04:15AM
Cherry clouds in the dark. Let’s look closer: we can see stalagmites rising from inside. Like we’re in a cave dug into the universe. Now we see why they call it the Pillars of Creation…
Object: M16 Eagle nebula
Date: 08/06/19
Stacked images: 168x10s
Total exposure time: 28min
Location:
Software version:
Author: Vaonis
09:20PM
Pic du Midi climb with new crew members. We are awaiting nightfall perched at an altitude of more than 2500m. The coolness of the twilight and the light breeze announce a fluid and clear sky. Between earth and sky, Stellina is prepared, ready to lead us to a new celestial destination. Just what are we going to discover tonight?
Date: 03/07/19
Location: Pic du Midi, Pyrénées, France
Author: Vaonis
After several years spent looking for the perfect stand (tripod) for our space travel companion, we are pleased to announce our new partnership!
What company was the worlds’ best to create a tripod reflecting the aesthetics and quality of STELLINA as well as the ethical values of Vaonis? Our mission and high standards led us to meet the world’s most respected tripod manufacturer: Gitzo.
In September 2019, Vaonis teamed up with the Gitzo brand to equip all of its STELLINA observation stations. Renowned for its excellence, this historical brand is considered the world’s best tripod manufacturer. All Gitzo products are made with high quality materials and assembled by hand in Italy, north of Venice. Combining its French origins with Italian design, Gitzo offers state-of-the-art camera stands using innovative materials such as lightweight, high-strength aluminum alloys to ensure stability and efficiency.
Despite their vast range, the specific needs of astronomical instruments required working to design a unique model in the world entirely dedicated to STELLINA. After many echanges and a meeting with Gitzo’s R&D team, the GT3520S-VS model, inspired by the Systematic range, was born.
Systematic is Gitzo’s top range of tripods, perfect for professional photographers using long lenses and heavy equipment. Systematic tripods are the strongest and most stable tripods, they are also modular and can be quickly set up in different configurations both as photography or videography supports. Made with 100% Carbon fibre eXact tubes and innovative design they represent all Gitzo’s high quality and performance. Systematic accessories can be used to adapt to any situation or environment.
With its extraordinary stability and perfect aesthetics, this tailored tripod perfectly illustrates the collaboration between 2 brands and their search for perfection.
The first necessity was to reduce the length of the tripod’s legs to increase its stability.
Subsequently, the team’s work focused on tailor-made finishing of aluminum parts injected at low pressure. This injection technique significantly increases the mechanical quality of the part, preventing the appearance of air bubbles that could weaken it. This piece was then treated specifically to get closer to the visual identity of STELLINA.
The next step focused on the bubble level. If it was too close to STELLINA, visibility in a dark environment could be poor. We decided to create a custom level plate apart so that the bubble level is easily visible during installation.
Finally, the screw tightening locking levers were carefully studied to make their use simple and easy while guaranteeing the overall rigidity of the tripod.
After many prototypes and exchanges between teams of engineers and designers, STELLINA’s ideal partner was created.
The Gitzo Series 3 Systematic Tripod is a powerful, 3-section, professional carbon fibre tripod designed to safely hold longer lenses and heavy cameras. It is the perfect combination of minimal weight, durability, and uncompromising stability. The tripod weighs only 1.93kg and secures an impressive payload of 25kg. It reaches from as low as 9cm up to 130cm and folds down to 61cm. A highly reliable, versatile solution that’s easy to take anywhere, this model features Gitzo’s Carbon eXact tubes with G-Lock Ultra twist-locks that solidly connect the leg sections and protect them from dust and dirt damage. New, ultra-stable, removable feet make this support even more secure. With a top leg diameter of 32.9mm, this Series 3 model is the perfect choice for exacting professionals who want to travel light but require the adequate levels of stability for professional equipment.
Carbone eXact
The new Carbon fibre eXact tubes are revolutionary and even stiffer to maximize rigidity and image stability. Carbon eXact optimizes the fibre composition for each tube size.Removable Feet
This functionality allows you to easily replace used feet and to put other attachments such as spikes.G-Lock locking system
Gitzo entirely redesigned its G-Lock system. G-Lock Ultra offers new ergonomic and resistance performances. It brings a smoother use and efficiently protects the tripod from dust.
