Just an FYI for those following this thread. ZWO have noted that they'll be releasing a software / firmware update to include mosaic functionality to the Seestar shortly.
Just an FYI for those following this thread. ZWO have noted that they'll be releasing a software / firmware update to include mosaic functionality to the Seestar shortly.
Thanks Dean, mine arrived yesterday - looking forward to some semi-clear skies!
Has anyone tried out the new "horizontal calibration" feature? I believe it works by doing a 3 star plate solving routine to correct its horizontal leveling and then it automatically adjusts tracking for the difference.
I'm reading from user groups that it allows you to polar align the Seestar and effectively remove star trails.
Hi Adrian,
I've been using it. The Seestar does a horizontal calibration before the first image. It takes between 1 and 2 minutes. Mind you, I also level my tripod and do a compass calibration (where you spin the Seestar around) before each session too. I've actually marked where my tripod legs need to be and set up the same way each time, so the tripod is generally level anyway.
The only time the horizontal calibration seems to have come unstuck is when it was having problems seeing enough stars. It's not a bad idea to do your calibration and autofocus routine on a busy area of sky with some mid brightness stars. It seems to help, especially if you're using filters. Remember that horizontal calibration isn't going to polar align your scope as it's an alt/az setup, but it does help with tracking and finding objects more accurately. I've found that it helps with those pesky trashed shots discarded due to trailing. I get very few of them unless my target starts getting obscured by my neighbour's windbreak trees
Finally got a clear hour or so to try out my new toy last night, and I must say, I think I'm hooked.The setup is very straight forward and within 5 minutes I was off. I of course forgot all the good advice provided by you peeps, but still seemed to get things working OK. My attempts at M42 are below/attached. One was 15 minutes with no filter, one was 7 minutes with the inbuilt filter. I know that one has twice as many frames as the other, but apart from a slight colour difference and minor tightening of the stars, there doesn't appear to be a massive difference between them - perhaps some skilled processing (which I don't possess) would bring out more detail in the filtered image. Both images are straight off the device with no processing of any kind. The third image is with some fairly heavy-handed messing about with the LightRoom app on my phone. I did notice that with the filter engaged, it took quite a bit longer to "enhance" each frame, and for some reason I got quite a few messages to the effect that there were star trails and the frame couldn't be kept. I noticed this particularly when trying for NGC 2244 (I was aiming for the rosette nebula but centred on the associated OC). In the space of 15 minutes, I reckon every third frame failed, and it was taking 20-30 seconds for the timer to clock up every 10 second frame. Weird.
That's great news Patrick - and well done on your first pics! They're pretty clean for such short integration times. Your skies must be well darker than mine lol. I think the internal filter would come into its own if you have a lot of light pollution. It certainly helps where I am. With regard to the Seestar dropping subs due to trailing, I originally had the same problem. What fixed it for me was to do a compass calibration at the start of the night for each session (where you slowly spin the unit until the compass is calibrated). It's in the Advanced settings. Doing the compass calibration also helped me with the problem of horizontal calibration failing to complete. This might be the fix you're looking for - fingers crossed.
Make sure that your tripod is level before you start as well. I set up in the exact same spot every time so don't level very often. I'm not sure that it's particularly important given that the unit does a horizontal calibration anyway, but just in case.
That's great news Patrick - and well done on your first pics! They're pretty clean for such short integration times. Your skies must be well darker than mine lol. I think the internal filter would come into its own if you have a lot of light pollution. It certainly helps where I am. With regard to the Seestar dropping subs due to trailing, I originally had the same problem. What fixed it for me was to do a compass calibration at the start of the night for each session (where you slowly spin the unit until the compass is calibrated). It's in the Advanced settings. Doing the compass calibration also helped me with the problem of horizontal calibration failing to complete. This might be the fix you're looking for - fingers crossed.
Make sure that your tripod is level before you start as well. I set up in the exact same spot every time so don't level very often. I'm not sure that it's particularly important given that the unit does a horizontal calibration anyway, but just in case.
