Editing Robotic telescope (section)

=== Smart telescopes ===

A newer introduction to the  consumer market are smart telescopes. They are self contained robotic astronomical imaging devices that combine a small (50mm to 114mm in diameter) telescope and mount with pre-packaged software designed for [[astrophotography]] of [[deep-sky object]]s.<ref>[https://www.techradar.com/features/why-smart-telescopes-are-the-future-of-astrophotography Jamie Carter, Why smart telescopes are the future of astrophotography, techradar.com - September 24, 2022]</ref><ref>[https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021ASPC..531..411S/abstract Sweitzer, J.,  Star Parties in Deep Space: Smart Telescopes for Education, ASP2020: Embracing the Future: Astronomy Teaching and Public Engagement ASP Conference Series, Vol. 531, proceedings of a virtual conference held 3-December 2020. Edited by Greg Schultz, Jonathan Barnes, Andrew Fraknoi, and Linda Shore. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2021, p.411]</ref><ref>[https://www.space.com/vaonis-stellina-observation-station-smart-telescope-review Robin Scagell, Vaonis Stellina Observation Station Smart telescope review, space.com, September 14, 2022]</ref> They use GPS data and automatic star pattern recognition ([[plate solving]]) to find out where they are pointed. They have no optical system that allows the user to directly view astronomical objects and instead send an image captured over time via  [[image stacking]] to a built in digital display (usually shaped like a conventional [[eyepiece]]), or to a [[smartphone]] or [[tablet computer|tablet]]. They come with a database of pre-programmed objects, per-determined imaging routines, and [[Mobile app]] software that allows the end user to begin astrophotography as soon as the telescope is set up. They can be operated remotely and are able to collect a series of images unattended. They can automate various techniques of astrophotography, including "[[lucky imaging]]"  and "[[speckle imaging]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smart Telescope Reviews - Find perfect smart telescope |url=https://smarttelescopereviews.com/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Smart Telescope Reviews |language=en-US}}</ref> The design of the imaging system, combined with relatively small optics, are not optimal for imaging planets or the Moon.<ref>[https://www.techradar.com/features/why-smart-telescopes-are-the-future-of-astrophotography Jamie Carter, Why smart telescopes are the future of astrophotography, techradar.com - September 24, 2022]</ref> Examples include models Seestar and Dwarf, and  from the French companies [[Unistellar]] and Vaonis.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Robin Scagell |date=2022-08-09 |title=Vaonis Stellina Observation Station Smart telescope review |url=https://www.space.com/vaonis-stellina-observation-station-smart-telescope-review |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Unistellar eVscope eQuinox |url=https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/reviews/telescopes/unistellar-evscope-equinox/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=BBC Sky at Night Magazine |language=en}}</ref>