The Stellina Smart Telescope from Vaonis was first introduced back at CES as a unique way to capture the sky and share it with friends. In the meantime, details were somewhat unclear on when and how this modern-day astronomy accessory would be available for purchase. Fast forward to today, and now we know.
Vaonis is partnering with the Museum of Modern Art in New York as the exclusive retailer for its smart telescope. Those looking to reserve online still have the option, but will have to wait a while longer for shipment. With built-in smartphone connectivity, Stellina takes star-gazing to the next-level thanks to its ability to quickly grab images of the night sky. More below.
Right off the bat, it’s easy to see that Stellina isn’t your grandfather’s telescope. Its unique design is somewhat reminiscent of audio gear we’ve seen elsewhere. The integrated stand is made to fold-up with portability at the forefront of this device.
Vaonis takes pride in eliminating any guesswork that may keep hobbyist astrologers from purchasing a telescope. Well, that is, other than price. Traditional alternatives are often complex to set up and rather sensitive to movement. The Stellina focuses on being more user-friendly, with an all-in-one design that gets set up “in seconds”.
Set Stellina up on its tripod and press the power button. Once connected to the app, simply choose amongst the hundreds of suggestions of night sky objects you want to capture. Stellina is a smart and motorized telescope that will position and point at the objects by itself. In a few seconds, you receive the picture on your mobile device. Then, you can save and share your pictures with your friends, family or on social media.
The primary feature here is built-in connectivity with an iOS or Android device, allowing users to quickly startup, capture and share images. All you have to do is extend the tripod legs and press the power button, from there the app will guide you through pre-mapped locations in order to see the best constellations on that given night.
At the time of writing, Stellina is available for purchase at the Musuem of Modern Art for $3,000. You can place a pre-order direct from Vaonis, with an expected ship date of “fall 2018” as well. Obviously, the price is going to be a hindrance for some but in a world of seemingly every product becoming “smart”, it’s fun to see a product like Stellina that truly leverages new technologies for a more user-friendly experience.
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