The name Unistellar is well-known among fans of astronomy gadgetry and smart, Wi-Fi-operated telescopes, and the company's latest range - named Odyssey – lays claim to being the first mirror telescope that requires no manual adjustment.
Experienced users of reflecting telescopes like Newtonians and Schmidt-Cassegrains will be more than familiar with the time spent collimating their telescope’s mirror to keep the view sharp and well-aligned.
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With the announcement of the Odyssey range of telescopes and their 'High Precision Optics', co-developed with Nikon, Unistellar says that no manual adjustment of mirrors is required.
The other key innovation being highlighted at the time of the Odyssey's release is its 'Stellar Autofocus', which offers a fully automated system that incorporates a 'smart algorithm' and motorised sensor.
Automated system
Those who have used the Unistellar range of 'smart telescopes' - and others like it - will be familiar with how they work.
These observing instruments are really telescopes for the digital, online age: fully automated and controlled with a smartphone or tablet via the telescope's own in-built Wi-Fi.
Once setup is complete, users can use the control app on their smart device to access a database of celestial objects including planets, galaxies and nebulae, as well as comets and asteroids.
Select a target and the telescope slews directly to it.
It then captures a series of images and stacks them in real time, producing ever-sharper views of the object.
Key stats
So what about the key stats? The Odyssey range includes both the Odyssey model and the Odyssey Pro, which will set you back £2,199 and £3,499, respectively.
Both weigh in around 4kg and offer a limiting magnitude - i.e. how faint an object can be and be observed with the telescope - of 17.2.
The Odyssey telescopes boast a mirror with an aperture of 85mm / 3.35 inches and a focal length of 320mm.
Expect a full review in an upcoming issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine, and explore the Odyssey range at Jessops.
UNISTELLAR launched the Odyssey range of telescopes at CES Las Vegas in January 2024.
