Seven Exceptional Smart Telescope Deals for Cyber Monday (Savings of $980!)

**New Smart Telescopes Hit the Market: Vaonis Hestia Offers a Unique, Portable Solution**

The world of astronomy has been revolutionised with the introduction of smart telescopes, and this Cyber Monday is the perfect time to invest. Among the newest additions to the market are the Vaonis Hestia, Unistellar eQuinox 2, and Unistellar eVscope 2, as well as the Vaonis Vespera Pro and Vespera II, all released in 2024.

The Vaonis Hestia, a smartphone-based telescope, stands out for its unique approach to astrophotography. Unlike many of its counterparts, the Hestia has no onboard electronics, with all the "smart" features coming from your smartphone, which mounts directly on the telescope. This design choice makes the Hestia incredibly lightweight and portable, weighing just 850g and about the size of a book.

The Hestia's ease of use and portability make it ideal for casual use, camping, hiking, or travel. It also caters to family-friendly viewing, as multiple people can view the night sky together on the smartphone screen, making it safer for solar viewing during eclipses, as you never look directly at the sun. Additionally, the device is futureproof, as it will continue to be usable as smartphone technology advances, making it suitable for kids to grow with over many years.

However, the Hestia does have some limitations. It is not recommended for trying to photograph deep sky targets (faint galaxies, nebulae), being more suited for bright objects like the Sun and Moon. It also has a fixed low magnification and aperture, limiting resolution and detail compared to larger smart telescopes. Furthermore, its manual positioning and smartphone processing may be less precise or automated compared to telescopes with motorized mounts and internal tracking.

In contrast, the Vaonis Vespera Pro, with its 12.5 MP camera, offers the highest resolution of any smart telescope currently available. It also comes with motorized alignment and tracking, providing better astrophotography capabilities compared to the Hestia. However, the Vespera Pro is heavier and requires power due to its integrated electronics.

The Unistellar eQuinox 2, another premium smart telescope, boasts an ultra-quick setup in less than one minute and is known for its ease of use and suitability for beginners. It also has an eyepiece for live viewing of the night sky, setting it apart from the Hestia. The eQuinox 2 is more expensive compared to regular telescopes but offers improved capacity over the original eQuinox.

The ZWO Seestar S50, a budget portable smart telescope, is known for producing high-quality astrophotography images. It is a great option for those looking for a more affordable solution.

When comparing the Hestia with other smart telescopes, it is evident that the Hestia's unique selling point is its simplicity and reliance on smartphone tech. However, it trades off some astrophotography capabilities found in more conventional smart telescopes.

In conclusion, the Vaonis Hestia is an excellent choice for those seeking an ultra-portable, easy-to-use telescope for solar, lunar, and bright object viewing with no electronic hassle. It's perfect for beginners, families, and outdoor trips. For those seeking better deep sky imaging, higher resolution, and automated tracking, more advanced smart telescopes such as the Vaonis Vespera II or other motorised smart telescopes may be a better fit, albeit with more weight, cost, and power requirements.

1.The Vaonis Hestia's design, relying on smartphone technology, marks a unique approach in the realm of smart telescopes, providing a lightweight and portable solution for casual use, camping, hiking, or travel.

Despite the Hestia's limitations in deep sky imaging and resolution compared to other smart telescopes, its simplicity and family-friendly viewing capabilities make it suitable for kids to grow with over many years.
The Vaonis Vespera Pro, on the other hand, with its more advanced features such as a 12.5 MP camera, motorized alignment, and tracking, offers improved astrophotography capabilities but comes with increased weight, power requirements, and cost.
The Unistellar eQuinox 2, another smart telescope, distinguishes itself with an ultra-quick setup and ease of use, making it ideal for beginners, while still catering to those seeking higher capacity than the original eQuinox.
The ZWO Seestar S50, a budget-friendly smart telescope, provides high-quality astrophotography images, serving as a more affordable option for those interested in smart telescopes and technology.
In the world of smart telescopes, the Vaonis Hestia offers a balance between portability, ease of use, and affordability, making it an attractive choice for a wide range of users, while more advanced smart telescopes like the Vaonis Vespera II or motorized smart telescopes may offer better deep sky imaging and automation but require additional investment and considerations regarding weight, cost, and power requirements.