PiFinder’s plate-solving technology means there’s no need for encoders or complex star alignment. Just power it up, select an object, and get immediate push-to guidance — from dark sites or light-polluted city balconies. Mounts like a finder, works like sophisticated DSCs, and includes powerful observing tools. Get more out of your observing time, with PiFinder! The PiFinder listed here is the Left Model and power is provided by an internal rechargeable battery, which is an upgrade to the standard Left model. Let's take a look at all four to make sure you are getting the right one for your set-up and power needs: The PiFinder comes in four different body models as shown below: Right, Left, Straight-Through & Flat. The Right model of the PiFinder is perfect for Dobsonians and other reflectors with the focuser on the right side. Left and Right refer to which way the camera is pointing while you are looking at the screen as well as which side the focuser is on if you are standing at the mirror end looking towards the aperture. The Left model is the same as the Right model, except that it is configured for Dob's & Reflectors with the focuser on the left side. Left and Right refer to which way the camera is pointing while you are looking at the screen as well as which side the focuser is on if you are standing at the mirror end looking towards the aperture. The Flat model of the PiFinder is a good choice for refractors, SCT's and other scopes with focusers on the rear. The camera is positioned to look along the scope towards the sky, while the keypad and screen face upward with slight tilt back for a more ergonomic experience at the eyepiece. The Straight-Through model is designed for larger rear focuser scopes mounted up high. It has a screen that points straight back for access when the top of the OTA is out of reach. If you need further help in figuring out which PiFinder is best for your set-up, check out the PDF PiFinder - Which to Choose? Power Choices - Onboard 5V USB-C or USB-C & an internal rechargeable battery for 4-5 hours of wireless use *Choose a model with the words "USB-C without Battery" at the end of the product name to power your PiFinder from your external battery source via the USB-C port, or *Choose a model with the words "Internal Battery" at the end of the product name to power your PiFinder with an internal rechargeable battery. This internally installed battery can hold a charge for up to 4-5 hours, and you can always make use of the external 5V USB-C power for longer sessions. More about the BBLabs PiFinder... Fully assembled, tested and ready to use! Just add to any compatible telescope for precision pointing, easy push-to and a full suite of observing tools. Fully assembled and ready to use High quality and heat resistant PETG 3d printed case parts Pre-Installed software Feature Highlights Self-Contained: Everything you need for a night of observing right at your eyepiece or camera. The PiFinder combines positioning, catalog filter/search, chart display, and logging! Zero Set Up: Spend your valuable observing time observing! When you turn on the Pi-Finder, the GPS and plate solver go to work. As soon as it is dark enough to see stars, the PiFinder will point the way without any star alignment. Comprehensive Catalog: The PiFinder database contains over 20,000 objects from multiple catalogs. Use the built-in keypad to search and filter by object type, magnitude, and current altitude to find the best targets available. Quick & Accurate Push-To: Find any object in the sky with ease! Clear and legible directions will guide you right to your target and high-precision plate solving will put it right in the center of the eyepiece, even at high power. Dark Sky Friendly: Fully adjustable OLED display and keypad backlight allows for dark adaptation and ease of use. No matter what you are doing with the PiFinder, you can always adjust the brightness with a keypress. Object Previews: Verify and find objects quickly with catalog images showing objects and star fields oriented just as it is in your scope. Switch through your eyepiece collection to see the actual object scale in each field of view. WiFi/SkySafari Integration: The PiFinder serves as a wireless access point so you can connect your tablet, laptop or phone to use it's precise pointing information in applications like SkySafari. How the PiFinder Works Plate solving for accurate positioning The PiFinder uses plate solving technology to quickly and accurately determine where your telescope is pointing by taking photos of the sky and identifying star patterns in the image. This direct measurement of sky position does away with the need for multi-star alignment, sky models or other set up. In under one second it can provide precise positioning on any telescope. No encoders required and as easy to install as a red dot finder. Motion sensing for real-time feedback Between plate solves as you move the telescope, the PiFinder uses an advanced Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to provide real-time position estimates as you track down faint objects. Once your scope stops moving, the plate solving system will correct any small residual errors giving you completely accurate position in about a second. The interaction between these two systems is seamless, providing quick feedback and incredible accuracy. Comprehensive catalog system for object locating The PiFinder has a database of over 20,000 objects from multiple catalogs. Using the on-board keypad and screen you can search for objects by name, type, visibility and other criteria. Once you’ve found an object you want to observe, the PiFinder will provide clear information on which direction, and how far, to move your telescope to get that object right in the eyepiece, even at high power. Powerful Observing Tools Included with the PiFinder is a set of observing tools to make your time with your telescope more enjoyable and productive. See previews of any catalog object, oriented and sized as it would appear through the eyepiece so you know what to expect. Log your observations with the press of a button. Build observing lists on the fly, or load one from your favorite planetarium program. You can even use the accurate pointing provided by the PiFinder to wirelessly drive SkySafari or other apps on your phone or tablet.
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