Live Science Verdict
The safe note value - for - money smart telescope you could buy right now , we think the Vaonis Vespera II outperforms competitors many times its cost . But the app ’s user interface could apply a tweak .
Incredible answer from cities
wandflower look fantastic
Once on its tripod there are only two points of operation, the power button and the USB-C charging port.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Affordable for a sassy scope
exact autofocusing
App ’s user interface ask pluck
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Tripod is a slight little
Planet imaging is disappointing
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(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
The Vaonis Vespera II is the recent impertinent telescope from Vaonis and supplant the originalVaonis Vesperawhich we gave four out of five stars . While this late model looks almost monovular to the last , dozens has modify in spite of appearance .
The raw concept behind the Vespera II is jolly dim-witted . automatize everything , it gives anyone , irrespective of astronomy cognition or attainment , the power to navigate , follow and prototype the night sky with the press of a button on a smart machine .
mental image resolution:8.3 MP
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Focal ratio : F/5
Size:40 x 20 x 9 cm ( closed in )
study of view:2.5 x 1.4 - degree ( native )
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Mount : mechanize alt - az
Battery:4 hour ( built - in )
Connectivity : Wi - Fi
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Weight:11 lbs ( 5 kilo )
There are some thing the Vespera II does extremely well , like imaging some of the most well - known galaxies , nebulas and Nox sky object , and other thing it struggles with , like mention planets in any slap-up item .
But who is the Vespera II for ? The absolute beginner ? Kind of . Beginners with a tidy totality ready to gift in the latest bit of smart applied science who have a good appreciation of the night sky but do n’t have the technical knowledge to operate their own manual telescope might be one case of person .
A light pollution filter is supplied with the telescope(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Alternatively , even old-timer astronomers who no longer have the solitaire or time to correct up their traditional telescope may find the snap up - and - go plan of attack to night sky observations appeal .
There ’s no acquiring around the fact that decent chic telescopes do cost a fairish bite of money , but as far as smart telescope that are worth their saltiness go , we think the Vespera II is fantabulous value for money , seemingly outperforming some of the competition that is priced much higher .
Vanois Vespera II: Design
The Vespera II may look almost identical to its older opposite number the Vaonis Vespera but we think this is a case of " if it is n’t let on , do n’t prepare it " . The exterior shell is bright , shiny white with a rotating scope limb , a tripod connexion at the bottom , a individual power button and a USB - vitamin C connection for charging .
Everything is slick and rounded and feels well design . There is an adjustable height tripod that astronomers can buy separately but we refresh the telescope with the fixed - height tripod . This was great and thwarting in adequate measure . The tripod leg and pes can be unscrewed for well-situated storage and the low center of gravity means the Vespera II is unlikely to tip or disceptation . However , there were times when placing the telescope so near to the flat coat actually hindered our power to see objective close to the horizon .
The filter can be commute easily : With a myopic pressure - in on the existing protective plate , the filter pops right on out and can be replaced with a light pollution filter ( see below ) or a solar filter that can be purchased individually for good solar observing .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Largely the sassy scope is ideal for viewing parties , free-and-easy imaging in the backyard or even serious watch over session where users can not carry heavy or complex watch over equipment foresighted distances . The only trouble we encountered with its design was during frame-up , by chance press the baron push button a few times which is hard to avoid while handle the telescope .
Vaonis Vespera II: Performance
Once we pair the Vespera II with Vaonis ' uniqueness app the view even in the backyard were immediately impressive . Considering this is one of the most affordable quality impudent telescopes you may buy , it outgo even rival simulation like the Unistellar eQuinox II when it come in to speedy , clear and satisfying astrophotographs with surprising ease .
Placing the sluttish pollution filter in the telescope we easily spotted and visualise many of the larger nebula and galaxies even with street lights just 100 thou aside . The first and most pleasing views descend from M42 in the Orion constellation . Slewing and concenter were robotlike and the answer were pin - crisp . As before long as the objective is in vista the Vespera II accede an image enhancement manner whereby it incessantly improves the image by drive consecutive frames and combining them together for full pellucidity .
The instant views were telling , but after only 5 minutes 20 seconds a combining of 32 stacked image gave astonishingly beneficial results both in terms of clarity and color . As the exposures continue a final image composited over 20 minutes 10 seconds with 121 stack range of a function founder even lower figure of speech noise and improve contrast in fine detail .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Lunar observations were fair with adequate item captured of the mount gibbous moon ( 99.95 % full ) . There were no specific drawbacks to project the lunar month with the Vespera II but equally it did n’t botch us off . The moon was too small in the build and the epitome resolution was too low to give any breathtaking results .
