Odyssey - UNISTELLAR Smart Telescope (no Eyepiece), 85mm f/3.9 (320mm) Digital & Computerized, App-Controlled Motorized Alt-Az, Enhanced Vision, RAW/FITS Export, 64GB, Tripod, 5h Battery (Black)

Odyssey is an excellent telescope. It packs amazing technologies, bigger aperture in a portable format. It does very well in many different situations including my apartment balcony. It is the telescope that got me interested back in amateur astronomy.However, it is expensive, and in the absence of a better manual mode, it may leave you desiring more.Pros1. It is very portable.2. Yet it has a good aperture.3. It is effortless to set up and start looking when the sky is clear.4. The images are greatBut1. What about when the sky is not clear? I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains most days (and nights).2. For an amateur astronomer, the fun is in the ability to navigate the sky. If it is to pick up a target and the telescope does all the work, will I learn something from this experience?3. But to iterate, some preparation and planning is still required using apps and books on a not so clear sky which makes it more fun.So, below are some of my suggestions.Improvements requestedFollowing improvements would make it a stellar telescope1. More manual control options while taking pictures. It looks like bright individual stars saturate the pixels that cover the companion double star. The telescope has the resolution to capture many double stars but cannot at this point. It may require a separate mode to view double stars.2. Identification of stars in the pictures. If the telescope is oriented, it already knows the stars being viewed through it at any time. It is about presenting the information to the user. Users can look up star charts but this would make an identified star would much easier.3. Presenting more details of a suggested object on the Unistellar app without clicking it — Like an actual picture, elevation, and orientation.4. Better tracking algorithm — If Unistellar is unable to get a clear view of the overhead sky because clouds obscure it, it may start orienting itself towards a suggested target based on an internal compass and have the user perform minor adjustments. It may also get a clear path of the sky considering the user is trying to get to a visible part of the sky. If the moon is present, I prefer to point to it as the first thing to ensure everything is set up correctly.Some additional requests to make it super stellar1. An additional 180-degree wide-view camera to know the complete sky including real-time cloud cover and a rectangle box to indicate where the telescope is currently pointing. This would make it an excellent remote observation station as we do not have to be physically there.2. An optional planetarium overlay if required to help people navigate the sky.3. The manual mode to help point and pick a point in the sky to start observing that place. Instead of being based on feeding some points (like RA & DEC), it should use the user to click on a portion of the sky map.Important Points1. Image Quality: Odyssey’s image quality is far superior owing to its bigger aperture (83 mm compared to S50’s 50mm) and better sensor (3.4 megapixel vs S50’s 2 megapixel). Odyssey has a great optical tube assembly. The images from Odyssey have much less noise and better color representation.2. Imaging Time: Owing to the bigger aperture, the Odyssey can take quality images in less time. Odyssey could get the same quality images of a star cluster in less than 2 minutes and most deep sky object is about 5 minutes.3. Transportation: The S50 is lightweight at at ~7 Kg(14 lb) including both the optical tube and the tripod.4. Field Assembly and Set-up: Odyssey has a tripod with retractable legs making the telescope to be set up at a much higher level and adjust to any ground unevenness. Odyssey keeps the bubble marker at a side even when the optical tube is fixed and is much more intuitive.5. Initial telescope set-up: On a clear sky night Odyssey sets itself up very easily. However, on a cloudy sky with patchy visibility, Odyssey gets stuck. It is unable to orient as the sky directly overhead is covered with clouds. However, when pointed to a clear sky patch manually, it could get a grip on itself.6. Telescope with kids: We usually go with kids to watch. Kids like to watch the photos being live stacked. However, they get bored after about 20 minutes.7. Telescope with blocked surroundings: With taller buildings, trees, and cars around, a taller tripod helps Odyssey.8. Images with light pollution: Odyssey performs even if it does not have a light pollution filter. Odyssey can show more number of objects and much faster with stacking.9. Daytime use: Odyssey cannot be used during daytime to view scenery. Further, the solar filters are a separate purchase.10. Coping with unexpected moves: At one of the observations, the sprinkler system turned on and I had to stop the observation and move to a different place a few feet away while the telescopes were still turned on. Fortunately, the water was never going to sprinkle at my position but it would not hurt to be cautious. Odyssey needed a restart.11. App: Unistellar’s app does not do justice yet to the powerful telescope. But it seems the Unistellar team is working on it.12. Others: Odyssey does not have a dew heater yet. In all my sessions, I did not need one. The surrounding temperature was in lower-50 degrees Fahrenheit.13. Cost: Odyssey is expensive. Unistellar could have made their product $1000 cheaper to be very tempting.

Ease of use is exemplary. Just plug and play. This telescope does allow deep space as well as plant viewing.I purchased without the eyepiece and have had no need for the added feature. I would recommend saving the added cost.I purchased the backpack and the expenditure was well worth the investment. I use the pack for storage and mobility. Design of the pack allows for the telescope plus added equipment. Also has sleeve that an iPad fits in!I live in a no light community so I have not checked to see if the telescope works well with increased ambiance. Great telescope for easy use.

Nicely made in China like many others They claim Nikon optics but this is a French company selling product made in China usin Japanese optics? Who do you call? WiFi connection is private so you can’t include in your local net. Not good. Software is set up for pre-beginner. This is a scope that can’t grow as your interest grows. And it’s very expensive.