Vaonis has introduced the Hyperia, an advanced smart telescope priced at $99,000, which incorporates Canon's optical technology to provide an unparalleled stargazing experience. While primarily targeting educational institutions and museums, affluent individuals in the U.S. and the Middle East have already placed orders, with initial deliveries expected in 2027. This innovative device marries user-friendly automation with professional-grade optics and sensors, a development made possible through a significant "technical collaboration" with Canon, rather than a full co-development.
The Hyperia is equipped with a 45-megapixel full-frame Canon sensor, believed to be similar to the EOS R5 II, measuring 36 x 24mm. This sensor is complemented by a sophisticated optical system comprising 17 lenses. The partnership involved extensive discussions and technical exchanges between Vaonis and Canon engineering teams in both Japan and Europe. Vaonis spearheaded the overall system architecture, integration, and product development, adapting existing Canon technologies to their specific needs. Cyril Dupuy, CEO of Vaonis, clarified that while Canon engineers provided crucial assistance in selecting and customizing the optical and sensor components, the project was not a joint creation of bespoke Canon hardware.
A standout feature of the Hyperia is its refractor-based design, boasting a 150mm aperture and an f/4 focal ratio. This configuration is exceptionally rare in the market, primarily due to the technical challenges and high costs associated with achieving such a fast focal ratio at this aperture size, contributing to the Hyperia's premium price. This rapid f/4 optical system significantly enhances astronomers' ability to capture faint galaxies, nebulae, and other deep-sky objects with remarkable speed and clarity. During its presentation at CES 2026, Vaonis highlighted this capability as a key advantage, particularly for educational settings and live demonstrations where immediate visual feedback is essential. The demonstration showcased the telescope's fluid and precise automated movements.
The Hyperia also excels in long-exposure stability, thanks to its direct-drive mount and integrated field-rotation compensation. This allows the system to maintain accurate tracking for individual exposures of up to 30 minutes. According to Dupuy, the Hyperia automatically captures multiple exposures of the same celestial target, then aligns and combines them. This process accumulates the genuine signal from the object while effectively reducing random noise and eliminating transient artifacts like satellite trails. The quality of the resulting image continuously improves with increased total integration time.
Designed for versatility, the Hyperia is engineered to function effectively even in light-polluted urban and suburban environments. It features interchangeable filters that can mitigate unwanted wavelengths from artificial light sources. Additionally, the telescope supports standard 2-inch astronomy filters, enabling users to incorporate filters from various brands. Vaonis has also incorporated a built-in IR-cut filter to preserve H-alpha and SII transmission, further enhancing image quality.
Ease of use is central to the Hyperia's design, with a focus on turnkey and plug-and-play operation. Vaonis aims to allow educators to concentrate on teaching astronomy rather than struggling with complex software, while still offering advanced users comprehensive control. The company is developing a dedicated Hyperia application for effortless setup and remote access, enabling users to control the telescope and receive real-time images from anywhere in the world. This remote capability opens up new possibilities for remote observatories and networked astronomy, such as operating a Hyperia in New York from a patio in Dubai.
By catering to advanced individual users, educational institutions, and science outreach programs, Vaonis envisions the Hyperia fundamentally transforming how astronomy is presented. Instead of static, pre-captured images, educators can now provide audiences with live views of celestial objects as data accumulates in real time, revealing intricate structures and details within minutes rather than hours. This dynamic approach allows users to adjust exposure time and gain, observe images develop progressively, and optionally export RAW data for further processing with third-party software. The fast optics of the Hyperia deliver initial results rapidly, with the highest quality achieved through longer integration periods.
Despite its significant investment, the Hyperia represents a bold step in smart telescope technology. By integrating advanced consumer imaging capabilities with accessible astronomical tools, Vaonis is pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and the company hints at more innovations to come in this evolving field.