Is it time you got a ‘smart telescope’? Interest in space and astronomy has never been higher, but if you've ever purchased a telescope yo

Why smart telescopes are the future of astrophotography

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2024-09-08 15:30:08

Is it time you got a ‘smart telescope’? Interest in space and astronomy has never been higher, but if you've ever purchased a telescope you'll know that they are a pain to set up and very often give you poor quality views of the night sky.

Instead of becoming an expert in the night sky you have to become an expert in how to choose, align and maintain telescopes. It's an easy way to snuff-out a passion for the night sky and, besides, if you live in a city then light pollution can make the hobby even more frustrating.

Cue new smart telescopes from Vanois and Unistellar, which align themselves to the night sky, work autonomously and are controlled solely via a smartphone app. Even better, they cut through like pollution as if it wasn't even there. Smart telescopes are incredible. So why do some people hate them?

A traditional telescope needs two things; an eyepiece to look through and the clearest, darkest sky possible. Everyone knows that. So how can the future of amateur astronomy be in the hands of a new generation of so-called ‘smart’ telescopes that don’t have eyepieces and consistently kill the user’s night vision?