Marky1973

Well the operation looks like it will be over waaaaay sooner than I ever expected. Thanks FLO for the usual great service!

Thanks Steve, that's fantastic news - I was a June order, so getting very excited 🙂 Time to prepare "operation sitting at the front door waiting for a parcel"! 🙂 🙂

Hey FLO any updates on this? Reading posts on FB that suggests orders up to July may be coming out by the end of the month, which would be fantastic, but just thought I'd check!😄

The Dazzlers of the foot? I am lost now. As a bright-eyed newbie several years ago I relished the technical stuff that got discussed around me as it helped me develop my knowledge and helped me move over into imaging - something I probably wouldn't have done without those "dazzlers" getting technical around me. And who are you/we to say what those bright-eyed beginners want to hear about. The OP just said themselves they are excited, let people be excited for this EAA/AP device and to talk about all aspects of it. ZWO themselves are touting it as an AP capable device, so rather than shielding people from AP why not embrace it and let people decide for themselves if they want to take it on. If not, move-along and read the next thread/topic. This appeared to be a general thread about the S50 which is why I posted my basic image to enthuse about what it is capable of and then a pretty non-technical discussion about noise gets accused of hijacking the thread and putting people off the device. The only one hijacking this thread is you, pushing yourself as the arbiter of who can discuss what on a thread. I took 4 year hiatus from the SGL after selling my equipment and came back and it was like nothing had changed - lots of the same discussions at the top of the various forums, the same old questions about AP - and that is good, it helps people learn, that is what the site was about I thought? Anyway, if this is considered rude, the mods can delete/suspend me or whatever, I suspect you have killed this thread anyway, can't see anyone wanting to post in it any more. I've unfollowed it and will just go back to the FB page as they seem to just want to talk about the damn thing and look forward to what it can do.

I get that, but i feel it is worth promoting the potential for AP on top of the primary EAA purpose of the S50. There's no danger of me getting too technical on this thread, because I don't understand the half of it.

Well, your comment was in response to a direct quote from my post, so it reads as if it is aimed directly at me - but if I have misinterpreted what you said, I apologise. All I was doing was adding my excitement about the Seestar to a thread started by someone excited about the Seestar.

Cool your boots....I'm not hijacking anything - the thread was started by someone saying the were interested in the Seestar - I'm just giving my opinion about the data I have played with and said nothing but positive things while being honest about my expectations.

Interesting as today was the first time I got to look at the posted image on my home monitor - looks very different from my original picture that is saved on the laptop and I was viewing on my mobile - the noise shows up much more in the posted image. Always going to differ depending on what you process on and then what you view on - as the Seestar feels like it is meant for mobiles/tablets and social media sharing, this probably shouldn't be too much of an issue - for me its definitely a quick fix of "wow look what's up there" rather than professional level imaging, which you aren't going to get with the Seestar.

Don't mind at all, I just did 5 minutes using a very brief tutorial for siril which I've never used before....nd I definitely pushed it too far Nd clipped the data. Never going to expect miracles, but I till don't think it's bad for the data. What noise reduction software are you talking about?

Okay guys, play nice now! I didn't mean to cause arguments. This is an EAA scope that just happens to allow people to dabble in basic astrophotography. The images will be basic and suffer from the Alt-Az mount dictating short subs, and noise from an uncooled 2mp sensor. It's not meant to replace a 10k fully guided set-up, it's just mean to be fun....which I think it looks like it will be, whether it leads you into more visual astronomy or astrophotography.

Yeah, it's small and light enough to whip out anywhere....and apparently very quick to set up, so should be a nice gateway drug into the hobby ..or back into it. Or just a fun totally for the experts who just want a quick fix. There are a few more examples of images on FB, all with a low number of 10s subs, but all perfectly acceptable as examples of what is up there.

Considering my previous camera alone was over 3 times the cost of this, it's definitely a more attractive prospect to beginners!

Dunno, it's just 20 minutes of 10s subs that I downloaded from Google Docs....I suspect it is a combination of walking noise, poor processing and the seeing conditions at the time. Like I said it's promising, but will never compare to dedicated set ups.

Think this looks exciting. I've been 'out of the game' for a few years and this looks like a good cheap way to get back into things. I don't have much time for astronomy at the moment so this looks like a good option to get the bug back while I prepare the wallet for a drubbing! I know it's not going to be comparable to 20 minute guided subs, but there are some examples over on Facebook of what you can get with a few minutes of 10 second exposures and I think it looks promising for amateurs like me https://www.facebook.com/groups/seestar/permalink/231179049694385/ There is data included on that link and I had a play with the M51 data...20 minutes of 10s exposures in Siril....and the results are promising....not blow your socks off, but definitely promising....I have low expectations but have a pre-order in ... (I should also point out I am not the best at processing! 😁)

Well, I got an E for A-Level maths so don't hold your breath! ???

This is interesting to know. Will follow this with interest and start experimenting when I get my camera back....was hoping the 56mm would still apply....but should have known it wouldn't be that easy! ??

???

So do I. Trapped a cable and think the power socket now has a loose connection....fingers crossed it is that easy....only had it a couple of weeks so didn't want to try opening myself.....still beating myself up for being so stupid and careless....

Hi Ray Not tried yet - I was just playing around when it turned up. Sadly (very very frustratingly) I damaged my Horizon just before the reducer arrived so I don't have the camera to test it out at the moment! ? I haven't tried it with a DSLR either....sorry! If we get some clear weather I can try it out, but not looking great at the moment! Very wet!

Well, it wouldn't be the first time I had bought something twice! ? Thought it was odd it wasn't threaded specifically for the ED72! ? What's more worrying is I never even looked at the reducer and noticed that it was printed with ED80 on the side!! The adapter fits very well though and the whole thing fits nicely. Now you mention it the instructions in the box are for the ED80 as it shows the retention ring, etc on the drawtube which seemed off, but makes sense. Tried it out with my 2" nose-piece and that works well. Will see how it all fits up when I get the Horizon back from Atik. The nosepiece might actually be favourable if you need to adjust the position of the camera as, without a retention ring on the drawtube, the adapter will only screw up tight into one orientation. I want to use the adapter as it is more "robust" but will have to see if that works when the filter wheel/camera is all in place and whether I can orient them the way I want. Interesting then that the reducer/flattener doesn't have to be finely tuned to the scope? Does it have any affect on the distance from reducer to sensor or will that still be the standard 56mm (ish)?

Yep, got an email to confirm shipping....just after I got an email from Atik to say they had received my Horizon for repair! ??

Is it a worthwhile replacement for bog standard finders? I guess it depends on what you want from it, but it is a lovely little bit of kit and very well made....it's not cheap, but then there are more expensive models out there! Only been playing for a bit, but it gives some very clear views and I stuck a ZWOasi120mm in the end two nights ago and, with very little fiddling took 300 frames as the moon travelled across the field of view.....and this came out....(after stacking obviously!:-) ) Which seems pretty nice for just pointing it at the moon and pressing "capture" in sharp cap. Not tried the DSLR in it yet, but may get around to that when I have more time. I don't think I'll have any troubles with it for guiding.