We’ve got two clever new tools to bring the universe a bit closer: the Seestar and the SmartEye. Both make the invisible visible for everyone.

We might be the first observatory in the Netherlands to use this technology for the general public. It offers visitors a completely new perspective on the cosmos.

The Seestar is a compact, automated telescope that finds its own way across the sky. You control it via phone or tablet to take photos of any object you choose. The result is a beautiful image that builds up gradually.

It’s been a massive hit among our volunteers and donors for a while now. Now we have our own, which is great for showing more to the crowd during busy nights.

Through our telescopes, the moon, planets, and sun are exactly as people expect: brilliant. But with nebulae and galaxies, there’s sometimes a slight sense of disappointment. It’s nice, but people see faint, grey smudges. It’s very different from photos because the human eye can only capture a limited amount of light.

The SmartEye is a new eyepiece that will completely change this experience. You place it on the telescope just like any other eyepiece. You look through it as usual, but an internal sensor and a tiny screen amplify the light instantly. This way, you keep the authentic 'telescope experience' while suddenly seeing actual color and detail. Nebulae and galaxies look stunning through it, revealing things we otherwise couldn't have shown.

The SmartEye is mounted on a telescope that wasn't previously used by visitors. Our regular large telescopes still use traditional eyepieces, partly so people can clearly see the difference.