SEESTAR S50 - IT GETS BETTER THE MORE YOU USE IT!

[paulastro]

Well, it actually probably doesn't.  It just seems like that because you get more used to how good it is the more you use it.  It seems hard to find any sky conditions in which it won't surpass my expectations.  I've learned that the bright Moon is not an issue.

For those who haven't tried it, and probably don't own or use any specialist astronomy/deep sky software, it's worth learning to use your phones' camera software to enhance your images.  A little tweak can make a big difference.

The pics below were all taken over the last two/three nights, and all have benefited from a little enhancement.  I'm no expert so almost anyone should be able to do it!  Hint - always save any alterations as a new picture rather than changing the original.

All the pics below are full frames, (uncropped) so have  the date, time, object name and exposure in minutes imprinted at the bottom.

[Geoff Lister]

1 hour ago, paulastro said:

It just seems like that because you get more used to how good it is the more you use it.  It seems hard to find any sky conditions in which it won't surpass my expectations.  I've learned that the bright Moon is not an issue.

I agree almost 100%. I have found that if the target is close to the almost-full Moon (comet 62P a couple of nights ago) I was getting some reflection from the Seestar's plastic causing a brightening of the image on the opposite side to the Moon. The Moon was below-left about 12 degrees away. If you look closely, you can just make out the comet.

A month earlier, much better:-

Geoff

[paulastro]

1 hour ago, Geoff Lister said:

I agree almost 100%. I have found that if the target is close to the almost-full Moon (comet 62P a couple of nights ago) I was getting some reflection from the Seestar's plastic causing a brightening of the image on the opposite side to the Moon. The Moon was below-left about 12 degrees away. If you look closely, you can just make out the comet.

A month earlier, much better:-

Geoff

Thanks Geoff.  Do you use a lens hood?   I do and I have had no problems with reflections.

[Geoff Lister]

11 hours ago, paulastro said:

Do you use a lens hood?   I do and I have had no problems with reflections.

Yes, my thoughts too; when I saw the effect of the build-up of moonlight, I thought it was worth a try.

I have started to make one, from a short section of kitchen roll cardboard inner tube (it was hard to find one that was a snug fit in the Seestar's lens aperture), and a square collar (to stop it rolling around, and keep the tube circular). The next step is the matt black paint.

If it works I will probably make a spare, just in case I forget it is fitted and power-down.😧

 

[Geoff Lister]

3 days after my first picture (above) the Moon was further east, and the comet was much easier to spot.

On 28/02/2024 at 15:29, paulastro said:

It seems hard to find any sky conditions in which it won't surpass my expectations. 

Stellarium shows IC3602 as being magnitude (at this altitude) 15.68. OK no useful detail, but still impressive for an extremely "faint fuzzy". I'm also impressed with the sky map. It makes finding targets (including comets) very easy.

Once the Seestar has identified and centred the session's first target, it slews to take 3 orientation images to plate solve for mount leveling error correction. The mount goes back to the target, and goes through a (roughly) 1-minute process. The on-screen information does not explain why. I am assuming that it is recording a few "Dark" frames to use in its stacking process. If I am correct, it would be nice to have these made available for future post-processing.

Geoff