The World's First Smart Eyepiece

Crafted by Pegasus Astro - Powered By SkySafari. The future of observing has never been brighter. Supercharge any tracking telescope today with SmartEye Digital Eyepiece.

Practical Brilliance

Experience the seamless blend of traditional eyepiece observation and the unmatched light-gathering capabilities of cutting-edge sensor technology. See your existing scope transform stargazing in captivating new ways.

Amplify Any Aperture

SmartEye enhances the view seen through any small telescope, delivering vibrant color views that transport you far beyond the limits of traditional eyepiece viewing. Enjoy every gaze infused with the brilliance of a thousand stars.

Plug & Play Enhanced Observing

Bid farewell to traditional complexities and embrace a user-friendly experience that ensures astronomers of all levels can observe & image the cosmos in high definition.

Push Back Against Light Pollution

SmartEye transforms any telescope into a powerful instrument capable of piercing through urban glare, especially when used with an NB filter. Simply insert SmartEye into your focuser to open a portal to celestial marvels in mere minutes. Powered by SkySafari technology.

Live in Living Color

The IMX533 sensor captures breathtaking images and seamlessly delivers them to SmartEye’s high-resolution display, offering a wide 90-degree field of view. This immersive experience makes stargazing feel like stepping into a 3D universe, where faint objects are revealed in stunning detail and vibrant color within seconds - both through the eyepiece display and in SkySafari.

Cool, Calm Collection

SmartEye features a powerful thermoelectric cooling system that can lower the sensor temperature by up to 30°C below ambient. This significantly reduces noise, resulting in cleaner, sharper views with enhanced detail. Be prepared, your optics may pull a crowd!

Luck of the Iris

SmartEye’s advanced auto-stacking feature improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and optimizes color calibration, allowing deep-sky objects to appear in vibrant detail. This technology makes it possible to view objects in rich color that would otherwise be difficult to detect through a standard small telescope.

Catch A Perfect Spiral

A long pass or distant galaxy, precision is everything. SmartEye’s autoguiding port keeps your mount locked onto targets ensuring smooth, accurate tracking for crystal-clear astrophotography.

With SkySafari at quarterback, a signal is sent to SmartEye requesting a plate-solve & results are shared with your mount to refine your alignment so your aim is always true. 

Less drift, more detail...SmartEye and SkySafari implement the teamwork that make your astrophotography dreams work.

Telescopes Untethered

Transform your existing telescope into a powerhouse of deep-sky observation. With SmartEye, even the smallest optics can rival the views of larger and more expensive counterparts. SmartEye also lets you continue using your favorite telescope and mount, offering versatility across different setups - giving you unique experiences, varying image scales, and deeper cosmic exploration.

Discover the deepest, darkest secrets of the cosmos in bright, vivid color.

The Deep-Sky Can't Hide

SmartEye redefines the boundaries of observation, enabling more enthusiasts than ever to explore the cosmos with unparalleled clarity and ignite their passion for astronomy. Efficient, successful stargazing sessions are the norm no matter your location.

SmartEye Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a motorized telescope mount to use SmartEye?

For the optimal experience, we strongly advise using an Equatorial or Alt/Az mount equipped with motorized tracking. However, on brighter objects such as the Moon, tracking may not be necessary.

What types of telescopes is SmartEye compatible with?

SmartEye is compatible with all telescopes equipped with a 2" focuser by default. If you have a 1.25" focuser, the 2" barrel on SmartEye is detachable, allowing the use of an optional 1.25" barrel. There are also 1.25" to 2" telescope eyepiece adapters available in the marketplace. For best results we recommend telescopes with an f/7 or lower focal ratio. For longer focal length telescopes, such as Schmidt-Cassegrains (SCTs), a focal reducer can be used to achieve this ratio.

Is SmartEye considered an EAA device or an Astro-Camera?

SmartEye functions as both. It serves as an Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) device, allowing for live stacking with minimal processing for near-real-time observation of celestial objects. Additionally, it can be utilized as an astro camera, enabling users to capture long exposures for later processing.

Is the field of view in SmartEye round, resembling a traditional eyepiece despite the square imaging sensor chip?

Yes, the view through SmartEye is round to replicate the experience of a real eyepiece. Exported images are rectangular due to the square form factor of the Sony IMX533 imaging sensor.

What is the resolution of the SmartEye display screen?

The screen resolution is 2560×2560.

Is the resolution high enough to prevent pixelation?

The SmartEye uses OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) technology with high pixel density. With a 90° field of view and a 2560×2560 resolution, SmartEye delivers a sharp, clear image that makes pixelation unnoticeable, providing an excellent viewing experience for visual observation.

Does the SmartEye come with a power supply, or do users need to provide their own?

The SmartEye can be powered using your own USB-C power bank. A high-quality, durable cable for powering your SmartEye device is included (USB-C to USB-C Power Cable 1.0m). An adapter for 12V to USB-C is included. Requirements: 5V / 3A

Can images be saved and stored in SmartEye?

SmartEye offers multiple storage options for captured images. Users can save images directly to SmartEye's internal storage. Additionally, SmartEye features an integrated Micro-SD Card Reader, allowing for convenient local storage. Furthermore, users have the option to send images to SkySafari, where they can be displayed in a gallery for effortless browsing and sharing.

What range of exposures can SmartEye handle?

SmartEye supports exposures from 5 to 30 seconds in the default "SmartEye" mode. In “Astro Camera" mode, it can handle exposures of any length when used with third-party astro-imaging applications that treat it as a standard camera.

Is the brightness of the SmartEye screen adjustable?

Yes, users can adjust the brightness of the screen to their preference. Max brightness is 1800 nits with a contrast ratio of 500,000:1.

