I wonder if the images taken in Campaign mode would be suitable for simulating an extremely large telescope (like in astronomical optical interferometry)?

On a designer/engineering note: Since the images are available in digital form - is there still a need to keep the eyepiece attached to the rest of the telescope (i.e. why does the user still have to put him/herself in an akward pose to view the image)?

Something to talk about at Stellafane this weekend.

designer/engineering note: Since the images are available in digital form - is there still a need to keep the eyepiece attached to the rest of the telescope (i.e. why does the user still have to put him/herself in an akward pose to view the image)?

And yes, people still want to LOOK at those wonderful objects in the sky. Something spiritual about ancient photons hitting retinas-

"Enhanced Vision produces extremely sharp, detailed images of even faint astronomical objects by accumulating their light and projecting it into the telescope's eyepiece. Enhanced Vision technology mimics the light gathering capability of significantly larger reflector telescopes, thus delivering unprecedented views of night-sky objects previously inaccessible to amateur astronomers."

I can understand how this would work on image brightness, but would like to understand how they are able to surpass the lambda/D limits on image resolution.

On a designer/engineering note: Since the images are available in digital form - is there still a need to keep the eyepiece attached to the rest of the telescope (i.e. why does the user still have to put him/herself in an akward pose to view the image)?

I still get the goosebumps when I see something through the eyepiece that I don't get when I see it on a screen, so possibly it's there for no technical reason.

I still get the goosebumps when I see something through the eyepiece that I don't get when I see it on a screen, so possibly it's there for no technical reason.

Still, wouldn't it be a feature to don a VR headset* and couple the head tracking to the motion controls on a telescope?

*or an AR headset. Maybe integrate live feeds with other hobby astronomers. I think there could be some cool applications there.

In the end I really want something like this on a galactic scale:
https://xkcd.com/941/

I still get the goosebumps when I see something through the eyepiece that I don't get when I see it on a screen, so possibly it's there for no technical reason.

Still, wouldn't it be a feature to don a VR headset* and couple the head tracking to the motion controls on a telescope?

*or an AR headset. Maybe integrate live feeds with other hobby astronomers. I think there could be some cool applications there.

In the end I really want something like this on a galactic scale:
https://xkcd.com/941/

Sure it would, but I don't think they need to be mutually exclusive :)

If you look at the front of the scope, there are two slits. To me, this suggests that there is some sort of interferometry.

The info on their web site www.unistellaroptics.com/en/ suggest both image intensification and integration...

We do know the laws of physics cannot be broken, therefore, I would expect that the images that can be obtained are limited by the primary mirror size, i.e., limiting magnitude and resolution.

I still get the goosebumps when I see something through the eyepiece that I don't get when I see it on a screen, so possibly it's there for no technical reason.

Not sure, but it seems this scope has a digital eyepiece, so you won't be seeing a direct view anyway.
With Light Amp on it takes a number of exposures and then projects the combined image into the eyepiece. How is the image projected?
Also, from the site: "... it can take from a few seconds to several tens of seconds for you to start seeing the beautiful colors and shapes of galaxies and nebulae normally invisible directly through the eyepiece"

Not sure, but it seems this scope has a digital eyepiece, so you won't be seeing a direct view anyway.
With Light Amp on it takes a number of exposures and then projects the combined image into the eyepiece. How is the image projected?

Projector - LCD/OLED or something - my opinion anyway.

Also, from the site: "... it can take from a few seconds to several tens of seconds for you to start seeing the beautiful colors and shapes of galaxies and nebulae normally invisible directly through the eyepiece"

Intensification and integration.

I still get the goosebumps when I see something through the eyepiece that I don't get when I see it on a screen, so possibly it's there for no technical reason.

Not sure, but it seems this scope has a digital eyepiece, so you won't be seeing a direct view anyway.
With Light Amp on it takes a number of exposures and then projects the combined image into the eyepiece. How is the image projected?
Also, from the site: "... it can take from a few seconds to several tens of seconds for you to start seeing the beautiful colors and shapes of galaxies and nebulae normally invisible directly through the eyepiece"

In which case I agree with AA it's of benefit for contortionists only :(

I wonder if the images taken in Campaign mode would be suitable for simulating an extremely large telescope (like in astronomical optical interferometry)?

