Hestia is a compact device that will allow you to capture images of the sun, the moon and a number of bright objects. Credit: Vaonis
Vaonis’s new telescope is the third of the innovative tools of the company that I saw and, once again, I am impressed.
Vaonis has appointed their creation for the Greek goddess of the hearth and the house, and released it after a successful 2023 kickstarter campaign that collected $ 4.1 million in just a month. Hestia is a small portable device that uses the mobile phone to acquire images. Unlike its predecessors, which combined a telescope and a camera in an all-in-one Smartscope package, the Estia contains only optics, based on the mobile phone and on the Gravity app developed by Vaonis to do all the imaging.
I received the Ultimate Hestia package, which is sold for $ 349. It arrived in a well -designed rigid custody that contains hestia and accessories, including a sun filter, a basic sun pointer and a light tripod.
Hestia is an interesting example of telescope and optical construction. When I unplaced the unit for the first time, I thought of looking at a large iPad with a lens on one side.
The lower part of the hesty has a screw frame that connects to the tripod provided. This tripod is designed to be light and portable; The compromise, however, is a lack of stability when the legs are completely extensive. Mount on Hestia accepts a 3/8 “threaded screw and cannot be used on many standard tripods whose screws are ¼” -20. If you use an existing tripod to mount hestia, make sure it has a 3/8 wire “.
The upper part of the telescope has a large insert for your mobile phone and an “eye” for the goal of the phone camera. I gave a peek through the eye and I was able to clearly see distant trees. Two magnetic brackets fix the mobile phone. These can be moved to the insert to adapt to different phones. The brackets tended to slide a little with my iPhone 13 Pro, which has a heavy steel case.
By keeping the cost of hesty low, Vaonis provided the user with a unique observation experience. Hestia has an interesting six -slow optical optical system. I would like to have seen the internal perspective, but (wisely) the case is sealed. The objective lens has a diameter of only 1.2 inches (30 millimeters). Hestia also incorporates a 25x zoom. The specifications do not indicate the focal length.
The Vaonis gravity app helps to compensate for the lack of light collection power using images accumulation software. The telescope provides reasonably good images of the sun, moon and bright objects. It also provides a nice bonus with a splendid view of distant wild landscapes and wildlife. I live in a rural area and had fun looking for deer and examine the colors of autumn when I used the Estia for the first time.
The key to the scope is the Gravity app and the optical system of your smartphone. The app is free in both Apple iOS and Android versions. You have to download the app to take photographs with Hestia. An QR code on the base of the telescope must also be scanned before being able to pair the phone in the telescope.
Align the goal of the phone camera with Hestia’s ocpezzo is the next step after the combination. I had to try several times to successfully bring the three objectives of my phone to the right position. I therefore had to move the magnetic brackets as close as possible to prevent the phone from sliding away from the consciousness. In fact, I had to remove the phone custody to fix the phone with the brackets. When I tilted the hesty in altitude, the phone slipped a little. I solved this problem with a long velcro strap. As I said, my iPhone 13 is heavy; This may not be a problem with other phones.
Not all cell phones work with the Estia. Vaonis provides a list of compatible phones on its website. The company also says that it will continue to update the list. Only the iPhone 13 and beyond can be used for deep photography within the iPhone family. If you have an Android phone, be sure to watch the Vaonis website for compatibility before buying a hestia.
One of the most impressive aspects of Vaonis products is the support provided with its telescopes. When I examined the Smart Vespera telescope, I was struck by the singularity app that allowed the field of finding, tracing, capturing and processing images. The Gravity app does the same for Hestia, with the exception of monitoring.
When you open gravity, the first screen pushes you to choose between the sun or moon function. Using the position of your phone, the app provides you detailed information on sun, moon and other celestial objects.
I tried for the first time to imagine the sun. I put the phone on the scope and aligned the camera goal towards the eyepiece. By displaying some distant trees, I was able to check the focus. I screwed the sun filter in position on the objective lens: the last thing you want to do is fry the perspective of your phone. The small sunlight supplied with Hestia simply takes place on the side of the area. This accessory is basic but works well. A challenge I met was the gaze on the phone screen under the shining sun. I wore a hat with a large edge that protected my eyes. But once the sun is found, it was easy to use the focus and choose the exposure time and ISO settings. So, I just touched the shutter icon and I had an image of the sun. The software saved the image at the Hestia album on my phone.
Photographing the moon is similar and has the same options. You can also use the past time to capture the sun or moon as they get up or set. It is important to remember that there are no electronics or guide for the Estia. Any guide that must be done is manual. The use of a heavier tripod helped me because there was fewer vibrations as I moved the Estia to position.
The Gravity app includes a catalog of bright stars and deep sky objects. The app uses your phone GPS to help you guide you on your goal. A green circle that appears on the phone helps to locate it.
For a planned image of the Orion nebula (M42) when the moon was high, I had problems with the moonlight that washed the details. Obviously, you need a nice dark sky to capture a good image. If you live in an urban area in light polymerization, you may have difficulty with this process.
Hestia is a great companion for your other telescopes, but I don’t think it should be considered an autonomous area. Vaonis is an innovator in capturing the sky. His hestia is an economic way to start your journey by creating images of long -lasting celestial memories.
