Geoff Lister

Just in case, I recalibrated the compass. There was a small gap in the clouds, and I tried a Lunar goto, and, after a levelling adjustment, it went straight on to target. Geoff

This morning, when I started my Seestar app, it advised updating to latest version. I did so and Google Android "App info" now states "Build number 1.15.0" and the connected, and updated, s50 shows firmware 2.30. I like the way the built-in voice says "Updating Firmware" about 7% into the update cycle - very reassuring. Needless to say, cloud cover forcast for the next few nights 😬. Geoff

Hello Manny, and welcome to SGL. I am a visual observer, but have dabbled with a little astrophotography. I have recently bought a Dwarf II and Seestar S50, and realise that (1) you use the JPEG images produced directly from within the 'scopes, or (2) download the individual FIT files and try to improve on the processing. In the past, I have taken videos of Jupiter and Saturn and used Registax to improve the images. But with the FIT files, from the Dwarf & S50, it seems that Siril is a strong contender for post-processing. Looking at your stacked and final FIT files, you have, already, a good mastery of Siril. I am sure that there are some members who are skilled in Siril, and will be able to give you some pointers. I will have to spend some more time looking at the many YouTube videos on Siril processing. This is the direct output from a much shorter session on M51. Looking at your results, I need a longer capture, and more time learning Siril. Geoff

These 3 images of M33 (without any post-processing) were recorded during the same session, and give an indication of the increse in detail with increasing stacking time. I think it shows that even 1 minute (6-off, 10-second captures) starts to show some useful detail. Geoff

I use mine from my conservatory or an adjacent room behind a cavity wall, probably 6m from the s50's location on a patio. The initial connection is via Bluetooth, and then via WiFi. There is probably a wide variation of the "range" of both, depending on the orientation of the s50 and tablet/phone. The s50 does not require a continuous connection. Once it has started imaging a target, you can drop the connection, and go back later to check progress. I do this when I have both my s50 and Dwarf II operating at the same time. If the connection has dropped for some reason, your tablet/phone will probably have reverted to home WiFi, and you may have to use "settings" to go back to the s50 - your screen will show progess within a few seconds, as though the disconnection had never happened. Geoff

Hello shaft, Mine makes a buzzing sound when powering up, and at the final stage of parking when shutting down. I have not noticed any grinding sounds during operation. At the end of a GoTo slew to a new target, the mount makes small corrections and the motor/gearbox will need to take up backlash to change direction; this should be fairly quiet, and without a grinding noise. It may be worthwhile recording the sound, and contacting the retailer for advice. Geoff

I have short sight and astigmatism, but I tend to observe without my glasses. I can get a wider FOV, with my eye closer to the EP, and the anti-reflective coatings on my telescope optics are far superior to anything on my glasses. My binoviewer helps to get rid of the effects of "floaters". Geoff

This was from my Dwarf II on the 12th Feb, 75 miles from my home, from a garden in a town with Bortle 4 skies. The image was processed and stacked within the Dwarf and is shown as downloaded to my tablet. I also have the 232 FITs with 15s exposures and gain of 80, but this image, even with its field rotation effects, gives a reasonable view with little effort on my part - just entering the epoch 2000.0 RA/Dec co-ordinates, and sitting inside, with a coffee, watching the image build on my tablet's screen. A few days later, I was using the same kit for birdwatching from an RSPB hide. The others in the hide had binoculars, spotting 'scopes or DSLRs with long lenses; I just plonked my Dwarf on a shelf (no tripod needed), connected, and viewed on my tablet. Those around me could also see my view without having to share optical equipment. Geoff

Perhaps something like this:- Geoff

I had my Dwarf II out this evening, and this is the stacked image (field rotation effects and all) downloaded to my tablet. The big searchlight is Aldebaran. I used manual entry of the epoch 2000.0 RA/Dec co-ordinates from Stellarium. The Dwarf required several 15-second captures before the comet was visible on the tablet's screen, and this image is the result of stacking 230. Geoff

If using a "normal" photographic tripod, with a 1/4" - 20 UNC male thread, try a web search for "1/4 to 3/8 adaptor tripod". The S50 is heavier than a standard DSLR, so the tripod needs to be sturdy. Geoff

My Solarquest takes 0.25mA when "Off". I usually use an external 12V supply, but if running on batteries, I tend to take out one cell at the end of a session. Geoff

I have just updated mine - then the clouds rolled in 😬 Geoff

The bubble level on my Seestar's tripod is inaccurate. As Seestar has supplied a tripod with a built-in bubble level (invisible in use), I thought that I would give it a check. I set up a level surface, checked with several decent linear and circular bubble levels, and calibrated the mount. When rotated on that surface, the app was giving between 0.1 and 0.2, - so effectively level. With the tripod legs fully splayed, and legs retracted, the little bubble level was way off towards its adjacent leg. I adjusted the tripod to get the bubble central, screwed on the Seestar, and got a reading of between 1.9 (green circles) and 2.0 (white circles). I now have a small bubble level glued to the mount, with a central bubble when the mount is level, clear of the altitude assembly rotation, and readable (just} with the mount unpowered. Geoff

