This Device Turns Your Phone Into a Telescope to Observe the Cosmos

A French start-up company has created a cosmic new gadget that will turn smartphones into an astronomy observation telescope and camera hybrid. Vaonis’ Vespera, dubbed a smart telescope and camera in one, offers a new, out-of-this-world way for wanderers and space enthusiasts to observe the vast universe. 

Available to pre-order now with a spring 2022 delivery, the Vespera is composed of a sleek observation station, short tripod, USB wall charger, USB magnetic cable, and free mobile app. The app is essential: It serves as the space center, where users could track the specific objects they want to observe via smartphone GPS and embedded star recognition technology, as well as learn more about the objects. 

Through the app and the gadget, consumers are basically capturing their own snapshots of the moon, galaxies, nebulae, and more. The images could be sent to loved ones and shared on social media. The gadget comes with a hefty price tag. The Vespera is available to pre-order for $1,499 on Vaonis. The debut of the Vespera comes after the company’s rollout of the Stellina, a smart telescope of the same caliber.

Here’s how it works: The Vespera is a compact device that weighs just 10 lbs. with a height of 15 inches, so it’s easily accessible via backpacks. Once the tripod is set up, a push of the button on the Vespera will activate the resources on the app. In a product video shared by the company, former NASA astronauts Terry Virts and Scott Kelly heralded the Vespera.

“It’s much lighter than a big telescope, and it gives you an endless limit of things to look at in the sky,” Virts said. “I think it’s really something that’s going to revolutionize the way you see the night sky.” Kelly added, “My hope is that having this own exploration station that you can take with you wherever you go can maybe inspire you [and] your children to go further [and] to challenge themselves.”

Watch Vaonis’ product video above for more insights on the Vespera.