Kuiper Kat

Additionally, Unistellar has also added Orion to their database! Be sure to look up!

🚀🔭Can a smart scope actually spot NASA’s Artemis II Orion capsule on its way to the Moon?

Based on the visibility discussion posted by Spaceweather.com, Orion could brighten enough for some popular smart scopes to catch it, especially during its early Earth passes on April 2 and again on the return leg on April 10.

The brightest moment may come during Orion’s closest pass, when it could briefly glow around magnitude 7 to 9, bright enough in theory for all three smart scopes I compared: DWARF 3, Vespera 1, and Seestar S50.

However, Orion will be moving fast, especially near closest approach, and that could maybe make it much tougher for smart scopes than imaging a fixed deep-sky object. So this is really a mix of brightness + tracking ability + timing + sky conditions. Tricky but possible. 🤔🤞

✅DWARF 3 looks best for the brightest windows only.
✅Vespera 1 should handle stronger passes & brighter return.
✅Seestar S50 likely gives the widest range of opportunities, including some of the fainter return and outbound windows.

For the full visibility breakdown for traditional telescopes and more detail on how to track Orion (get coordinates), check out Spaceweather.com for clear instructions here:👇
https://www.spaceweather.com/images2026/28mar26/horizons.html

❓Would you try to catch Orion with your smart scope?

Seestar DWARF LAB Vaonis

Huge thank you to for inviting the to their downlink day, sponsored by , and !