How is SmartEye controlled and how do you access its settings?

SmartEye is a standalone device that can operate independently using its physical rotary button, allowing adjustment of settings such as brightness, temperature, exposure time and more. The settings menu is seamlessly superimposed on the digital display for easy navigation and control.

What is the field of view for SmartEye?

SmartEye offers a wide 90° apparent field of view with 12mm of eye relief and an approximate focal length of 11mm. When used with telescopes like the Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED or the Astro-Tech AT72ED, the true field of view is approximately 1.18° and 1.51°, respectively. The TeleVue Nagler 11mm eyepiece provides a similar field of view.

Can you use nebula filters with SmartEye?

Certainly. SmartEye features a 2” threaded barrel that supports 2” nebula filters, allowing users to tailor their observations to specific astronomical targets with ease.

What is the back focus distance for SmartEye?

The optical back focus distance of SmartEye is 12.5 mm, which includes the 12.0 mm mechanical distance plus an additional 0.5 mm introduced by the chamber glass. The device's nosepiece is attached using an M54 thread.

Is SmartEye passively or actively cooled?

SmartEye employs active cooling with a high-quality 2 Stage Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) unit, achieving cooling down to 25°C below ambient temperature. In addition, SmartEye includes an anti-dew heater system to further enhance performance. SmartEye can operate without the TEC cooling unit enabled to save power. Users can enable or disable the TEC cooling unit as needed.

Why does SmartEye have an ST-4 port and what does it do?

An ST-4 port is a standard connection on many telescope mounts, used to link a camera for autoguiding. The guide camera tracks a star’s position and sends real-time corrections to the mount, ensuring the telescope stays on target and preventing drift or misalignment during long-exposure astrophotography.

SmartEye features an integrated ST-4 Auto Guiding port. Currently, it can act as a guide camera via ASCOM ALPACA and third-party imaging software like N.I.N.A. and SharpCap. A future update will enable SmartEye to send small corrections to your telescope mount during live stacking, ensuring precise tracking and keeping objects centered during observations.

How does SmartEye enhance the views of celestial objects?

SmartEye incorporates a low-light sensitivity imaging sensor, specifically the Sony IMX533 Color sensor. This sensor continuously gathers photons, dynamically enhancing the view of celestial objects over time. In just a few seconds, SmartEye reveals objects with remarkable detail and clarity, surpassing the capabilities of traditional telescopes. The immersive high-resolution display further elevates the observing experience by placing the viewer’s eye in close proximity to the celestial object, offering a distinct viewing encounter compared to looking at a phone or tablet screen.

Additionally, SmartEye serves as a versatile astro-camera, capable of capturing and storing raw astronomical files (FITS) for subsequent computer processing, thereby catering to the needs of both near real-time observation (EAA) and long-term data acquisition.

Do I need a computer to use SmartEye?

No. SmartEye is a standalone device with an integrated display, computer, and imaging sensor. Think of it as a plug-and-play solution.

Can I broadcast the view through SmartEye to my phone, tablet, or TV?

Yes. SmartEye offers the capability to stream the view to compatible phones, tablets, and TVs, providing users with a versatile range of viewing options and enabling convenient group sharing experiences.

Why does SmartEye have a display? Can't you just view the image on your phone?

SmartEye tries to maintain the personal connection between an observer and their telescope. The inclusion of a display enhances this connection and the feeling of looking through an eyepiece.

Looking through the display offers a unique experience that must be seen to be truly appreciated. Thanks to its high contrast ratio, resolution, pixel density, and dynamic range, objects appear almost three-dimensional, providing an unparalleled viewing experience. This level of immersion and connection would not be achievable solely through viewing on a phone or other external device.

Does SmartEye replace visual observation? I like observing directly with my own eyes.

Our goal is not to replace visual observation; on the contrary, in the age of smart telescopes, we want to help preserve the essential connection between the observer, their telescope of choice, and the night sky.

Therefore, SmartEye is designed to complement, not replace, visual observation. With SmartEye, you have the flexibility to switch between using your regular optical eyepieces and your SmartEye eyepiece. For instance, you could utilize SmartEye to confirm the location of a faint celestial object and then transition to your regular eyepiece to catch the photons with your own eyes.

Moreover, SmartEye offers a "Night Vision" mode, where the screen dims and turns red, helping to preserve your natural night vision as much as possible. Alternatively, you can view the image on your phone or tablet screen and apply night vision settings or use red cellophane film to further preserve your night vision.

Does SmartEye work out field rotation for images taken with Alt-Az mounts?

Yes, SmartEye will automatically align and rotate images (field derotation) before stacking.

Can SmartEye be controlled with third-party image capture software?

Yes! SmartEye can function as an astro camera and we plan to support industry standard camera interfaces to make it easier for third party astro-imaging applications to use it as a standard camera.

Can SmartEye be used in schools or for teaching astronomy?

Absolutely! SmartEye is an excellent tool for educational settings and outreach. We are planning on developing a comprehensive SmartEye curriculum, complete with engaging lessons and imaging activities tailored for educational use.

How does SmartEye achieve wireless connectivity?

SmartEye features a compact antenna that is preinstalled within its design. This antenna allows SmartEye to support dual-band 2.4/5 GHz WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity while maintaining a sleek and compact form factor. The antenna enables SmartEye to achieve high transfer rates and reliable reception, making it an ideal choice for wireless connectivity in a compact device. In addition, the antenna is detachable and uses a standard connector.

Where can I download the SmartEye Manual?

You can download the latest version of the SmartEye Manual on this page: Quick Start & Technical Manual

How do I update SmartEye to the latest software version?

Download the SmartEye Updater for your platform from the Software Updates page.