DWARFLAB has announced the Draco Smart Telescope, an all-in-one astronomical imaging system designed to make advanced astrophotography more accessible to enthusiasts, travelers, and experienced users.
The telescope features a 90mm aperture, a 340mm focal length, and a fast f/3.8 optical system. It is designed to capture images of faint nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, and Solar System objects while maintaining a portable form factor.
The Draco is now available for pre-order through the DWARFLAB website in two configurations: the Standard Edition and the specialized SHO Edition.
Compact Folded Design With a Fast Optical System
Draco uses a folded optical design that fits its 90mm aperture and 340mm optical path into a body measuring approximately 386mm.
Its f/3.8 optical system is designed to collect light more quickly than slower systems. DWARFLAB estimates that it can deliver approximately 2.2 times the imaging speed of an f/5.6 system under equivalent conditions.
This can help astrophotographers capture faint deep-sky details in less time, although actual results will depend on atmospheric conditions, targets, tracking performance, and imaging settings.
Long Exposures With Built-In Guiding
One of Draco’s key features is its ability to capture single-frame exposures of up to 300 seconds.
The telescope uses built-in guiding to monitor star movement and correct tracking errors during imaging. It also incorporates a physically rotating CMOS sensor that compensates for field rotation directly at the imaging plane.
Together with its precision drive system, these technologies are designed to reduce star trailing and produce sharper images during longer exposures.
In its standard alt-azimuth configuration, Draco can perform long-exposure imaging without requiring a separate guide scope, equatorial mount, or complicated polar-alignment process.
Automated Setup Through the DWARFLAB App
The Draco is designed to simplify the astrophotography process through the DWARFLAB App.
After setting up the telescope, users can select a target and allow the system to handle several tasks automatically, including:
- Focusing
- Calibration
- Target alignment
- Tracking
- Image capture
- Live stacking
- Image processing
More experienced astrophotographers can use Pro Mode to manually adjust exposure time, gain, filters, and other imaging settings.
Exposure options range from 1/10,000 of a second to 300 seconds, allowing the telescope to handle both fast Solar System imaging and longer deep-sky exposures.
Equatorial Mode Provides Additional Flexibility
Although Draco uses physical CMOS field de-rotation for alt-azimuth imaging, it also supports an optional equatorial tracking mode.
The telescope’s all-metal base is integrated with its internal metal frame to provide stability when positioned at an inclined angle. Users can follow instructions in the DWARFLAB App to set the required angle and activate the equatorial configuration.
This gives users two operating options: the convenience of alt-azimuth imaging with physical field-rotation compensation or equatorial tracking for more advanced imaging sessions.
One Sensor for Deep-Sky and Solar System Imaging
The Draco features a 1/1.3-inch, 50-megapixel imaging sensor with two dedicated readout modes.
For deep-sky photography, the telescope uses 2×2 pixel binning, combining four native pixels into one. This produces images of approximately 12 megapixels with an effective pixel size of 2.4 micrometers.
The binning process is designed to improve signal-to-noise performance when capturing faint objects such as nebulae and galaxies.
For Solar System photography, Draco uses the sensor’s native 1.2-micrometer pixels and full 50MP resolution. This mode is designed to capture fine details on the Moon and planets, including lunar craters, sunspots, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s atmospheric features.
Standard and SHO Editions
DWARFLAB is offering Draco in two versions designed for different astrophotography requirements.
Draco Standard
The Standard Edition includes an internal H+O dual-band filter for capturing H-alpha and OIII emissions from nebulae.
It also includes an internal ND solar filter. When Solar System Mode is selected, the filter moves into position automatically, allowing users to prepare for solar imaging through the app.
This edition is designed for users who want a combination of deep-sky, Solar System, and solar-imaging capabilities in one system.
Draco SHO
The SHO Edition is designed for astrophotographers who want to capture the three narrowband wavelengths used in traditional SHO imaging: sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen.
This version replaces the Standard Edition’s internal ND filter with an S+O filter. Combined with the telescope’s H+O filter, the system can automatically capture and combine SII, H-alpha, and OIII data.
The DWARFLAB App can then process the captured information to produce the blue-and-gold color palette often associated with SHO and Hubble Palette astrophotography.
Because the SHO model uses its internal filter positions for deep-sky imaging, it includes an external ND solar filter. This filter must be installed when the telescope is used for solar observation or imaging.
Active Cooling and Dew Prevention
Long-exposure astrophotography can be affected by sensor heat and condensation. To address these challenges, Draco includes active sensor cooling and an internal thermal-management system designed to reduce heat-related image noise.
The system also uses generated heat to help prevent lens dew, which can be useful when imaging in humid outdoor conditions.
The telescope is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 45°C and has an IP56 protection rating for use in changing outdoor environments.
Automated Calibration and Image Processing
Draco includes built-in flat- and bias-calibration data and can automatically capture dark frames.
During live stacking, the system applies calibration data to help reduce issues such as:
- Thermal noise
- Vignetting
- Dust shadows
- Read noise
After images have been captured, users can process them through the DWARFLAB App. Available tools include automatic enhancement, noise reduction, star correction, star reduction, star removal, and Hubble Palette controls.
Images and source data can also be exported in JPG, PNG, TIFF, and FITS formats for further editing in external astrophotography software.
Portable Design and Multiple Connectivity Options
Despite its 90mm aperture and metal internal structure, the Draco weighs approximately 5.5 kilograms.
The telescope includes an integrated 77Wh battery that can provide up to five hours of operation, depending on the imaging mode and environmental conditions.
Connectivity options include:
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- NFC
- USB 3.0
- Wired Ethernet through USB
These options support local operation and potential longer-term remote deployment.
Key Specifications
- 90mm aperture
- 340mm focal length
- f/3.8 optical system
- Folded optical design
- Up to 300-second exposures
- 1/1.3-inch, 50MP imaging sensor
- 2×2 deep-sky pixel binning
- Built-in guiding
- Physical CMOS field-rotation compensation
- Alt-azimuth and equatorial tracking modes
- Active sensor cooling
- Automated dew prevention
- Approximately 5.5kg
- 77Wh battery
- Up to five hours of battery life
- Operating temperature range of -20°C to 45°C
- IP56 protection rating
- DWARFLAB App and Pro Mode
- JPG, PNG, TIFF, and FITS export
Pricing and Availability
The DWARFLAB Draco Smart Telescope is available for pre-order in two editions:
- Standard Edition: £1,299 / $1,399
- SHO Edition: £1,449 / $1,599
The Standard Edition includes an internal ND filter for solar imaging, while the SHO Edition includes integrated S+O filtering and an external ND solar filter.
DWARFLAB offered an early-bird discount of £100 or $100 on both versions. The promotion has now ended.