From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_interferometer

At the shorter wavelengths used in infrared astronomy and optical astronomy it is more difficult to combine the light from separate telescopes, because the light must be kept coherent within a fraction of a wavelength over long optical paths, requiring very precise optics. Practical infrared and optical astronomical interferometers have only recently been developed, and are at the cutting edge of astronomical research. At optical wavelengths, aperture synthesis allows the atmospheric seeing resolution limit to be overcome, allowing the angular resolution to reach the diffraction limit of the optics.

Likely not as the overriding factor would be the need to maintain coherence between scopes.

You can't get blood from a stone, and you can't separate a double that is diffraction limited without a bigger mirror. That said, quite a few spectacular nebulae are quite large in angular size, and intensification and image stacking will give you a good look at things you can't see with a standard 'scope, and it's always true that even a pretty big OTA (1 meter) will still not show colors for nebulae.

What I want to know is the total details of the OTA, and the specs on the eyepiece, and whether I can swap out eyepieces. None of this is available on their web site.

This is nothing new at all.............It's been around for almost 2 decades...They make it sound like it's all exclusive...Its not. Its called EAA, look it up. Tons of folks ( Me included) have custom setups that does exactly all with they claim and it can be done right here right now for less than 1000 USD they are asking. The only new ''novelty'' is that they added that ''projection eyepiece''. Personaly, in EAA I prefer to project my images on a 130 inch Projector screen XD. You can even outclass their system if you by used parts and put em together. And what they dont say, you will have limited resolution due the physics of the small 4.5 inch mirror.

If you look at the front of the scope, there are two slits. To me, this suggests that there is some sort of interferometry. -wiyosaya

It's the two sides of a handle on the cover.

This system is also able to name any object the user is observing

I for one would appreciate having this feature. For example, I have tried to observe Pluto during its opposition (July 9th this year) and have not been able to distinguish it from faint background stars. Worse still, even a slight misalignment of the telescope means Pluto is not even in the field of view.

I wonder if the images taken in Campaign mode would be suitable for simulating an extremely large telescope (like in astronomical optical interferometry)?

In general, I believe that would require adaptive optics at short, visible wavelengths. However, I could imagine that brief moments of randomly clear imaging could be combined, but I am not sure if this would actually produce much useful imaging given the low amount of light collection and brief time periods this might work.

BREAKING: Trump declares State of Emergency in Amateur Astronomy Revolution.
National Guard* on high alert.
Intelligence agencies issue urgent call for translators fluent in Klingon.
Steven Greer livestreaming Hopi Summoning ritual from Nevada desert ($19 / min)|
- Source: Not much yet, thought we saw a Chupacabra but probably just a stray.

* Brian, ex- amateur astronomer. Favourite planet: Pluto.

Source: Not much yet, thought we saw a Chupacabra but probably just a stray

@Soundgardener
my friend lost his chupacabra last week
if you can find a goat or a catholic to trap the chupacabra with, please do

distinguishing features : long teeth, bad breath, smell, and a small tattoo just under the left ear of yoda strangling a klingon with wonder woman's lasso while riding on a flying fish

oh, and a puerto rican flag collar often mistaken for a texas flag

if you find him, please call: 1-877-goatsucker and ask for father tim

thanks

[Moderators didn't like the link in my previous post; modified here]

This appears to be a 4.5" Schmidt-Cassegrain newtonian on a goto mount, coupled with an astro-imaging video cam and inline stacking software.

It's likely it will offer nice views and potentially an easier experience for beginners, but hardly revolutionary. It's nice to have the cam and stacking out of the box, as that can be tricky to set up.

As others have noted, there are other good options already out there. Google the Celestron Nexstar 127 for a similar telescope and mount setup for about half the price.

Adding the camera and stacking software can be done for a few hundred dollars and a bit of trial-and-error. Of course, that isn't for everybody.