Is This the Future of Astronomy?

[@Spidouz]

I’m a disable/handicap person, so it’s always complicated to carry heavy stuff, and that’s one of the reason I never did the first step in astro world… but yet, I love astrophotography and would hope it would be more accessible to everyone, including to me in my situation. So it might not be cheap, but if the results are there, I think it’s not more expensive than a whole setup, and yet it could be more practical… at least for beginners/amateurs. I will definitely take a longer look at this Stellina. Thanks

[@parthd714]

I really wish to design a motorized compact mount.

[@BuckeyeStormsProductions]

This is such a good point! It provides accessibility, at a premium, but...accessibility.

[@alanrobinson2229]

@@BuckeyeStormsProductions hi Is it that much of a premium?All that's included may not but much more than putting all together yourself? Iam not an expert.

[@svrwthr]

This right here is great and beyond the point I made in the reply above about how most are missing out on a buying and building their own build and getting satisfaction from their build and achieving end result. Your case, as well as others who are disabled, is what this all in one is perfect for and not leaving anyone out. You still miss out on the post processing experience but hey, maybe PP is not to your liking and this works well for you. As long as the night sky is accessible to you, achievement accomplished by getting more to "keep looking up."

[@inciwillard991]

I have 2 different system (Askar FRA500, iOptron CEM40EC, ZWOAA+, ZWOASI 2600mc Pro) and (ES80CF,HEQ5 Pro,ZWOAAPro,ZWOASI294MC Pro) I love them both but both are heavy and it takes time to setup all the while hoping and praying for a clear night. I bought Stellina (eta in 2 weeks) so I can drive further south or north from home then find a level area to balance, shoot for few hours and get back home. Stellina can never replace my scopes yet it may get dear hubby interested since it's so simple.

[@thibautrey]

It’s not stellina or the rest. I own a stellina and I love it so much. But I also own a 200/1000 newton with all the bells and whistles with dedicated Astro ccd and filters and such and I love it too. It’s about enjoying the hobby no matter how or when. When I’m tired after a long day or work stellina is here to relax and enjoy the night. When it’s the weekend and I have the time I enjoy taking my badass rig in the field. It’s not a battle with two armies, it’s one family with different members

[@michaelzell4924]

That's exactly how I think about it. Stellina is a nice addition to your standard rig. Hopefully there will be some competition in the future and prices will drop and make it more affordable.

[@cemoguz2786]

Yea also it in like a laptop you can not change scope or camera. Your badass rig can be flexable and upgeadable. To me tecnology is improving and I am poor. To get the most of it. Purchesing one by one is good option. You will get more juice and more experiance. If I have the money it is not a bad thing to have to be honest.

[@gabrielex]

I don't know about you but if I just want to relax under the night sky without carrying my heavy 8" SC, mount, CCD, filter wheel and all the other stuff I'd rather just go with binoculars or even naked eyes than this overpriced toy.

[@wiser.kinder.calmer.6530]

well put

[@32cricker]

I love seeing the collaboration between all the astrophotography youtubers that I personally follow. Your cooperation can only help this hobby reach the mainstream. Keep it up Trevor!

[@mccarthymccarthy1]

Great to see a biscuit / Astro backyard combo 👍

[@brianfulda]

Dude. Thank you for this video. "For my astrophotography friends, the diehards, I've got news for you: this isn't for us." That's exactly right. I've been trying to explain this to so many of the Stellina haters and you just summed it up perfectly.

[@ChrisKoehn]

100% I enjoy my camera equipment but whenever a new piece of gear is released that I don't think I'd use, I don't get upset about it. Yet some people who are clearly not interested in this roboscope feel the need to freak out as if it is a personal insult. It's not for them! What it has done, sadly, is reveal the underlying gatekeeping nature of many hobbyists.

[@cemoguz2786]

Not a big deal too it is good but limited and not upgradeable. It is for fun for limmited targets and will be get old and you have to buy another model later with similar price.

[@alanrobinson2229]

@@cemoguz2786 but for a large number of interested hobbyists,they may never even get as far as stellina will take them,never mind beyond?

[@lukomatico]

As much as I personally love 'proper' (self mocking) astrophotography, anything that makes astrophotography/astronomy more accessible to people is generally speaking only a good thing! - It's there for us all to enjoy, not just the 'elite' (again, self mocking) few who have the time and patience and sometimes mechanical knowhow to enjoy it!

[@AstroBackyard]

Well said, Luke!

[@vesk4000]

I dunno I personally don't think it makes astrophotography any more accessible considering its price tag. Usually people want to start out with something cheaper, to make sure that they like the hobby.

[@Astrolavista]

@@vesk4000 Maybe think of it as a pioneering start into a new branch of astro equipment. It's expensive now, but things might only get better and more affordable.

[@jimgunn4498]

@@vesk4000 Preach, $4000 is a chunk of change to throw at a new hobby. For that money, you buy a boat or a motorcycle or any number of other things, all of which can be used during daylight hours when you can actually enjoy them with friends.

[@lukomatico]

@@vesk4000 It's certainly a viable option for people who are cash rich but time poor :-) - but the important thing is it's just that, an option! we're lucky to have them :D

[@barrycraig1549]

I have had my stellina telescope now for a year. I'm not new to the sky and how Sky conditions can change so quickly. It allows me to set it up very quickly go inside the house and enjoy my evening. I'm amazed at how many times it has been partly cloudy and I've got some the best images. I would have never attempted to do a setup with my own rig unless there was no clouds at all. It also takes away the guilt you feel when you don't or can't take advantage of a clear sky. Software updates have made the unit even more powerful. I liken this to the go-to telescope when they were first introduced years ago when everybody thought was going to destroy the hobby. There's going to be more Scopes like this in the future. It's going to introduce a lot more people to the wonders of astronomy and it's not going to take anything away from the person who enjoys the current state. Besides that the reason why we really do like astronomy is because we want to get away and enjoy the Solitude of the night sky. It's a noble Hobby.

