Windows Phone might not be the most popular platform in the consumer smartphone market, and that’s a shame for Nokia. The company produces some impressive smartphones at every price point, with the powerful devices besting Apple and Android devices when it comes to the camera. It should be no surprise then that Nokia’s 41MP Lumia 1020 was chosen to power a space Ultrascope that will capture professional grade images on the cheap. Think of it as a mini space observatory.
The Ultrascope itself is 3D printed, and stands at just 1m tall when fully assembled. The tiny observatory will help usher in a new era of space exploration, outlining a cheap and easy way for anyone from students to hobbyists to get in on the astronomy game.
“We’re inspired that we live in an era where consumer technology now allows us to do things that were only exclusively available to professionals just a few years ago. Keen amateur astronomers can now download this design and software, 3D print and assemble their own hardware, which is an amazing development. It opens up opportunities for people who have been gazing at the stars their whole lives, but haven’t, until now, been able to get involved. Powered by Lumia smartphones, our hope is that hundreds of Ultrascopes will be assembled, enabling a large number of people to contribute to new discoveries as they explore the night sky.” – James Parr
An awesome idea, and one that will surly change the way we look at space. Check out the video below for a full rundown on the Nokia Lumia 1020 powered Ultrascope.