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Unistellar’s Odyssey Pro is a compact smart telescope tailored for astronomers seeking a comprehensive, all-in-one solution for both viewing and imaging the night sky. Priced at $3,999 (yeah, that’s right), it offers a more affordable entry point compared to Unistellar’s premium EVSCOPE 2 while maintaining a smaller, more portable form factor.
Let’s break down the Odyssey Pro.
Keeping in mind that smart telescopes, or telescopes for that matter, are not the normal bread and butter for our outlet. That is to say, we’re certainly not as well-versed in the — wait for it — space and don’t have other models for comparison. With that being said, we certainly have our thoughts on the experience, particularly as it pertains to its “smart” aspect.
Design
The Odyssey Pro sports a sleek matte black finish, with a pricier red edition available for those who like a pop of color in their stargazing gear—because why shouldn’t your telescope match your favorite superhero cape?
Measuring 431 x 204 x 134 mm and weighing around 13lbs when mounted, it’s reportedly significantly lighter and more compact than Unistellar’s older models. This makes it easier to store without turning your living room into a mini observatory. We still find ourselves leaving the telescope set up and sitting on the tripod but it doesn’t take up that much space.
A standout feature is the Nikon-made digital eyepiece, complete with a diopter adjustment wheel. Think of it as the telescope’s version of adjustable brightness on your smartphone. This is a key distinction from another model, the Odyssey.
Features
The Odyssey Pro is packed with impressive features that cater to both novice and seasoned astronomers:
- Digital Eyepiece: Developed in collaboration with Nikon, this eyepiece provides a live view of celestial objects, allowing you to switch between direct observation and the digital display on your phone seamlessly.
- Automated Controls: Forget the days of manual focusing and collimation. The Odyssey Pro handles these adjustments internally, letting you focus more on spotting the Big Dipper rather than fiddling with knobs.
- Unistellar Mobile App Integration: Control your telescope via a dedicated mobile app, selecting from over 5,000 celestial objects. It’s like having a personal tour guide for the night sky.
- Deep Dark Technology: This proprietary technology minimizes light pollution and noise, ensuring clear images even in urban environments. Perfect for city dwellers who can’t help with the light bleeding into frame.
- Solar Observation Capability: With a separately purchased solar filter, you can safely observe and image the sun. Just remember: never look directly at the sun without proper protection.
Setup
Setting up the Odyssey Pro is a breeze with the physical component taking but a couple of minutes. From there you’ll turn to the mobile app for much of the remaining experience.
- Tripod Assembly: Extend the legs of the sturdy tripod and secure them using the lever-action clasps. The built-in spirit level bubble helps ensure your setup is as level as a perfectly balanced seesaw.
- Mounting the Telescope: Attach the telescope body to the tripod using the provided mounts. It’s stable enough to handle enthusiastic astronomers and the occasional curious pet.
- Powering On: Press the single power button, and the LED indicators will confirm it’s ready to explore the cosmos.
- App Configuration: Download the Unistellar app on your smartphone or tablet. Connect to the telescope via Wi-Fi, and the app will align the telescope with the night sky based on your location.
General Performance
The Odyssey Pro shines in capturing images of nebulas and star clusters, even in light-polluted areas. Objects like the M57 Ring Nebula and the Hercules globular cluster (M13) appear clear and vibrant, thanks to the Deep Dark Technology. It’s like having a window to the universe that filters out the city lights.
Astrophotography: The 4.1-megapixel Sony Exmor CMOS sensor combined with image stacking capabilities allows for detailed astrophotography. You can capture long exposures of deep-sky objects, revealing intricate details such as dust lanes and star formations. Plus, you can download raw data files for further editing in software like Adobe Photoshop or PixInsight.
Solar Observations: When equipped with a solar filter, the Odyssey Pro provides safe and detailed views of the sun, including sunspots.
Planetary Viewing: While the Odyssey Pro excels with deep-sky objects, it’s weirdly less impressive for planetary observations. Images of Jupiter, for example, might lack the detail you’d get with more specialized planetary telescopes. It’s not a deal-breaker, but keep your expectations in check unless you want to see more detail than a daytime horoscope.