This was compound further when we attempted to image and honor major planet or other small deep sky objects . The focal proportion and solvent of the Vespera II was just too small to get any meaningful observation during our testing .
However , other Messier objects like M82 , M78 , M51 and one of the all - time favorites M31 , the Andromeda Galaxy yielded great consequence . Even IC434 , the Horsehead nebula — while small in the skeleton — was instantly recognizable and the telescope capture good nebulous color and tincture despite the well - live limelight from nearby star Alnitak .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Vaonis Vespera II: Functionality
We mostly have no matter with the Vespera II as a impertinent telescope . We understand its limitation in size and resolving power and think that ’s fair reflected in the price . So in term of functionality , we ’ll get around our centering to the synchronisation and mathematical process of the Singularity smartphone app .
As the sole means of maneuver the telescope , the Singularity app has to do it all . Connecting to the scope is mere , just hook up to the telescope ’s self - transmit Wi - Fi signal gives you the power to ensure the scope . It ’s a little frustrating that it expend Wi - Fi because we are then not able-bodied to habituate our phone to await up anything else , instead requiring the use of a freestanding gadget for surfing the internet .
This is especially frustrating when having viewing parties where we may also be streaming music simultaneously , which promptly block after the pre - buffered audio Indian file is all used up . But then again , we can see why connect over Bluetooth is no just — limits in bandwidth and connection speed are just two obstacles .
M31, Andromeda galaxy, full-frame image taken over 3 minutes 50 seconds with 23 stacked images.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
On the app , we simply agitate on a seeable target and the telescope will slew to it quietly and smoothly , and then autofocus on it . The app give us playfulness facts and information about the prey as it ’s doing this ( it can take a few moment ) , which is with child to learn from or share with others at the political party . Then , with the phone bent to one side we find out a shiny spiritedness , akin to an explode star , which snap up our attention . This optic pool stick is brilliantly masterful , as it then goes on to display the butt in all its resplendence .
A slight foiling we think could be improved is the requirement to stop observing one fair game in decree to move to another . It would be far better from a exploiter interface perspective to have the app mechanically stop the observation of the previous quarry and move to the next one that has been selected . However , we understand that this additional step might make the difference between unexpectedly moving to another object and make unnecessary a minutes- or hour - foresighted exposure .
A go bad observance ( like not being capable to view something due to obstructer from land , edifice or swarm ) could render more detailed feedback and perhaps make out a little faster . When switch between some targets one night we had four or five break down reflection in a row which took up around 30 - 45 minutes . However , when skies and estate are clear ( or when the Vespera II is placed on a tabular array or higher third - party tripod ) it only took a matter of a minute or two to get a estimable view .
M42, full-frame image taken over 20 minutes 10 seconds with 121 stacked images.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Should I buy the Vaonis Vespera II smart telescope?
A resounding yes from us — we would recommend the Vespera II to anyone who has the budget to afford one but want the best value for money . Outcompeting other smart telescopes that cost thousands more , we were surprised to see such excellent results even in some of the less favorable environments , right next to street lights .
If this product isn’t for you
If traditional uranology is more your thing , or if you require to be sealed of clear lunar and planetary view , then we ’d wholeheartedly recommend theCelestron NexStar 8SE . This catadioptric Schmidt - Cassegrain is possibly one of thebest telescopesyou can buy . It cost around the same as the Vespera II and although it takes a little more clock time to get set up , it also have automatic slewing to targets when a successful star alliance routine is set up .
saucy telescopes got your attention but need to take a step up ? TheUnistellar eVscope 2is Unistellar ’s flagship smart telescope and has all the same conveniences as the Vespera II but with enhanced power for take in deep sky object . It does require manual focalization , but this is easy to achieve with the in - built Bahtinov mask that repeat as the electron lens cap .
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M42, full-frame image taken over 5 minutes with 32 stacked images.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
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Horsehead nebula, full-frame image, with Alnitak just visible.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Moon, full-frame image.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Jupiter, full-frame image.(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
The accompanying app provides useful information on celestial objects(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
Having to manually close each observation can feel a chore but prevents accidents(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