[@AstroBackyard]

💯

[@evemitchellanderson]

I also hope it makes people more aware of light pollution

[@denodan]

This is in fact is an EAA telescope and the exact same thing I do with my SCT 9.25, view live stacking on sharpcap pro. Stellina is doing live stacking just like DOING EAA .when you get a single image then becomes astrophotography. My setup is doing the exact same thing and cheaper, with larger aperture. Not saying Stellina gas no place, it does, not its o miracle or nothing new, it's an EAA instrument first as its showing live real-time stacking onscreen. This may well one day become the norm, when the tech becomes cheaper or if say celestron went down this road would become much cheaper and accessible. The only issue is its a fixed system. I can use many different types of cameras and filters and can aim anywhere, not locked into a fixed number of objects. Astronomy has become a lot more accessible over the years, with goto being used and computers, taking a lot of hard work out of the equation and getting easier overtime. Stellina is a step in taking the hard work out of it and a quick setup. Maybe when your to old to be able to lug out all your gear, then this is were Stellina comes into it. Makes Astronomy more accessible. It's like you can enjoy a car without being a mechanic, wereas some like to tinker with cars and drive them. Stellina has its place and can be very convenient as it takes dedication to be able to lug out all that gear, cameras, cables, etc and this can put people off. Stellina is an up and go system, no fuss method, but limited to what's in its data base of course. But handy still the same. I guess it's locked into all the objects that they know will show off the system and not show its weaknesses. Would be great if it was like a goto, override what's in database to give compete freedom.

[@alanrobinson2229]

Hi As your not new to skywatching,would you say that the cost of stellina isn't that much more than putting together an equivalent rig?

[@michaelsmothers]

Thanks for posting this. I've seen several reviews of Stellina, but yours is the first where anyone's explained who this is for. As an astrophotographer, this might not be for me. But as a teacher, this would be perfect for my classroom. You made excellent points about where this would fit well for our hobby. There's a niche for this and what it does, it seems to do well. Thanks again!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Very good points Trevor, completely agree! I actually have an upcoming video about building your own modular Stellina (Cheap, Smartphone controlled, AltAz, no alignment needed, easy target selection, auto-platesolving, live stacking, etc.). What I dislike the most about Stellina and eVscope is the lack of upgradability... New sensor version? Buy a whole new Stellina! It's smartphonizes astronomy in terms of e-waste...

[@ianbaber7051]

Agreed, the cons are lack of modularity, initial price and proprietary software. Will be interesting to see your more flexible variant and how you handle field rotation :)

[@SonoranAstro]

updates?

[@themadhavsharmaphotography7029]

*No one , No robot , however good it gets - will ever replace the experience in the cold winter night , spending those hours in solitude embracing the night sky , thanking god for every shooting star , that anxiousness while the stacking in DSS counts the stars , etc*

[@itz_itachi5049]

🎉

[@jwdeepsky]

Or as a teenager with the shitty telescope your parents got you for Christmas, freezing your ass off while finally landing on the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. Epic moments

[@hmuphilly9129]

God... really??

[@NorthwesternOntarioAstronomy]

STELLINA: “Dave. What are you doing, Dave?” ME * frantically trying to unplug it before I get sucked out the airlock.*

[@astroheartuk4623]

I laughed too much at this! 🤣🤣

[@ChrisTardif_]

Looks like the robot from Interstellar

[@91wheelz]

As someone in a wheelchair, I think Stellina would be a good telescope for someone like me. It would be nice to see what the telescope sees on my phone because sometimes it isn't easy for me to get to the eyepiece of the telescope

[@SonoranAstro]

have you thought of using an bino observers chair? not as light gathering as a scape but i think that could be a solution

[@kongen07]

I love that you brought in the biscuit for this one. Big fan of ya both

[@AstroPixUK]

Someone at our club has one. The results are pretty good but no replacement of a good imaging set up.

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Nice info Jim!

[@shannongushuliak4412]

Hello! I'm not one for joining large group discussions, but I've been following for a while now. Just subscribed. It makes me happy to know the type of photography I've strived to experience and learn is slightly closer to my reach. Even if it's expensive 😭 love from Canada.

[@paulj2468]

An excellent video and honest review. It certainly poses an interesting question and potential a foresight into the future of the hobby we all love. I see everyday people looking for the quickest way from image taking to processing to showcasing their images, this seems to be perfect for them.

[@tommccrorie8022]

It looks good. The images look like they could be good, but I love stubbing my toe on a weight, in the dark. Trapping my thumb in the mount or almost dropping the OTA trying to attached it to the mount head. That's the bit that makes this hobby GREAT!

[@noahshrktr]

This is the best review I’ve seen for this product. Great work Trevor!

[@PaisleyTimez]

i love stellina. so easy. enjoyable and fun. thanks 4 the review.

[@kevin_delaney]

You are right, I want to do it myself, family or friends may not though. This may be a GREAT gift..........

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

Wow Trevor your channel just keeps soaring higher and higher into the night sky my friend!! 300'000 + Subs and the quality of content, the presentation, the music, the editing, the EVERYTHING has gone through the roof!! It's wonderful to see and follow my friend!! Well Done Trevor!! Thanks!! Wes, Liverpool UK.

[@williammauney1129]

I'm just getting into the hobby and I'm going the old fashioned route for the most part. However I can see this being perfect for family members and friends who want to see an end result without the wait, and as you said without the hassle of planning, setting up, etc. Inviting friends with kids over, setting it up in the driveway in 5 minutes, and letting it go, being able to show them a result immediately could definitely drive interest in the hobby. And as they go home a younger person begins looking up more often? Not a bad result. This is an amazing product

[@moldovianfieldmarshal6313]

The old fashion way is more fun than watching the images on the phone it's not the same at least for me

[@gabrielex]

The other downside of this is ignorance, I already see plenty of people who just want to get a telescope for pictures yet they know nothing about telescopes/optics and astronomy and they have no clue what they're looking at nor how to orient themselves in the night sky, they just press a button. This is extremely sad.

