Vaonis, a leading astronomy equipment manufacturer, has introduced an exciting new device called Hestia. This innovative product allows users to transform their smartphones into smart telescopes, making it possible to capture stunning photos of the night sky. Hestia is currently available for pre-order on the popular crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter, with prices starting at just $149 (around £115). The company plans to deliver the telescopes to customers by the end of this year.
Hestia is designed to accommodate smartphones of all sizes. Users can easily align their phone’s camera with the telescope’s eyepiece by placing the phone on Hestia. To enhance the stargazing experience, Vaonis provides a companion app called Gravity. This app features an interactive sky map that helps users identify celestial objects such as the Moon, Orion nebula, and the Andromeda galaxy.
Cyril Dupuy, the founder of Vaonis, expressed his excitement for the launch of Hestia, following the success of their previous smart telescopes, Stellina and Vespera. The new Hestia telescope focuses on miniaturization, making it lighter, smaller, and more accessible to everyone. The secret behind its compact design lies in a unique optical system, patented by Vaonis, which includes a 30mm lens and prisms to collect and direct light into the smartphone’s camera sensor. Thanks to a clever system of removable magnets, the device is versatile enough to accommodate various smartphone models.
The Gravity app plays a vital role in enhancing the stargazing experience. It utilizes advanced image-processing technologies to improve image quality, ensuring users can observe celestial objects with clarity and detail. Moreover, Hestia is future-proof, as it can be upgraded to match the ever-evolving capabilities of users’ smartphones.
One of the most remarkable features of Hestia is its affordable price. Starting at just $149, the telescope is now more accessible than ever to those curious about exploring and understanding the wonders of the night sky. This accessibility is a result of Vaonis leveraging the power of widely adopted technology: the smartphone.
The timing of Hestia’s launch is perfect for aspiring astronomers as it coincides with the anticipation of a total solar eclipse crossing the United States in April 2024. With Hestia, people will have the ideal instrument to safely observe and capture the rare and fascinating celestial phenomenon of the solar eclipse.
The design of Hestia is reminiscent of a book, making it easy to carry and handle. Its compact and lightweight nature does not compromise on performance, as it features a powerful optical system and takes advantage of the latest smartphone sensor technologies.
