It couldn't be simpler: test the Unistellar Odyssey Pro

As an amateur, you want to get results quickly and not spend too much time setting up and preparing, otherwise your enthusiasm will soon disappear. Unistellar's Odyssey Pro system clearly outperforms other astrophotography systems. It basically consists of only three parts: a tripod, a telescope, and an app. Together the equipment weighs just 6.5kg, so it can be easily transported in a car or carried on your back across rough terrain. Unistellar also offers a specially designed backpack of high quality as an accessory.

On site, assembly is quick and requires no tools: disassemble the tripod, align it using the built-in spirit levels, place the telescope on it, secure it with two knurled screws, turn it in, and you're done. The rest is done via the Unistellar app for Android or iOS on your smartphone or tablet. During setup, the app first pairs with the Odyssey Pro via Bluetooth and then creates a WiFi connection to transfer data.

In the application, you can choose whether the monitoring will take place in a city, suburb or rural area and thus determine the associated light pollution. You can also enter whether part of the sky window is covered by obstructions. Based on these specifications, the telescope aligns itself independently by comparing the currently visible stars with its internal database during “plate resolution.” Autofocus and parallel alignment of light rays (collimation) usually work very well. If a problem occurs when it does not work due to vibrations or other problems, it helps restart the Odyssey.

Thanks to Unistellar's “multi-depth function,” Odyssey can quickly shift from a relatively nearby moon or Jupiter spot to the spiral arms of a distant galaxy. Depending on the location, date and time, the application suggests appropriate monitoring objects. Obviously, they are stored in different categories, such as the solar system, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters or stars. Once the target is selected, the telescope automatically aligns itself accordingly. Meanwhile, the application provides useful information about the distance, size, origin or configuration of the target object. The alignment can then be changed manually.