The collaboration allows compatible Unistellar telescope owners to connect their instruments to SkyMapper’s global network, making observing capacity available to people worldwide while opening new opportunities for remote astronomy and scientific research.
Unistellar telescopes established the foundation for SkyMapper’s global observing network. While Unistellar’s citizen-science programs engage telescope owners in coordinated research campaigns, SkyMapper allows owners to contribute observing time without joining a formal campaign. The network also enables people worldwide, including scientists, to remotely access telescopes made available by their users for exploration, astrophotography, education, and scientific research, complementing Unistellar’s initiatives.
SAN FRANCISCO AND MARSEILLE | November 10, 2026
Unistellar, the French-American smart telescope company, and SkyMapper, developer of a decentralized global telescope network, today announced a collaboration that enables owners of compatible Unistellar telescopes to become SkyKeepers and contribute to a growing worldwide observing network. Through SkyBridge, participating telescope owners can share observing capacity, access telescopes in other locations, and support collaborative astronomical research.
MAKING ASTRONOMY ACCESSIBLE ACROSS BORDERS
Light pollution, weather, and even daylight, prevent many people from experiencing a dark night sky. Meanwhile, privately owned telescopes around the world have access to excellent observing conditions in different time zones and hemispheres. SkyMapper connects compatible instruments into a distributed observatory, so people can explore the universe through telescopes beyond their own location.
“Throughout my career as an astronomer, I have seen how access to a telescope and a clear night sky can inspire people and contribute to scientific discovery. Yet millions of people live under light-polluted skies, while privately owned telescopes elsewhere have access to excellent observing conditions.
“With SkyMapper, we are building a decentralized network that connects these telescopes and allows their owners to share their skies with the world. Someone in a large city can explore the universe through a telescope thousands of kilometers away, while an amateur astronomer with a beautiful sky can contribute observations to scientific research.
“Unistellar made powerful astronomical instruments accessible to the public for their enjoyment and for scientific discovery, and connected them to the world through citizen science programs. By connecting its telescopes to SkyMapper, we are taking another step toward making astronomy a shared, global experience.”
- Dr. Franck Marchis, Co-founder and CEO, SkyMapper; Astronomer, SETI Institute
UNISTELLAR EXPANDS ITS CONNECTIVITY
Unistellar telescopes already leverage their connectivity to build a powerful citizen-science network of users that has published dozens of peer-reviewed scientific papers, including a major paper in Nature in 2023.
With SkyBridge, owners of compatible Unistellar telescopes can extend the value of their instruments beyond owner supervised observing sessions by making their telescopes available online to people worldwide for remote astronomy, astrophotography, education, and scientific research.
“Unistellar was founded on the belief that innovative technology could make astronomy an incredibly thrilling and meaningful experience. Our smart telescopes and Live imaging technology have helped people deeply experience the universe and participate in scientific discoveries.
“Innovation is in Unistellar’s DNA, and we are the first telescope manufacturer to become officially compatible with the SkyMapper network. This collaboration opens up new possibilities for our community: owners can now make their telescope available online, connect with observers around the world, share their observations and take part in a decentralized astronomical network.
“By combining Unistellar’s imaging technology and connectivity with SkyMapper’s network platform, we are expanding what individual telescopes and their owners can accomplish together.”
— Laurent Marfisi, Co-founder and CEO, Unistellar
WHAT IS A SKYKEEPER?
A SkyKeeper is a contributing member of the SkyMapper network who helps expand our collective view of the sky by sharing telescope access, observations, time, or expertise. SkyKeepers include amateur astronomers, astronomy clubs, schools, and observatories working together to make astronomical observation more accessible and useful to a global community..
Telescope owners with clear, dark skies can share access to observing opportunities with people who live under light pollution. Through the network, participants can explore more than their own sky, join coordinated scientific campaigns, and earn SkyPoints for qualifying contributions. SkyPoints can be converted into SkyCredits, used to access live telescopes, reserve observing time, and request astronomical observations through SkyViewer.