11:45PM
How old is this dazzling stone grey sphere?
Can you tell by counting its spots, like a ladybug?
We’ll get closer to find out.
Object: Moon
Date: 15/11/18
Images stacked: 1 (live image)
Total exposure time: n/a
Location: France
Software version:
Author: Vaonis
Vaonis is thrilled to announce that its revolutionary Stellina telescope won the Red Dot Design Award, “Best of the Best” in the Photography & Equipment category, on March 25, 2019. This is the 4th design prize awarded to Stellina, after the Observeur du Design (2018) and the Janus de l’Industrie (2017 and 2018). By winning this prestigious award, Stellina will gain further international recognition. The product, whose design is widely acclaimed by both professionals and the amateur public, also received the CES Innovation Award in the same category in January 2018, which recognizes the best technological innovations.
The Red Dot Design Award is an international design competition for product and communication design, whose origins date back to 1955 in Germany. Receiving more than 6,000 applications every year through 48 categories of products, it is the most prestigious design competition in the world. The jury comprises some 40 international experts who test, discuss and evaluate the quality of each product on the basis of criteria such as the degree of innovation, aesthetics, functionality, ergonomics, durability or symbolic and emotional content. Award-winning products are presented at an annual ceremony and then exhibited at the Red Dot Design Museum located in Essen (Germany), and at the Red Dot Museums in Singapore and Taipei.
The Best of the Best honor is awarded for ground-breaking design and is the top prize in the Red Dot Award Product Design competition. This prize is reserved for the best products in a category. Last year, only 1,1% of all entries (69 products over 6000+) received this honor.
The design of this new generation telescope, whose idea emerged in 2013, is the result of a collaboration with Ova Design, an industrial design agency specialized in the study of usability and user experience. Based in Paris, the company has been rewarded for several of its achievements with prizes such as L’Observeur de Design, the Janus de l’Industrie or CES Innovation Awards. In 2014, Cyril Dupuy had already imagined Stellina in the monoblock form that we now know. The creator of the next-gen telescope asked Ova Design to help refine a few details of the design. The design team quickly identified the product vision desired by Cyril Dupuy, as well as its requirements and constraints. Through their research and hard work together, they have made Stellina one of the most innovative and aesthetic products in its category.
« We wanted to break with conventional telescopes. Stellina is a new generation of telescope, and as such we wanted a unique form factor. When closed, it has a refined and simple shape, which comes to life automatically as soon as the optics arm opens to position itself in the direction of the stars to be observed. We wanted to create a surprise when Stellina unfolds. The object wakes up and comes to life, the connected object becomes a companion to help its users live a new viewing experience.
Voluntarily there are few buttons on the product (only one in fact) a way to show the ultra-simple and guided use. The identity of the object makes it accessible to everyone, it does not have an over technological appearance (like conventional telescopes), it is a robotic object but it is not scary.
We also wanted to add the notion of autonomy and simplicity of use. Both can be found in the very sleek form and in the overall user experience. And above all, we wanted a little mystery in this new technological object, its monolithic shape attracts attention when closed, as does the blue ring that acts as the button.
To sum up, it was in robotics that we found inspiration combined with high precision technology and the elegance of a unique silhouette. »
Benjamin Sabourin & Nicolas Marquis
Co-founders of Ova Design
Credit: Miguel GONCALVES
Come meet us at the Champ du Feu, near Strasbourg and only 1 hour drive from the German border, for a demonstration of Stellina. We will welcome you in one of the best French stargazing spots to answer your questions and let you test the smart telescope live: observation of deep sky objects, live improvement of images (stacking), multi-viewer mode …
We advise you to download the Stellina app before your visit.
Where: Champ du feu, Vieux Prés car park (48°24’09.4″N 7°16’04.5″E)
When: Saturday 25 May, time to be confirmed
Join us by confirming your visit and the number of attendees at info@vaonis.com.
This demonstration is subject to favorable weather conditions (visit Météociel). Its confirmation or cancellation will be notified by email 2 days before the event.
We are looking forward to introducing you the next generation telescope on which we have been working for 3 years!
Vaonis was selected from hundreds of entries to showcase its Stellina innovation at the 2019 edition of VivaTech. Come meet the team and their game-changing smart telescope, the perfect hybrid between the telescope and the camera, in the Discovery Zone, the beating heart of the Hall of Tech.
When : Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 May, 2019
Where : Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles (Paris)
Area : Hall Discovery
VivaTech is the world’s rendezvous for startups and leaders to celebrate innovation. This international event, dedicated to the growth of startups, digital transformation and innovation, will take place 16-18 May 2019 at Porte de Versailles, Paris. Having attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2018, the show reiterates the event for a fourth edition and will bring again together will bring together startups, business leaders and executives, investors, academics, students and media from around the globe. For 3 days, Viva Technology will brighten up to the rhythm of tech, where speakers will present the major trends in the field of technology and innovation, from blockchain to AI, GreenTech or the challenges of Connected healthcare and genetic modification. Among these topics, the theme of the New space race (space conquest) will also be highlighted, an odyssey of space that Vaonis has already begun!
Among the topics this year:
– Tech For Good
– Women in Tech
– United Tech of Europe
• 4th annual edition
• 100 000 visitors in 2018
• 2 days reserved to professionals, 1 day open to the general public
• 1 500 startups showcased
• 1 900 journalists
• 125 countries represented
• 180 talks and conferences, 450 speakers, 5 stages
—
More information: www.vivatechnology.fr
Meeting, interview & demo requests: stephanie@vaonis.com
Cyril Dupuy, who imagined Stellina and ceated the company Vaonis in 2016, was selected in March 2019 by the French edition of Forbes magazine to appear in its annual list of « 30 Under 30 ».
The Forbes France “30 Under 30” list rewards 30 young people under 30, entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, engineers who have emerged or are emerging in their field. A jury of experts – composed of Dominique Busso, CEO of Forbes France, Frédéric Jousset, founder of Webhelp, Taïg Khris, founder of OnOff, Chantal Baudron, head of a management consulting firm, and Stéphanie Hospital, founder of the OneRagtime investment fund – has scrupulously studied the various applications according to specific evaluation criteria. Each assigned one score per candidate, and the total score then selected our 30 winners for the 2019 edition of the “30 Under 30“. This is how the CEO of Vaonis was selected within the French laureates.
In the paper version of the magazine, we can read the portrait of the founder and the start-up:
« Vaonis is a start-up that wants the world to observe the stars simply, to take a little height on our world and to be aware of the present and future issues. Stellina is a first step: it is a hybrid between a telescope and a camera that lets anyone, child or adult, to discover the universe around us. Designed by a team of French astronomy and new technology enthusiasts, Stellina is the world’s first all-in-one smart telescope to photograph stars.
Catchline: The universe at your fingertips »
More information : www.forbes.fr
If the parts that make up our products are bought in France, Europe or Asia, all of our STELLINA observation stations are assembled entirely by hand in Montpellier, not far from the offices of Vaonis, at APF34.
Production line
From the start, at the creation of the company in 2016 Cyril Dupuy, the founder, wanted all the elements to be locally produced.
Working with local actors allows for reactivity and fluid communication as well as establishing relationships and trust between partners; this results in the manufacturing of good quality products for the customers. After searching for a trusted partner for several months, the choice naturally fell on the company APF 34.
Founded in 1971, APF 34 is a company based in the South of France, specialized in electrical wiring and electromechanical assembly. Equipped with a real industrial know-how, its mission is the professional and sustainable integration of people with disabilities.
Under the care and support of the Association of People with Disabilities (APF in French), a French non-governmental organization, it enables disabled workers to take up paid employment under appropriate conditions by adapting workstations or adapted professional activities.
Packaging of STELLINA at APF34
Human aspects play a key role in the choices of Vaonis’ collaborations, whether for internal employees or service providers. With APF 34, this aspect was favorable from the start.
Only 6 km separate Vaonis from the factory’s premises, allowing ease in frequent visits to the technician and production lines. They are responsible for assembling more than 300 parts together, from the optical tube to the sensor block, the external frame, electronics and wiring.
After a pilot production and a first batch produced in 2018, the pace will now go crescendo. A second phase of manufacturing will be launched at the beginning of the year, followed by a second next summer, with a progressive ramp up of the production capacity.
Going against the strategy of “mass production and large scale economics”, this deliberate choice was made in order to be able to control every stage of the production chain and make STELLINA a reliable device in every respect.
Click to enlarge image