[@moldovianfieldmarshal6313]

@@gabrielex you are very right my friend

[@williammauney1129]

@@gabrielex I disagree. With any tool in the wrong hands that can be said. And yes there will be those that use it for that. But what if for every 10 families that get it, you inspire just 5-10% of the children in those families to go to the next step? I’ve been looking up since I was 7 or 8 but with little to no guidance. And if I had something similar that told me info about each and every object back then (over 40 years ago) immediately, gave me a starting point to research more on through multiple sources I may have become what I always wanted to be. An astronomer, one of my 7 year old desires. Will a large portion of these be relegated to the closet one day? Perhaps. But anything that can fire the memory and imagination of just a few children it’s worth it. I have a 7 year old myself now. And I’m doing what I can to stoke that fire. Would this help? With a child’s short attention span? Without a doubt but it’s a little out of my price range at the moment. As it is I bring him out to watch through my scope and let him watch me take some very basic pictures through an ASI294 and my 6SE. As I get better, my equipment changes, and my skill increases they’ll be even better. But I’m dedicated to this hobby now because of my parents who bought me a decent refractor all those years ago. How many parents can you say that about? Not many. I’m not trying to toot my horn but I can name 5 other couples I’ve met in the past month who have told me their kids are interested in space but don’t have the time to really spend dedicated to helping their children learn the night sky. This would be perfect for them. And what if just one of those children is inspired? Is that worth it?

[@moldovianfieldmarshal6313]

@@williammauney1129 i think if he is not in this hobby it's not very likely he will get into it but i am going to be happy if I've been proven wrong

[@middlofmowhere1421]

This is great Trevor! Exactly what someone who has had a brain aneurysm, like me 🤓 needs. Now to find the dollars 😆. Seriously though, I will still rely on you to fullfil my full out astrophotography dreams. Clear sky's to everyone 🎇!

[@ChrisKoehn]

Fellow brain aneurysm survivor here!

[@justanothernoobe]

Trevor, my friend … this is JUST THE START! I get that there's a heap of joy and achievement in tweaking and setting everything up. But this makes it achievable for the masses. And hey, anything that opens up access to anything that excites us like The Great Unknown, well … that can't be a bad thing :)

[@jmbuytaert]

Thank you for this video! I was wondering how good this thing was. I can appreciate the ease of use but I do enjoy the satisfaction of taking a good picture of the night sky myself. Love your work, keep it up! 👍🏻🙂

[@phfen]

I am a bit frustrated that you don’t comment on the final quality of the images. I mean, not only on the phone where poor quality images may still shine but on a PC larger screen for example: what is the resolution? Any chromatic aberration (it’s only a doublet)? How is the light pollution suppressed ? Are the stars really round (polar alignment precision…) ? It would be nice to have a comparaison between a capture with Stellina and with a simple rig of a similar 80mm doublet… I am afraid people would invest the fortune needed to buy this and be quickly disappointed by its limitation and poor output. I may be wrong though.

[@jerryli3438]

I mean the results kinda say for themselves. A well-processed photo from an 80mm triplet will smash that photo of the M42 shown in the video. The sensor is 6.4MP 1” I think which is inferior to many Astro cameras. Stellina use an alt-az mount and a field derotator so PA is unnecessary. The lack of OAG makes me suspect it only takes very short exposures (like,

[@davidbentley8848]

Have a look at the shoot out between Robot and Nerd by His Royal Biscuitness who has a cameo in this vid for comparison images..

[@jerryli3438]

@@Astronurd that makes a lot of sense, but seriously, what a waste of the field derotator. If they put the same sensor as an ASI1600 and an OAG in there, and it could do say 2min exposures, it might actually be a very capable instrument. Also I can actually see the stars seem a little bit purple… maybe that’s the CA OP was looking for.

[@ChrisKoehn]

"I may be wrong though." The Internet needs more of this humble attitude.

[@ThePoisonDrummer]

I want one! Makes it easy to get my daughter on board and be able to take an image to school the next day. I get creating a rig. Kinda like a pre built RC Car vs building a custom one, but starting with a pre built gets you up and running and having fun.

[@DeejayDiablo]

Love the cameo with Astrobiscuit!

[@jibreel_ahmed]

Man I've been waiting for your new video for ages, thank you ✊🏾🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼♥️

[@verlorenish]

Everyone here talking about spending thousands of dollars in fancy toys while I'm over here trying to edit my blurry ass take of the orion nebula with my $100 garbage can.

[@UNLKYHNTR]

I think astronomy and therefore astrophotography is going in the right direction with this. It opens up the hobby for so many people out there, no matter their physical condition or educational background. Astronomy is a great thing, it makes you feel a deep connection with everything around you, it puts you in your place and is very humbling, but in the most beautiful way possible.

[@pipe_dev_null]

Aside from your knowledge and passion, some of the things I appreciate the most about your content is the honesty and sincerity you bring to the table. Thanks, Trevor!

[@markbergendahl2651]

Great review of the stellina. This is what I recommended to my son for my grandkids. He would be lucky to have more than an hour to spend searching for celestial objects. This is a good way to bring astronomy to kids, most of whom are not going to be interested in the esoteric fine points of astrophotography, nor will want to stand around for hours adjusting equipment.

[@kdub_]

A lot of the enjoyment I see with astrophotography is the complexity of it. Learning through trial and error is one of the most frustrating yet rewarding experiences I personally find the most fun. However, this is absolutely amazing for people who just want a more personal deep look into the night sky without having to put much thought into it. This is simply wonderful.

[@marcosmith6613]

Very good video and introduction to the subject, this is just the beginning I'm sure. We need a strong astrophotography community that knows the detail and has the skill to understand the subject, whilst at the same time allowing more people to join in the conversation.