Using the Odyssey Pro is like having a personal astronomer at your fingertips. The initial setup is quick, allowing you to go from unboxing to stargazing in minutes—no PhD in astrophysics required. The mobile app deserves a special mention for making the entire experience seamless and enjoyable.
Unistellar App: The app is intuitive and user-friendly, guiding you through the process of selecting celestial objects to observe. It leverages your device’s GPS to align the telescope accurately, ensuring you’re looking at the right spot in the sky. Navigating through the app feels like flipping through a well-organized photo album of the cosmos, minus the awkward family photos.
Once connected, the app offers a catalog of over 5,000 celestial objects, complete with detailed information and easy-to-follow navigation. Selecting an object is as simple as tapping its name, and the telescope does the rest—slewing to the target, adjusting focus, and even enhancing the image for better visibility. It’s perfect for those nights when you want to impress friends with your stellar tech without having to explain the complexities of celestial navigation.
As someone who is new to telescopes, I was surprised by how the experience is almost entirely driven by the phone. The live view through the digital eyepiece complements the app by providing a direct observation experience. Watching celestial objects come into focus on both your phone and through the eyepiece adds a layer of excitement and engagement. It’s ideal for sharing the stargazing experience with family and friends, making it more interactive and less of a solo activity.
Once you’ve set up the sturdy tripod and mounted the Odyssey Pro, powering it on is where the magic begins. The telescope uses your smartphone’s GPS data to understand exactly where you are on Earth. This geolocation is crucial because it helps the telescope determine its position in the sky without you having to lift a finger. Simply open the Unistellar app, and the telescope starts the alignment process automatically.
The Odyssey Pro employs a technique called plate-solving to match the view through its optics with a star map. Essentially, the telescope takes a quick snapshot of the night sky, compares it to its internal database of star patterns, and calculates the precise orientation needed to lock onto your chosen celestial object. It’s like having a digital navigator that ensures you’re pointing at the right spot without getting lost in a sea of stars.
Despite its advanced technology, the Odyssey Pro isn’t perfect. If there are obstructions like trees or buildings blocking the telescope’s path to a celestial object, the app might struggle to lock onto the target on the first try. You might find yourself giving the telescope a little nudge—or a few gentle reminders via the app—to get it back on track. Additionally, I found a setting in the app that more or less tells the telescope approximately how much of the sky is visible around you. This was helpful in areas where the houses, trees, and buildings in my area were a bit taller.
As you observe through the digital eyepiece or the app, the Odyssey Pro continuously fine-tunes its alignment to maintain a steady view of your selected celestial object. This live feedback loop ensures that even minor shifts in position, perhaps caused by a slight breeze or movement of the tripod, are quickly corrected.
Unlike traditional telescopes that offer a range of focal lengths through interchangeable eyepieces or adjustable settings, the Odyssey Pro is designed for simplicity and automation. The Odyssey Pro handles all focusing internally, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. This means that users cannot manually select different focal distances. Instead, the telescope automatically adjusts the focus based on the celestial object you’re observing. Whether you’re gazing at a distant nebula or a closer star cluster, the Odyssey Pro ensures that the image remains sharp without any input required.
For beginners or those who prefer a straightforward, user-friendly experience, this automated focusing system is a significant advantage. It removes the complexity often associated with telescope setups, allowing you to enjoy stargazing without the hassle of tweaking settings. Simply select your target in the app, and the Odyssey Pro does the rest. As a newbie I really enjoyed this part of the experience.
However, thinking about more advanced astronomers who might enjoy customizing their viewing experience, the lack of manual focal distance control might feel restrictive. Traditional telescopes offer the flexibility to switch eyepieces or adjust settings to achieve different magnifications and fields of view, catering to a wide range of observational needs. The Odyssey Pro’s fixed focal system means you’re somewhat limited to the preset configurations optimized by Unistellar — for better or worse.
Value
At $3,999, the Odyssey Pro is a premium smart telescope, offering a blend of portability, ease of use, and advanced imaging capabilities. Compared to Unistellar’s other models, it strikes a good balance between affordability and feature set. While it’s pricier than some competitors I’ve looked up, I’ve also found that others who have reviewed this telescope find the build quality and integrated technologies justify the cost.
