The Sky Belongs
to Everyone
We are open-sourcing the ArcBlue 18-inch (457 mm) Astrograph (HMT-Lite). Because the next great discovery shouldn't be limited by budget.
At ArcBlue, we believe that science thrives on numbers—not just the number of stars, but the number of eyes looking up.
Our CEO, Song Chen, initiated the legendary Half Meter Telescope (HMT) project. Today, this half-meter (20-inch / 508 mm) automated rig is still actively operating at an observatory, continuously surveying the sky and having already discovered 8 asteroids (Near-Earth Objects). But we know that not everyone has access to a half-meter observatory, nor the budget for expensive carbon fiber and CNC-machined setups. We also know that the most exciting frontier in modern astronomy is Citizen Science.
That is why we are doing something different. By innovating with a welded stainless steel structure, we have slashed the manufacturing cost of a large-aperture telescope to just 1/8 of traditional designs. We are tearing down the financial paywall to deep-sky discovery.
We are officially open-sourcing our 18-inch (457 mm) survey telescope project.
We are releasing the complete structural blueprints, fabrication drawings, welding sequences, and hardware lists to the public. Our goal is simple: to allow anyone, anywhere, to replicate a professional-grade sky monitoring system at the lowest possible cost.
Why Build One?
Discover the Unknown
Join a global network of observers hunting for Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), comets, and supernovae.
Contribute to Science
Your backyard data can support real academic research and verify astronomical events.
Master the Craft
Learn the mechanical engineering, precision fabrication, and assembly behind heavy-duty astronomical hardware.
Join the Repo
We invite you to fork, build, and improve this project. Whether you are a master welder, a CAD designer, or a hardware hacker, your contribution brings us one step closer to a fully mapped sky.
