Learn how smart telescopes work

Learn · Basics

How a smart telescope works

A smart telescope combines a small lens, a camera sensor, a motorised mount and a computer that finds, tracks and stacks for you. Here is what each part does.

Learn · Imaging

What is live stacking?

Live stacking adds up many short exposures while you watch, so faint nebulae and galaxies slowly appear out of the noise. Here is how it works, with an example.

Learn · Choosing

Field of view: why it matters more than megapixels

The native field of view decides which objects fit in one smart telescope image. What it is, how it relates to focal length and aperture, and how to choose.

Learn · Sky

Light pollution and the Bortle scale

How light pollution affects smart telescope photos, what the Bortle scale means, when a filter helps and how to get good results from a city.

Learn · Imaging

Mosaics: imaging objects larger than your frame

A mosaic combines several overlapping images to cover an object larger than one frame. How it works, how many panels you need and what it costs in time.

How to choose a smart telescope

A short, data-backed buying guide: field of view, horizon, sky quality, then price.