4 is coming soon, including tutorials on how to navigate the new system.
- If you still have questions or concerns, we want to hear from you. Join the discussion in the Community Forum, or reach out to our team directly.
P.S. Expected Launch Date
In case you missed it, Telescope Live 4 is set to launch in Spring 2025.
We’ll continue rolling out updates and sneak peeks as we get closer to the big day - so stay tuned!