[@Vortagh]

I've seen this before on AstroBiscuits channel and.....This reminds me of those little Meade goto tabletop scopes. I remember when they came out, how people said those would be great for people who aren't "into" astronomy, but still kinda wanted to do astronomy stuff, or for people to get into astronomy. I have yet to see someone actually own one, or use one. And this? What is the actual target audience - At THAT price? Four thousand dollars. This isn't for schools. Or for your kid(s). This is a toy (with really nice results) for wealthy people. Or worse: rich people, bought as a novelty gift and forgotten after a few weeks. Or for people on KZbin, who have enough reach to get expensive (astronomy) stuff for free. ;-) I see the concept and it's wicked cool. But, I mean - who is into Astronomy enough, to pay 4000$ for a system, but at that price is NOT into Astronomy enough, to have any actual interest in the how to. Like, I can't see people who want to start from 0 and put down that money for a one-trick pony. Can it do planetary videos even? It obviously can't give you the feeling of standing behind/beside the thing and seeing something through the eye piece for the first time in your life. Maybe in a few years, when the cheap china clones roll in, this will be a nice beginner thing for kids, or a cool christmas gift for one's retiree father. But, I mean, COME ON. FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS.

[@harrison00xXx]

Yep, 4000$ is the biggest NoGo factor considering the results (which happens to be with a 2nd hand 750mm newton, not so mobile 400$ setup A LOT BETTER) In my opinion the 2nd worst is the mount design from the beginning (but necessary for the 0815 average joe so he doesn't even have to know what polar alignment means)... I mean you basically CAN NOT BUILD A ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY "All in One" scope but it literally is based on the WORST MOUNT POSSIBLE, a Dobson like mount... I See the usage of Dobson mount also in the fact they preferred design over usability, I mean this thing looks basically like a apple hipster device! Also.. a midclass astro camera, a small raspberry pi like astrocomputer and a cheap 80mm APO give you basically the same experience for less money, more upgradability, a proper EQ mount (MEANT FOR AP!), and with a high chance better results for LESS MONEY. Basically the biggest difference is... you need to know how to polar align (basic knowledge as soon you are only a bit interested in "real" AP), hopefully you are capable of connecting USB plugs. That's it. I had ofcourse a lot of troubles with my EQ3-2 at the beginning, but its also an experience I don't want to miss (but I want to finally get rid of the cheap gear problems haha) since I basically learned the most by practicing with garbage gear, when I finally go for proper mounts I know already how to do :)

[@tony_r_pierce]

I see parallels with the way people use motorcycles, cars, computers. There are many people that love to modify their vehicles with turbochargers, custom exhausts, brakes, etc. And many people still love to build their own computers. Those things are fun and people love to do them. But the majority of people are happy with their motorcycles and cars and computers without taking them apart or knowing much about how they work. I'm happy to see this Stellina product and can see its appeal.

[@fromupthere.2209]

My son is a Deputy principal at a highschool here in Australia. I did an astro night for them a while back and they also had an old 12"dob that was missing eyepieces and the base slipped and wouldnt hold the tube.. something like this would be perfect for them for their science classes because all the kids could view at the same time.. Great vid..

[@amandaz9762]

Great review, I've been so curious about that thing. I agree with the majority of the AP community, in that it takes the fun and challenge out of the hobby. However, it sounds like a fantastic piece of equipment for those looking for a quick view and for individuals with physical barriers. It is an impressive piece of equipment. Anything to keep people looking up, I support! I'd like to check it out myself one of these days. Intriguing.

[@derp4428]

I have an 8" Celestron SC Edge HD with StarSense auto-align (plate solving) and GoTo and even that took me a while to figure out how to use on top of all the stuff I'm still learning about how to get decent photos (not entirely there yet, but ... on my way) - would I have had an easier time with a thing like this to get to the point where I could do my first somewhat detailed shot of the Orion nebula? Yes indeed .. would I want to have missed out on the journey to learn about focal lengths, camera types, filters, flats/darks/lights, stacking, post-processing and seeing my first shots come to life on my own with the risk of never have known anything about that process? Absolutely not .. but I do agree that the roboscope can get more people interested in our hobby and help them understand what it's all about

[@geosobservations9496]

I liked your reply. I had a telescope almost all my life but never got into anything extravagant. I'd love to finally piece together a rig now that I'm older and developed patience to do astrophotography 😅. However, having 2 boys and a special daughter who loves when I can show them planets and the moon. We go to KZbin to look at all the fantastic images these folk all take. I got a phone adapter which made it easier for us all to view. But I'd like to be able to point at the sky and say let's look deeper. There now look at that. That is way out there. After looking at the price of a good camera and a decent computer to process images, dew heaters, filters, the scope I need to take really decent images... saving a year for Stellina may not be a bad idea, my kids and I would wear her out 😅... not to say you can't piece up a rig and try and beat her later.

[@GaryMCurran]

@@geosobservations9496 For the price of Stellina, I'm pretty sure you could put together a very nice rig. Explore Scientific EXOS 100 mount. $700 Let’s say 10-12 pound weight capacity for AP. Apertura 72mm with a field flattener, $750 ($1450) You also could go with a William Optics 81 with a FF for $1010 ($1710) A ZWO ASI 178MM with electronic filter wheel and LRGB filters, $750 ($2,200 or $2,460). For guiding, $150 for the scope and another $150 for a guiding camera. ($2,500 or $2,760) Plossl Eyepiece kit for $170 and a 2” diagonal for $150. ($2,820 or $3,080) You still have about $1,000 to spend. You can upgrade to an Exos 200 mount, or a Celestron AVX (get the Explore Scientific EXOS 200) for like $200 more. You’ll need to spend $500 on stupid accessories, like an AC power supply, or a battery for the field, cables and interfaces, etc. You could even buy a second telescope and not put you too much over the price of the Stellina. A GSO 6” Ritchey Chretien is about $500 now, I guess, used to be $400. Yeah, I would buy a standard rig, and learn AP the old fashioned way. You and your kids will appreciate it more. Of course, then you have to buy software to process the data, and there's a steep learning curve, but it so much more interesting than just taking an image off of your phone or tablet.