As part of the launch campaign, owners of compatible Unistellar telescopes can purchase a SkyBridge for $399, including 125 SkyCredits through SkyMapper's Observatory plan. Using promotional code UNISTELLAR at checkout, participants receive an additional 55 SkyCredits upon SkyBridge activation, bringing their total to 180 SkyCredits - equivalent to up to 18 hours of eligible live telescope access.
HOW TO JOIN THE NETWORK
You do not need to own a telescope to join the SkyMapper community. Visit https://app.skymapper.io to create an account and explore the platform.
For owners of compatible Unistellar telescopes:
- Create a SkyMapper account at https://app.skymapper.io.
- Purchase a SkyBridge for $399 at https://skymapper.myshopify.com/products/skybridge. Sales are available in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, with deliveries beginning in November 2026. European availability is scheduled for December 2026.
- Follow the setup instructions at https://skykeepers.skymapper.io to connect your SkyBridge and activate your telescope on the network.
- Become a SkyKeeper and choose how to share your observing capacity with the global community.
Our SkyKeeper App is currently in testing. Once available, SkyBridge owners will be able to transition automatically to app-based setup and management, with no additional hardware required.
Through SkyViewer, participants can use SkyLive to explore the universe through connected telescopes, SkyReserve to reserve telescope time or request deep-sky images, and SkyScience to request observations of astronomical targets, including those supporting scientific research. These services provide multiple ways to explore the sky, whether or not participants own a telescope.
SKYBRIDGE: CONNECTIVITY FOR A DISTRIBUTED OBSERVATORY
SkyBridge is the compact connectivity device that links compatible telescopes to the SkyMapper network, enabling secure communication, remote observing, and coordinated participation in network activities. Featuring Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 Gb Ethernet, GNSS-derived timing, and hardware-backed identity, SkyBridge provides the connectivity and security needed for a distributed observatory. Built on SkyMapper's early development with Unistellar telescopes, SkyBridge is designed to support additional compatible telescope systems as the network expands.
A NETWORK BUILT FOR SHARED DISCOVERY
Each participating telescope adds another observing location to SkyMapper's growing global network, expanding access across geographic boundaries and different observing conditions. Together, connected telescopes can support repeated observations, monitor variable stars, asteroids, and time-sensitive astronomical events, and contribute to scientific projects that benefit from distributed coverage. The Unistellar collaboration represents another step toward SkyMapper's vision of a global observing network that connects people, instruments, and scientific discovery.
Become a SkyKeeper. Share your sky. Explore the universe together.
SkyKeeper information and setup guide: https://skykeepers.skymapper.io/
SkyMapper observing platform: https://app.skymapper.io
SkyMapper website: https://skymapper.io
Unistellar website: https://www.unistellar.com
ABOUT SKYMAPPER
SkyMapper is building a global observation network that spans from sky to space, combining all-sky cameras, telescopes, artificial intelligence, and decentralized infrastructure to create trusted, intelligent observations in real time. Through connected observation systems and cryptographically verifiable observation records, SkyMapper enables trusted sky awareness, scientific discovery, and collaborative participation worldwide.
ABOUT UNISTELLAR
Founded in 2015, Unistellar is a global leader in smart telescopes and the creator of ENVISION, the first Smart AR Binoculars. With 9 patents, over 25,000 users worldwide and three CES Innovation Awards (2018, 2022 and 2025), Unistellar makes exploring the universe thrilling and immersive. Through partnerships with NASA and the SETI Institute, its global community contributes to groundbreaking astronomical research, including a study of NASA’s DART mission published in Nature. Unistellar also maintains a long-standing partnership with Nikon in optical design and R&D.
MEDIA CONTACTS
SkyMapper:
Thom Campbell
Unistellar:
Imogen Bailey
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