Stargazing can be a complicated and costly endeavor, but the Beaverlab team aims to make things a little easier and cheaper with the Finder TW2. The Finder TW2 is a beginner-friendly telescope that’s billed as the world’s first AI-powered planetary camera.
Beaverlab already has a fair amount of crowdfunding going on, with its latest smart telescope being its third Indiegogo fundraiser following the Darwin M2 microscope and the Davcarve L1 laser engraver, both of which also launched on Kickstarter alongside the Excope DT1 hybrid camera system.
The telescope part of the Finder TW2 equation features a 500mm optical focal length, F6.1 aperture and 1.7 arc-second optical resolution, offering 29x optical magnification plus 4x digital zoom. At the opposite end of the main lens is a 5-inch tilting touchscreen display unit with a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels.
This DS1 unit is used for astrophotography at up to 48 megapixels and 4K video recording of planets, galaxies and nebulae after dark, or wildlife and nature in daylight. At its heart is a 1/1.8-inch starlight CMOS image sensor from SmartSens Tech, which is larger than the Sony sensor (1/2.8-inch) used in the TW1 before it and therefore “improves performance in low-light conditions by capturing more light, resulting in better image quality with less noise and more detail.”
Beaver laboratory
Beaverlab has also integrated AI-powered image processing to help users take clear, sharp photos and videos. This accesses a color correction matrix to improve color accuracy, corrects chromatic aberration, and features a motion compensation filter, wide dynamic range, noise reduction, and defog. A near-infrared denoising algorithm is also included.
The smart telescope also features a variety of different image capture modes, with preset parameters for landscapes, moon shots, cloudy skies, and more. Real-time settings adjustment and content editing are available on the device itself, but a handy Bluetooth remote control is included for capturing images without touching the screen.
The Beaver Point mobile app provides advanced control while allowing access to cosmic information. However, locating celestial objects is done manually here (with the help of the included sky map) rather than automatically as in the Celestron Origin and Vaonis Vespera II models – this is reflected in the relatively low suggested retail price of $499 (but the Indiegogo benefits are even cheaper).
Beaver laboratory
Elsewhere, the Finder TW2 includes a 6-axis gyroscope and electronic image stabilisation, 32GB of internal storage, dual-band Wi-Fi and a 6,000mAh battery that's good for up to 6 hours of use per charge via USB-C, although a power bank can also be used for extended periods in the wild. It weighs 3.8kg (8lb) for easy transport in the provided bag, and comes with a tripod as part of the package.
The DS1 imaging unit is reportedly compatible with almost any telescope that mounts a 1.25-inch eyepiece, so you can slip it in your pocket, take it to a friend's house, and use it on the onboard telescope there—even if it's not a Beaverlab product.
“Exploring the cosmos shouldn’t be just for the wealthy or the technically gifted,” said company founder Simon Fang. “Our cutting-edge optical telescope is revolutionizing stargazing by combining superior optical precision with exceptional affordability. Designed to be lightweight and highly intuitive, it appeals to experienced astronomers and beginners alike. By removing traditional barriers such as cost and complexity, this latest telescope delivers a transformative tool that democratizes access to the night sky for everyone.”
Indiegogo pledges currently start at $329 for the telescope and imaging unit combo, or $229 for the DS1 unit itself. The usual crowdfunding caveats apply, but if all goes as planned in the already-funded campaign, shipping is expected to begin next month. There's more in the video below.
Beaverlab Finder TW2 – The World's First AI-Powered Astrophotography Telescope
Source: Beaverlab