[@geosobservations9496]

@@GaryMCurran I thank you for that list... I've been wanting to do 2 things all my life and take the time now to do it. Love the 2 communities I'm nudging my way into, The rockhounders and astrofolk. My kids love the mediocre shots I'm taking of the planets they love space and getting out and I'm having fun too. I post a video they think I'm a Rockstar... 😅 I have a Celestron 127slt at the moment... I got it at a really good price... it's decent... I'm seeing more than I ever have before. I always observed I can eq set up decent I've stopped Saturn Jupiter and the moon with the cheaper set ups... an astromaster 130 eq with MD, I like it though. I just started using the phone for the first time to capture and I'm having a blast... I'm getting better. I will save for a bit... make a cookie jar 😅 I'm a bit of a fool, I joke around a lot but I will someday take some deep space photos, one way or another... and for me it doesn't have to be perfect just cool enough to wow myself and my kids 😁. As a kid I bought an old I think it was a Tasco with my paper money... then a so on and so forth but now looking at everyone's set ups... I'm confused at which way to go... I love fixing used stuff and good at it... so I'll be hunting for bargains 😆

[@ChrisKoehn]

@@GaryMCurran For some people, it's plenty interesting to take an image off their phone or tablet. And plenty rewarding.

[@GaryMCurran]

@@geosobservations9496 I wanted to add to my previous comment. A few years ago, a woman went after me. Not even someone I was in a relationship with, but she decided to destroy me, and she did a very good job. I lost my home, and most everything I had, and then later on, I was evicted from another place which ended up with me attempting suicide and ending up in the hospital for a while. I DID lose everything. Well, mostly everything, including most of my astrophotography gear. So, I gave you a price of between $3,500 and $4,000 for entry level. I still have my Celestron AVX mount, although I don't have the hand controller or power supplies and cables for it. I have my two telescopes, a William Optics Zenithstar 71ED and a GSO 6" R.C. That's all I have left. I still have my DSLRs, and I still have my field flattener for the W.O. 71ED. But, I have Sony cameras and they aren't really very good for astrophotography. So, I went to HighPoint Scientific today. To replace the missing gear and other assundries, it will cost me about $6,500! This includes a hand controller, AC power supply, a set of Apertura SWA 1.25" and 2" Eyepieces, two Barlows (a 1.25" and a 2"). It includes a new guide scope and guide camera. Here's the big part, it includes a new QHY 268 Monochrome camera, filter wheel and LRGB and Narrowband filter sets, and a One Shot Color QHY 294 and a planetary QHY 458 camera. The cameras cost the better part of $4,000 and are by far the most expensive things on my list. But, this is what it will cost for me to get back into Astrophotography. I already have a laptop, and I can get for free N.I.N.A., which is acquisition softwear. For now, I can use Photoshop, but I really would recommend getting, and learning, PixInsight. I truly is the premier astrophotography software for creating images, but it's almost $300 USD. Those who use it will tell you it's well worth the cost, though, although maybe not the frustration at learing how to use it! I still think you can get into this for under $4,000, though from the ground up.

[@caroliensche13]

Great! Astronomy whithout leaving your smartphone! One thing im questioning myself - if this thing does everything for me, and my only job is to choose an object (on my smartphone) and watch its outcome (also on my smartphone) - how long would i enjoy that? I don't say our hobby has nothing to to with consommation, but that is consommation in perfection.

[@michaelsaltsman7550]

hey Trevor another awesome video my foots getting loads better so here's hoping this will be the start of my proper astrophotography.....clear skies bud

[@alexflynn2009]

I’m am a amateur myself , but to anyone who is new to astronomy and wants the sweet sweet detailed Orion Nebula or andromeda galaxy this is a good option the price is dicey but it is very easy to work with. I have a dobsonian reflector 8” telescope and that may sound not so great but with a light pollution filter you can get some very epic pics with just a standard rig. I think over all I would rather get a standard or more advanced rig, than stelina.

[@adityaraje6423]

even if I have a few extra dollars to spare I would prefer the rig . The process of the astro photography and the experience that it gives us via the rig can never be replaced.

[@alphaadhito]

Nice! Btw any chance you got to review the Hyperia 😅

[@tonyrobinson3744]

Thanks for doing this video Trev. I was wondering about the stellina. 😊

[@digitaltemperancesociety9286]

how the times will be changing. This reminds me of the days when digital cameras first started hitting the market. They couldn't match up to film at first, but now we can't live without them!

[@WingoverVideos]

I am partially sighted with limited night vision. I have tried setting up a basic rig just in my back yard but did find it difficult at times focusing etc. The hobby became frustrating for me as a result. Then I saw a KZbin video on Stellina and thought this might be the way. I purchased one 2 months ago and absolutely love it. For me it is a game changer but admire the hard core Astro photographers out there who go for perfection. Stellina has bought the wonderful world of Astro photography to me for which I thank Vaonis.

[@harrison00xXx]

So because you are too lazy to find focus you need overpriced "All in One" stuff which does everything for you? I mean, if there is something easy in astrophotography, then its finding the focus by using a bright star and a bahtinov mask... Or your camera (like my very old APS-C DSLR) is easily too weak to even make focussing hard. Which I also found A LOT EASIER on my much newer full frame mirrorless.

