Contact Information:

• Email: phil.ostroff@centraltexasastrophoto.com
• Phone: 5127892856
• Address: 996 County Road 204, Liberty Hill, Texas, 78642
• Website: https://centraltexasastrophoto.com
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593897346229

About the Partner:

Central Texas Astro Photo (CTAP), founded by Phil Ostroff, is an astrophotography education program based in Liberty Hill, Texas, serving the greater Central Texas region. CTAP teaches small, hands-on classes — typically two students per session — using Dwarflab Dwarf3 smart telescopes, though students are also welcome to bring their own equipment.

Each two-hour class begins with a guided tour of the night sky and an introduction to the equipment, followed by live hands-on shooting time, and concludes with students downloading their own astrophotography images to keep and share. Classes are held at dark sky sites, including Phil’s private observatory property in north Liberty Hill and additional private land north of Lampasas, chosen specifically for their minimal light pollution.

Beyond the classroom experience, CTAP builds lasting community: each class is invited into an ongoing group for continued support, troubleshooting, and photo sharing. Students interested in purchasing their own equipment also receive a manufacturer discount through Dwarflab.

Community Impact: CTAP reinvests 50% of all class proceeds into purchasing additional Dwarf3 smart telescopes, which are then donated directly to local middle and high schools — extending access to astrophotography and STEM engagement well beyond CTAP’s own classroom.

Services & Areas of Operation:

Services

Hands-On Astrophotography Classes
CTAP offers small-group, two-hour instructional sessions (typically two students per class) designed for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Each class includes:

• A guided tour of the night sky, covering visible constellations, planets, and deep-sky objects
• An introduction to smart telescope technology, using the Dwarflab Dwarf3 Smart Scope
• Live, hands-on operation of the equipment to capture real astrophotography images
• Image download and processing guidance, so students leave with their own photos to keep, print, or share

Students are also welcome to bring their own astrophotography equipment if they prefer to work with gear they already own.

Equipment Access
Because CTAP provides the smart scopes for class use, students don’t need to own expensive equipment to participate. For those who want to continue the hobby afterward, CTAP offers a manufacturer discount on Dwarf3 purchases through its relationship with Dwarflab.

Ongoing Community Support
Every class is invited to join an ongoing group chat for continued learning, troubleshooting, photo sharing, and encouragement — extending the experience well past the two-hour session.

Community & School Outreach
CTAP reinvests 50% of class proceeds into purchasing additional smart telescopes, which are donated directly to local middle and high schools. This connects each paying student’s experience to a broader mission of expanding STEM and astronomy access for local youth.

Areas of Operation

CTAP operates in the Central Texas region, with classes held at dark sky sites specifically chosen for minimal light pollution:

• Liberty Hill, TX — Classes held at Phil Ostroff’s private property and home observatory in north Liberty Hill
• Lampasas, TX (northern Central Texas) — Classes held at private land further north, offering an additional dark sky location
• CTAP has access to additional dark sky sites, with more information coming soon.

School and telescope donations extend CTAP’s footprint further, reaching middle and high schools throughout the Central Texas area beyond the direct class locations.

Certifications & Affiliations:

Organizational Affiliations & Sponsors

• Dwarflab — Official sponsor, providing Dwarf3 Smart Scopes for classroom use and an exclusive equipment discount for students
• Astronomers Without Borders — Affiliated organization supporting global astronomy education and outreach
• Friends of the Night Sky (Vision Lampasas) — Affiliated with this Lampasas County dark sky preservation initiative
• Texas Parks & Wildlife — Affiliated (logo listed on site; recommend confirming the specific nature of this relationship before submitting, e.g., site access, program partnership, etc.)

Founder Professional Affiliations & Recognition (Phil Ostroff)

• International Dark-Sky Association — Member, reflecting active involvement in dark sky advocacy in Liberty Hill and Lampasas County
• Astronomers Without Borders — Member
• The Planetary Society — Member
• SETI — Member