Draft:Smart telescope

A smart telescope is a modern, technologically advanced telescope that integrates features like automated alignment, image processing, and app-based controls to make stargazing more accessible and user-friendly. Emerging in the consumer market during the 2010s, smart telescopes are all‑in‑one astro‑imaging units that merge a compact telescope and GoTo mount with built‑in astrophotography software. Instead of an eyepiece for direct viewing, these devices capture light over time, stack the exposures, and stream the resulting deep‑sky images to a companion smartphone or tablet—which also serves as the control interface via a dedicated app.

Smart telescopes have only recently become available to amateur astronomers. These all-in-one, robotic imaging systems pair a compact telescope (typically 50–114 mm in aperture) and motorized mount with purpose-built astrophotography software. By tapping into GPS signals and using automated star‐pattern recognition (plate solving), they instantly determine their exact orientation. Rather than peering through eyepieces, users receive a time‐lapse composite image—created via stacking algorithms—on an integrated digital screen (designed to mimic a traditional eyepiece) or on a connected smartphone or tablet. Each unit is equipped with a library of celestial targets, predefined imaging sequences, and a companion mobile app, so you can start capturing deep‑sky objects as soon as the setup is complete. They even support unattended, remote operation, handling tasks like “lucky imaging” and “speckle imaging” automatically. However, their modest optics and specialized sensors make them less suited for detailed views of the Moon or planets. Well‑known examples include the Seestar and Dwarf models, as well as offerings from Unistellar and Vaonis.

Smart telescopes have also been used for scientific reserch. For example in 2022, a 16 hr transit of Kepler-167 e was observed by the Ground-based Unistellar Telescope Network.

Features of smart telescopes

• Automated Object Tracking – Uses GPS, star maps, or AI to automatically find and track celestial objects.
• App Integration – Controlled via a smartphone or tablet, often with augmented reality (AR) overlays.
• Built-in Cameras – Captures images and videos, sometimes with live stacking to enhance clarity.
• No Eyepiece Required – Many smart telescopes display images directly on a screen instead of using an optical viewfinder.
• Light Pollution Reduction – Some use digital enhancements to improve visibility in urban areas.