[@darkfeelings5]

@@harrison00xXx did you read the comment!?? WFT…. The dude clearly states he has limitations… if a hobby is frustrating and no longer enjoyable… why not go for something that brings the spark in!???? BTW… I bought one because I am truly lazy…

[@harrison00xXx]

@@darkfeelings5 "why not go for something that brings the spark in!" Ok, but still its pretty much crap! Btw, because im also very lazy... my mount sticks to the tripod permanently, all i have to do is a proper polar alignment (which im doing also the lazy way computer and guiding cam supported....) and screw the telescope to the mount, thats it. Sure, my 750mm/150mm F4 newton is bigger and heavier than this small 300mm refractor and in fact i would have loved more than once a "smaller" scope only for the bigger nebula because 750mm is "too much", but in fact 90% of the interesting deep sky objects are too small for my "compact" 750mm, in fact even my 1200mm newton! And a 2000mm+ SC reflector... well thats something like 4000$ above my budget! And the results of Stellina/Evscope etc... well, at best fitting to a 100$ 80mm refractor xD I get it, convenience and hasslefree usage is sometimes expensive, but in fact all they did with stellina is adding a cheap refractor, a lower end astro camera and a small guiding/astro computer like ASIAir in a very interesting looking enclosure. But is it worth anywhere 3000$+? Not close! In fact nowadays you can get fair priced travel mounts with decent performance, add a compact refractor, a guiding/astro computer and you also got a easy to setup and "compact" gear. Since you own this thing.... does it have at least a internal battery for some hours on the field? Because thats actually one of my biggest problems (not that its easy to solve)... im still relying on my cars battery which basically fits perfect... my mount need 12V+, better even 13-14V so the stepper motors are stronger and the mount wobbles less!

[@harrison00xXx]

@@darkfeelings5 But funny that people still buy and defend this crap of "telescope". I mean its just facts... even with my beginner to midclass tele(zoom!!!!) lens i can get similar results (with a basic tripod and no tracking/guiding at all!) Sure, the old, cheap lens isnt the main reason why that is possible, its mainly possible because of my full frame camera which also costed about 1100$, but still the point is: with "basic" photography gear you get as good (or better!) results. And the regular camera gear is much cheaper than.. Stellina. I really like the name, if i ever get a girl its not impossible that she gets this name :D

[@juliano191]

Agreed 100% The utter and frustration and wires and power supplies, lenses. Cameras, scopes. Filter wheels!!! Its quite overwhelming. Within a few short years, these Robotic telescopes will equal and surpass traditional astrophotography.

[@twozerofour]

To me it feels less like it’s taking photos and helping me experience the night sky that I’m looking at, and more so like it’s just googling whatever object I want to see and showing me a photo.

[@Bill-NM]

Love your videos. But man oh man I would have loved to see more Stellima images of the sky as well as comparisons to traditional astrophotography.

[@epicjcl6345]

love the astrobiscuit cameo!

[@itaialter]

I see Stellina are putting up the big bucks this time around. In my opinion (before watching this particular video) it's a nice idea that needs a lot of improvements and a bit of a cheaper price, so I assume it would be another 5 years before a worthy fully automated scope will hit the stores.

[@PatJones82]

I think it has the ability to get more people interested in the sky, which then in turn grows our hobby, which then perhaps brings more attention to the problem of light pollution. As a middle aged +, but still capable person, I won't be buying one any time soon, but maybe 20 years from now, I'll manage to drag it from the shed to the yard and still be able to enjoy this hobby. So I think it is a win!

[@nightsky_ash]

Totally agree with your connection between astronomy interest and light pollution.

[@stephenmacmahon4837]

Great overview Trevor. Stellina isn’t for me simply my passion comes from sitting in a comfortable chair, peering through an eyepiece and sketching my target whilst listening to good music! To me that’s the pinnacle of my astronomy 🔭 I also enjoy teaching astronomy at our public viewing sessions. This is where Stellina will come to its own. You have a natural gift for presentation with Astro backyard. Using Ashley and Rudi brings family warmth. Great stuff keep up the good work 😊

[@davejenkins8524]

WHY do you make the music so F'n LOUD ? i keep my finger on the volume while watching your videos.

[@jskendzel]

Great video! I purchase a Stellina in the spring to show my young family the night sky and frankly, although I would love a deep sky rig, I don’t have the time in my life right now to take that leap. It isn’t for everyone but it’s been so cool to get almost immediately gratification and to learn the night sky before spending more money and a lot more time on putting that dream rig together.

[@ravenstarver1360]

I often get this crushing feeling that I can google a thousand astro images roughly the same as mine, and think start to think what's the point in capturing my own? This automated thing really hits that nerve... where basically the only differences would be due to weather conditions, and some editing. So instead of hitting a button on Stellina to see the Orion nebula, why not hit a button on Google? One a robot gets the photo, the other somebody else did... where as if you capture it yourself manually at least you have a significant input on the quality of the results, and learn a lot along the way

[@daveincanada4794]

I think you nailed it with this one Trevor. Actually you nailed lots of things. I have a lot of fun building my own telescope stuff, for better or worse (usually the latter, but heck, it was FUN!). For me that's a vital part of the journey. This is different from the addictive feeling of being gobsmacked by the beauty and mystery of the universe made visible through a telescope. Not everyone can build their own stuff or are even interested in it. But everyone deserves a chance to have their mind blown. The gateway drug of choice for some may well be Stellina.

[@iasciateognisperanza3267]

Many innovations have opened this hobby to larger and larger communities everywhere on the planet. I reckon a lot of us are young at heart and have some free time to enjoy the outdoor.. When I was in my 20s and early 30s all I did was party, enjoy nights out, have fun with friends. Astronomy was in the back of my mind but I just didnt have the time. Stellina would have been nice to have, but we werent there yet. I’m glad I enjoyed those crazy years but now I’m enjoying life with my current hobbies. Having said that, I welcome this robot and believe that is going to be a great package to those young and older folks who dont have the space or time for this hobby. They can finally enjoy their evenings and late nights out or with good friends knowing for sure that Stellina is gathering a precise array of pictures. Who knows, it may well be the conversation hit of an after hours party … For the moment, I will stick to my middle age routine and enjoy the hobby as it is.