Thanks Dean, I did the compass calibration and tried to level the tripod before starting, although if your base is slightly out, then the compass calibration sort of throws out the leveling and you need to do the digital leveling in the app. The horizontal calibration completed OK. I'm in Bortle 5 skies, so overall pretty happy with the maiden voyage.
Just wondering if anyone has done the Seestar software / firmware update that was released a couple of days back as yet...
Just doing it now. Hoping it will sort out my extremely long stacking times - sometimes it's 10-11 seconds, plus a 15-20 second stack for every 5th frame, then other times it's like 20-22 seconds per frame for minutes at a time, plus all the alleged star trails....
Well got mine. I have to say this is the most excited I've been to use astro equipment in a few years. 1 night and I'm hooked. I cant believe the images I am getting straight out of the thing from a bortle 7 sky with a full moon.
Just put it down, do a little calibration and away you go. Its a fantastic bit of kit and a game changer.
I took my first picture of the Sun on the weekend. Turned out great and If I never got a Seestar I would have never taken a image of the sun. Maybe ever. Cant wait to see what it can do from Bortle 1/2 skies.
My wife is pretty keen on the Seestar S50. We have been watching a lot of Seastar S50 VS Dwarf 3 Youtubes and sort of up in the air over which one to get. Now that you have all had your Seastar S50s for some time, would you do it again and are you still happy with it?
My wife is pretty keen on the Seestar S50. We have been watching a lot of Seastar S50 VS Dwarf 3 Youtubes and sort of up in the air over which one to get. Now that you have all had your Seastar S50s for some time, would you do it again and are you still happy with it?
Christiaan
I've had mine for nearly a year now, and still look forward to getting it out every clear night. I came in from a purely visual background with no other astrophotography skills or experience with which to compare it, other than knowing the images it produces don't really compete with those produced from fully fledged AP rigs, but for $800-$900 it's a great way to dip your toe in the water. Having said that, I've seen some truly terrific images, but I think you'd probably need to shell out some serious coin for Pixinsight and some other plugins to really upgrade your imaging results. I use Siril and Graxpert (both free) and am happy with the results for a total noob, but if you want to, you can really dive down the imaging/processing rabbit hole.
It's a great astronomy fix for when you don't feel like lugging a dob out into the yard - you can literally carry everything you need in one trip and be up and running in 5 minutes. It can get a little frustrating when it drops frames for no apparent reason, but overall it's just good fun, and actually helps teach/reinforce where things are in the sky and imprint their catalogue numbers into your brain.
Yes, I am happy with my SeeStar. It has been a boon for outreach and a lot of fun (and relatively easy) to use. While it is possible to download the data and manipulate it with software, I do not do anything with respect to post capture processing and am happy enough with the results.
I am perfectly happy with pictures from my phone (point and shoot)…the SeeStar does that and more. So yes, I am still happy with it.
I think the Seestar is great for visual observers such as myself who would like to try astrophotography but without all the other strings attached that come with traditional astrophotography. Just turn it on and start taking images, once it's done the image gets sent straight to your phone! Wonderful.
I'll definitely buy one eventually, once I've finished buying all the visual gear I still need..
it addresses a lot of issues i had with my old lx90 setup...
here's a list of whats better:
- Easy to set up
- very light
- Easy to use
- tracks really well
- plate solves to find targets, so no need for a fully 'open' sky
- Fits images are easily compatible with graxpert/dss
- mosaic mode
- wifi connection means i can set it up in the backyard and let it rip while doing something else.
- driven from a tablet
- can do solar imaging "out of the box"
- runs all night on one charge
Here's whats not:
- Not suitable for planetary imaging
The only reason i would part with it is as a trade in
If they start making one with bigger aperture....
Mine did the latest update last night, both software and firmware, and now EQ mode has been added, so i ordered the star adventurer ball adapter, so i can mount the seestar onto my wave 150 mount. I will most likely order the skywatcher star adventurer wedge also, so i can use it along side the main setup. Look forward to testing it out once the part arrives