It’s an investment in your astronomical adventures, to be sure. Its value is certainly something that I’ve been slowly appreciating more as I spend more time with it, reading up on other models.
Battery
The Odyssey Pro runs on a removable lithium-ion battery, providing up to five hours of operation. This should cover most stargazing sessions, allowing you to explore the night sky without constantly hunting for power outlets. For those longer nights or impromptu observation parties, you can easily connect to a portable battery pack. The USB-C plug makes it easy to grab your laptop charger for power, too.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compact and Lightweight Design: Easy to store and transport without feeling like you need a gym membership to carry it.
- Automated Focusing and Collimation: Simplifies operation, making it accessible for beginners who aren’t keen on becoming telescope mechanics.
- High-Quality Nikon Digital Eyepiece: Enhances the live viewing experience, allowing direct observation alongside app-based imaging.
- Effective Image Quality in Light-Polluted Areas: Deep Dark Technology minimizes the impact of urban light pollution, enabling clear views of faint celestial objects.
- User-Friendly Mobile App Integration: Facilitates easy selection and navigation to over 5,000 celestial objects.
- Sturdy and Stable Tripod: Ensures steady observations and reduces vibrations for clearer imaging.
Cons:
- High Price Point: At $3,999, it’s a significant investment.
- Limited Performance for Planetary Viewing: Images of planets may lack the detail and clarity you might imagine in your head.
- Digital Eyepiece May Not Appeal to Traditionalists: Users preferring an entirely optical viewing experience might find the digital eyepiece less satisfying.
- Separate Purchase Required for Solar Filter: Adds to the overall cost for those interested in daytime solar observations.
Verdict
The Unistellar Odyssey Pro is a robust smart telescope that caters to both beginner and intermediate astronomers seeking a convenient and automated stargazing solution. Its design emphasizes portability and ease of use, making it suitable for those who prefer a hassle-free setup and operation. The inclusion of a Nikon digital eyepiece enhances the viewing experience, allowing for both app-based and direct observation.
While the Odyssey Pro excels in capturing deep-sky objects and performing well in urban settings, it falls short in planetary imaging and carries a premium price tag. Potential buyers should weigh these factors against their specific needs and budget considerations.
The Odyssey Pro stands as a reliable and high-quality option and seems to justify its placement in Unistellar’s lineup. It offers a balance of advanced features and user-friendly design that makes astrophotography and night-sky exploration more accessible.
Alternative
If the Odyssey Pro isn’t the right fit for you, consider the Unistellar Odyssey. At $2,299, this model lacks the Nikon digital eyepiece and offers a slightly lower camera resolution (3.7 megapixels). It’s a more affordable option for those who don’t need the enhanced viewing experience of the Pro model. All things considered, and given my expected usage, that might be where I point others like me.
Earned for achieving an overage average star rating of at least 3.75 stars, this product is an AndroidGuys Smart Pick, signifying a perfect blend of quality, performance, and value. It excels in key areas like design, innovation, and user experience, offering top-notch functionality at a great price.
Final Thoughts
The Unistellar Odyssey Pro smart telescope combines sleek design, cutting-edge technology, and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for those eager to explore the night sky without the usual hassles of a telescope.
Priced at $3,999, it offers a more portable option compared to Unistellar’s premium models, fitting neatly into smaller spaces and being lighter to carry. The Nikon-made digital eyepiece adds a unique feature, allowing for direct observation alongside the app’s digital display—perfect for sharing the wonder with friends and family.
Setting up the Odyssey Pro is refreshingly straightforward, letting you go from unboxing to stargazing in minutes. Its performance excels when capturing nebulas and star clusters, even in areas with light pollution, thanks to Deep Dark Technology.
While it doesn’t deliver the same level of detail for planetary imaging, the overall experience remains impressive, especially for those new to astronomy. Although the price is on the higher side, the combination of portability, automation, and quality imaging makes the Odyssey Pro a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to enhance their stargazing adventures.
Whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiastic hobbyist, this smart telescope makes exploring the cosmos both accessible and enjoyable.
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