[@astrophotographysometimes2303]

While I agree that it is really cool, for me seeing the object come to life feels better when I know I have actually worked hard and spent months/years learning how to use the software and equipment to get a nice picture. Getting good pictures feels like a reward for gard work. This device removes the hard work part and gets straight to the result. Yes it may be good for some people but I find the effort you put in to be the fun part. Taking that away just makes it a little boring imo

[@paulbramhall]

listening to music is not the same as learning to play , although this could be of great use to some. Love the content and of course the biscuit cameo

[@FTE99699]

1:40 is the perfect summary - if you just want a picture, go for it. If you like the hobby - avoid it. There is always someone who gets the better picture - if you enjoy the process, the thing is not for you either :D In short - expensive toy to teach you that there is no target audience :D

[@chanceg1218]

This is awesome. I currently have a ASI183MC Pro, Radian Raptor 61, CEM26, ASIAIR Pro. I would love to have this sitting right next to that, being able to multitask.

[@denodan]

EAA is growing and stellina is the ultimate EAA scope, does everything I sm doing now, but doing it on an sct 9.25, with reducer

[@MrSaisreekar]

My Dream come true when I saw Astro Biscuit and You on one Channel!! Love you!

[@meadmaker4525]

That's a pretty impressive bit of technology. I'd heard about Stellina, but hadn't really seen any of the pictures it was capable of delivering. Given it's only on an alt/az (not equatorial), I'm surprised the pics looked as good as they did. Still, as I continue to research what rig I'd like to eventually set up for myself, the Stellina isn't what I'm dreaming about. I understand who it's been built for, but, for me, how you do a thing is at least as important as the end result, so I'm definitely going with the Frankenstein model.

[@barrycraig1549]

It has a field derotator

[@freeman10000]

One thing it can't replace is the fine old art or visual Astronomy; seeing the universe in the flesh.

[@ntaylorblanchard]

Could be very useful for schools. I'm an astrophotographer and a middle school science teacher. One of the problems with trying to have a "telescope night" here in NJ is that there are very few interesting targets you can see: moon, jupiter, saturn, maybe mars, maybe Orion nebula. I want to try it with an eyepiece rig and with EAA. With EAA the kids would be able to see nebula and galaxies that could not be seen through the eyepiece. The fast setup would be a major plus for a school night activity with very few hours to work with.

[@cryptojihadi265]

Oh Dear God No! It's one step removed from just doing a Google image search.

[@brettgibson7962]

fr lol

[@shyzlolo]

I totally agree with everything you said on this video. So unbiased. It is really rewarding to see sky objects after the hard work using the traditional telescope. While the new technology provides simplest and fastest approach which can be used in many ways such as hiking qnd other conventions.

[@LogansAstro]

Definitely has it's place and, as you said, would be perfect for things like outreach, inspiring people to get into this wonderful hobby and giving them at least a glimpse of what is possible imaging from the suburban backyard. And given that its a rather compact, pretty instant, all in one system, it does a pretty good job by the looks of things.

[@dewrunning]

“Instant gratification” - the demise of us all. We are no longer THINKING, both 3 & 4 dimensionally …… exercising our brain is so important ! As an architect (and long time wishing for a telescope), the incredible interaction between hand drawn sketches, the eye, and the brain will never be circumvented by computer aided drawing …. The same holds true for astronomy !

[@jamieashwood7169]

Great show Trevor- very professional as always… one thing that was missing, which for most would be important is the portability… backpack design, battery life, carry on for holidays etc, but it will never replace a home rig… 👍

[@kclooey]

Here’s my reasoning to getting this scope: I’m a college student and don’t have the time to really learn, and try to learn every nook and cranny of astrophotography. I love astronomy and just wanna take some awesome pictures that I can share with family and friends. I don’t have a lot of time to really take everything out on multiple nights, and spend hours on hours really learning everything needed. Like you said, getting straight to the point is what I’m after!

[@kdale9030]

Another great video, very informative and has left the viewer with lots of questions to ponder over... I, myself have a foot in both camps. I'm just starting my astrophotography journey and I do want to learn all the in's and out's of this amazing hobby. So in that respect, I would not buy a Stellina. But on the other hand, the thought of grabbing Stellina when theres a sudden clear night, especially in my neck of the woods, and then grabbing the kids to show them what's 'out there' on a whimp, would be so precious....

[@FuRyZee]

I can definitely see Stellina as a stepping stone that will get regular people interested in astronomy and astrophotography. You will always have the purists that will angered by this technology, but this device was never meant for them in the first place. A device like this gets beginners hooked on the hobby and gives them an appreciation for the night sky.

[@dr.mainakchakraborty9297]

I think this thing is good for public demonstrations and students..many people think , what we get after hours of capture and processing, can be viewed with that Astrophotography Rig we are using. This toy is for those. They will be very happy with this real time processed images. But for an Astronomer it's not the kind of thing they want. As with proper accessories ,and way of processing an Astrrophotographer can bring out that detail , even of a faint Galaxy or Nebula which Stelina /Evoscope can not produce.Also in this price tag, an excellent Astrophotography Rig can be set up. So for an Astrophotographer , this is not the choice.

[@marksmadhousemetaphysicalm2938]

Definitely great for clubs...connect it to a short throw projector...teach people who have never really seen the night sky...

[@tjzambonischwartz]

Definitely not the future of astronomy for me, because I'm a visual guy. I don't want to experience the universe through a screen. I prefer to unplug entirely under the night sky. Computers just seem to get in my way. Give me a manual dobsonian, some binoculars, a copy of the pocket sky atlas, an observing chair, a red flashlight and a logbook and I'll be happy as a clam. All this technology stresses me out. I want quiet and the stars.

[@TheTruckslover]

It is actually a huge piece of equipment, now just imagine an "upgreadable Stellina", kind of a "plug and play" "motherboard" where you can plug your scope, imagine the same system, same form factor to a certain extent, just bigger to accomodate bigger scopes, and just like you adapt your astro camera to a telescope, now you adapt your telescope to the "astrorig", and suddenly you can get all the benefits of stellina but with whatever scope you want

[@tpk7065]

if you're going to stare at a smart phone under the stars why not just google the things you want to see and save yourself 4000$

[@astrogerard2022]

It's main purpose would be for EAA- Electronically Assisted Astronomy for public outreach or for people who just have a casual interest in astro imaging and want immediate results. It will do both very well.