With the new update, the level does not seem to matter. When you do a goto for the first target, the mount scans 3 positions in the sky, plate solves for each, and it seems to work out its error correction constants. It then takes a few dark frames and goes to the desired target. It plate solves again to centre on the target. This calibration data is used for susequent gotos, so speeding up captures. Geoff

And in January; direct from my Seestar S50:- Geoff

And more recently; direct from my Seestar S50 and 2 days later with the "Mark" function showing main surrounding features Geoff

1 The updated app does a 3-location plate-solve to remove the need for a level mount. I made up a crude EQ wedge, with 3 pieces of wood, and the app gave me the the slope angle - in my case 38.5 degrees. There was no warning about a need to level. 2 Agreed, but probably not critical, except for solar/lunar. 3 I stick mine back in the case to reduce dust pickup.

Many thanks. But is this information made available on the ZWO or Dwarflab web sites, or in the advertising info on the web sites of their major UK retail outlets? The less-inquisitive are likely to have placed their £500+ order, and probably be unboxing, before locating and downloading the app. Geoff

Android Seestar App Vs version of Android on tablet I have 2 tablets. The "Old" one is a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, model SM-T713, running Android version 7.0, and kernel version 3.10.84-14953299, "Mon Jul 119:11:15 KST 2019". The "New" one is a Blackview Tab 60 running Android V13. On the Tab 60, the Google Play Store loaded both the Seestar S50 and Dwarf II apps, but 2 days ago, my old Tab S2 loaded and operated the latest Dwarf app, but would not load the Seestar app, with Play Store app search informing me "Looking for Seestar This app won't work for your device". I can understand that both apps have been developed using current software tools, but I am concerned about future proofing. With the trend for apps to update automatically in the background, when will I get a massage similar to "Update completed - your device too old for it to run any more"? I have not found, on either the ZWO or Dwarflab sites applicable Android version ranges - others may have found something that I did not spot. Geoff

My interest in astronomy really started in 1986, with Halley's Comet. I bought A Tasco 3" Newtonian, with 0.96" eyepieces, on a fork-and-rod az/alt tripod, and managed to see the comet several times. This was before Stellarium and the internet, just some star maps and star hopping to locate it. Advance about 38 years, and you get this:- Not only do I have a record of what I "saw", but, using the "Mark" function, identified fixed points showing its exact location, magnitude 15 galaxies; and all from the comfort of my conservatory. According to "Clear Outside", astro dark had ended some 50 minutes earlier, so this was between nautical dark and civil dark, and with a full moon some 60 degrees further west. It will not replace visual astronomy, but I wish that I had my Seestar available for Halley's Comet. Geoff

I was inspired by "squipper's" bag, so I modified the Seestar case to take the shoulder strap from my Dwarf II's bag. I did not want the case to take the majority of the overall weight, so I used some black plastic ratchet strapping with a couple of fastenings from my "come-in-handy" box, 2 short (25mm) rawlplugs, 2 black-finish screws with washers, clear glue and some sticky film. I also added a strip of gaffer tape to reinforce the lid hinge. The sticky film was used to hold the strap in place along the sides and base. The rawl plug and screw stops the strap from detatching. The rawl plug was designed to fit into a 6mm hole, but I drilled the hole at 5.5mm, put in some glue and pressed the rawlplug in. Once set, I added the screw and washer. This is the inside of the box, just sbout showing how the rawlplug end expanded to grip the hole. Geoff

Nice bag. Where did you get it? Geoff

Comet hunting just got easier. Yesterday (19th) morning just before dawn. Seestar to tablet via Seestar app and tablet to laptop via USB. The image is straight from the Seestar, unprocessed. The comet shows a short tail, and galaxy IC3074 (magnitude 15.1) is just visible below-left of the comet. GoTo was done using the app's sky atlas, with the comet's name and position easy to find. The comet was mid-way between Leo & Virgo, at an altitude of about 40 degrees, and Clear Outside shows that 06:59 was after the end of nautical dark, so the background sky was starting to lighten. I also managed 144P/Kushida from a different location, on the evening of the 15th. Geoff

I spent some time measuring the outside diameters of cardboard tubes from a range of bog rolls, from different manufacturers, and they were all in the range 37 to 45mm. I did find a longer (70cm) cardboard tube, probably from present wrapping paper, and this was a comfortable fit. This should give me a few spares for when I select shutdown with it in place. 😬