[@justinthehedgehog3388]

This is the problem with tech. We don't have to think anymore, it's all laid on for us. It amazes me just how many astrophotographers don't even understand the very basics of astronomy; they just want to press a button and learn nothing for themselves. I have an old star tracker, a DSLR and a 200mm Sigma lens with tape holding the focus in place. No GOTO, no bells and whistles, no "apps", no smartphone. Just a love of the night sky and the knowledge needed to navigate it.

[@GaryCameron]

This might be a great platform to hack for automated asteroid and comet searches.

[@don08ngo]

It's like placing a smart camera and capturing images of birds without going out there for the adventure of bird watching.

[@casadekaul]

I love what you do... I've enjoyed many of your videos and the images you can catch. But I'm an older guy now... I don't have the patience to invest the hours needed to understand and learn how to do all the things you do. But this stellina robot is a shortcut to what I want. So today I've started the savings fund for it. haha Thanks for the review.

[@Dances_With_Skies]

When I first took an image of Neowise with my smartphone I was hooked. After over a year I’m nowhere near being able to take decent images of the night sky but I’ve learned so much more than a rig like this would allow. I’ll admit, there have been more than one night where I’ve crawled into bed in the wee hours of the morning empty handed and thinking, “why hasn’t someone just come up with a more automated way to do this stuff?” This rig is exactly how I imagined it could be. But this rig is obviously somewhat limited to objects suited for its focal length. Knowing all the little details and on my way to a full rig setup, all I have to do to progress to deep sky objects which this rig can’t reach is flip the scope and I’m on my way. Having said all that, if money wasn’t a limiting factor, I’d already have one of these!

[@bakerfx4968]

This is good for the hobby for sure! It’s basically what DJI did with drones and now the enthusiasts are benefiting big time

[@jimgunn4498]

As a DJI Mini 2 owner, I can vouch for that first hand. I love that little guy...now I want a bigger, faster and nicer camera model.

[@bakerfx4968]

@@jimgunn4498 I recently got into the FPV side of things because of starting with the basic dji drones! And DJI makes that super easy too if you’ve got the money to spend

[@julianparks8485]

Portablility, Optics, and Mount. Maybe some serious aperture like 203mm or 254mm, but still portable. Also something for research purposes-variable stars, solar system, exoplanets.

[@OlliesSpace]

I can see this being a good option for those people who don't necessarily have the background to understand how to go about setting up a rig. The challenge is half the fun for me but not everyone. Be interesting to see how these hold up long term.

[@fayandleejustwinginit8268]

Perfect for beginners. I'd love this piece of kit

[@kevinashley478]

As a disabled person, I definitely see the draw to Stellina. I am also very excited about it's use in outreach or even as a tool for schools and astronomy clubs. Anything that can draw kids into being excited about science is a win, in my opinion. I can't wait, literally looking online every so often for this, for when someone invents a device that attaches to the telescope like a camera and can be connected to VR glasses. How cool would that be, to look around like you are IN space and seeing everything around you??? I would literally mortgage my house for that, lol. I can't believe someone hasn't already figured out how to do that. We have VR glasses and programs for them to explore and experience fictional worlds, so why can't we connect to a telescope and explore and experience the real universe? Imagine reaching out to hold Saturn in your hands, or walking around Andromeda. Come on technology, I am waiting for you!

[@4RunnerDuck]

Most definitely one of the best reviews of a product I've ever seen.

[@em21701]

This is analogous to autonomous vehicles and old-school cars. Some people want the experience of driving: manual gears, engine noises, hugging corners... others just want to get somewhere. Stellina gets you somewhere. Some of those people may later "upgrade" to the full experience.

[@GlaucusBlue]

if it wasn't so expensive, i've been tempted by stellina for a while, I live in an apartment, so can't really set stuff up in a nonexistent garden, but something I could chuck in the car and go to dark sky sites and get photos in hours is extremely enticing.

[@PagsPayback]

There is a smaller version available at the end of the year called Vaonis Vespera. It's around 1500 bucks. The Field of view is a bit larger, making it more suitable for Deep Sky objects, such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the entirety of Horsehead and Flame nebula or Cygnus loop. Plus it is a lot lighter. Still not exactly cheap, But that is about the same money as a Redcat, a Star adventurer and a solid Tripod. So not really expensive either.

[@GlaucusBlue]

@@PagsPayback thanks, that's very Interesting, will be keeping my eye out for reviews.

[@barrycraig1549]

You can use on a balcony many people are in light polluted cities

[@GlaucusBlue]

@@barrycraig1549 don't have a balcony.

[@fnersch3367]

I've been using the Unistellar eVscope now for 22 months and have viewed and archived over 500 galaxies down to 13th magnitude. I will be getting the Vaonis Vespera in a month or so. After 60 years of observing the skies, I find these electronic telescopes a major revelation.

[@davidparadis490]

Whats to say they don't have a library of raw images that they "feed" you as a real time image?

[@AntPDC]

That image at 7:16 looks suspiciously impressive for a Stellina. Does it have provenance?

[@ChrisKoehn]

Great video, and some interesting commentary from Trevor and partner. But there is a heck of a lot of gatekeeping in these comments. The biggest threat to the hobby is not automation, rather it's gatekeeping. Not even the most accessible technology will allow newbies to break through the greybeard barrier to entry for this hobby. The worst is when people say that there is a "proper" way to go about astrophotography followed by complaints about how it's best to do it "manually" or "by hand" when it's clear that astrophotographers today enjoy some of the craziest automation and assistive technology that allows them to create their images. If you're against automation then unplug, grab some plates and book some time at the observatory to capture some "real" images since that's the only way to truly enjoy astrophotography and astronomy.