- Joined
- 22 Nov 2023
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- Location
- Dazed and Confused, Hants UK
- Name
- Lester Wareham
- Image Editing
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The Product Description
The ZWO SeeStar S50 is a remarkable product that integrates a telescope, electric focuser, astronomical camera, ASIAIR intelligent controller, altitude/azimuth mount, and filter-switching device into a single unit! With a body weight of only 3 kg!
Using the mobile app, you can easily capture several sky objects, including the Sun*, Moon, galaxies, and nebulae.
Includes:
The basic specifications are:
User Experience
I have had the scope since the start of the year and it is quite amazing what this little scope can do,
The SeeStar native mount mode is AltAz but does support equatorial mode requiring the addition of a wedge.
Several imaging modes of supported:
In operation the phone app acts to command the SeeStar but does not need to be connected constantly once the SeeStar has been command.
The telescope can be used interactively, the user can watch the image integrate, or using a plan mode where a sequence of observations can be defined for the night, with start and stop times defined for each object.
So far I have only used it for Deep Sky imaging in AltAz mount mode using the plan facility. This mount mode is easy to setup and does not require night to deploy (see below comments on equatorial mount mode). In this mode it is simply a matter of turning on and putting the SeeStar outside with a good view of the sky. (see image for the app, left half shows the main screen and the right the plan screen).
It is advisable to calibrate the compass sensor first, there is also a level sensor, I have not had need to calibrate this.
One thing not included is a dew hood/lens hood. If you are in an area of significant light pollution this is very advisable. I sourced a hinged one that:
Although the telescope include internal batteries, it is advisable to use an external power bank for all night operation. I connect this with a long USB cable and use a 20,000 mAhr model.
How the telescope operates.
The telescope knows it’s approximate location from your smart phone’s GPS fix, it’s internal sensors give it an approximate orientation. The telescope then refines it’s pointing using plate solving (pattern matching stars).
In setting a plan, you:
The user then turns on the telescope, connect the app to the telescope, turn on the dew heater if desired and execute the plan. You can then deploy the telescope prior to the start of the plan, I allow at least 15 min for thermal stabilisation before the start of imaging, more if I can. At the start of the plan the telescope arm will open and start imaging each target in turn. Once complete the arm closes. It is advisable to disable the auto-off feature so the telescope is kept warm until retrieved in the morning. I have always found the autofocus acceptable.
For larger objects there is a mosaic mode available allowing a 2x increase in angle of view.
The telescope will provide internal stacks (final images) of each object. If you want to externally process the data then you need to set the telescope to save all the sub-frame images. Sub-frames from multiple nights or even locations and devices and be combined to increase the integration time.
I download to the PC the sub-frames and process in Siril (free under GNU licence, see https://siril.org/) and more conventional photo software. There are lots of YouTube videos to help you get to grips with Siril and the various free scripts.
Limitations
The telescope is a great for nebula, galaxies and clusters but not really powerful enough for planets like Jupiter, Mars etc, there will be very small in the frame.
Equatorial Mode
The advantage of EQ mount mode is longer sub-frame exposure times than the default 10 seconds, and no rotation of the subject over time (frame rotation). To use this a wedge or tripod head is needed to tilt the telescope to account for your latitude. The setup is achieved via a software managed polar alignment procedure. The telescope uses plate solving to calculate its orientation and provide adjustment feedback to the user. Thus this type of setup requires night and reasonably clear skies.
Other SeeStars
There are also the wider view s30 and s30 pro. A s50 pro is expected to be available shortly.
The ZWO SeeStar S50 is a remarkable product that integrates a telescope, electric focuser, astronomical camera, ASIAIR intelligent controller, altitude/azimuth mount, and filter-switching device into a single unit! With a body weight of only 3 kg!
Using the mobile app, you can easily capture several sky objects, including the Sun*, Moon, galaxies, and nebulae.
Includes:
SeeStar S50
Carbon Fibre Tripod
Solar Filter*
Type-C cable
Case
Quick Start Guide
(See image)
The basic specifications are:
Triplet apochromatic optics
Two electronic switching Filter Modes Broadband (IRCut) and a dual band light pollution filter for emission nebula targets OllI 30nm / Ha 20nm.
Aperture 50 mm
f-stop f/5
Focal Length 250 mm
Storage 64 Gb
Sensor IMX462
Resolution 1080X1920
Field of View 1.29º x 0.73º
Stack and light files are saved in the FIT format for use with astro programmes (such as the free Siril) and JPGs.
Built in rechargeable battery.
USB-C connectivity for download or recharge.
Dew heater to ensure the lens is not fogged.
User Experience
I have had the scope since the start of the year and it is quite amazing what this little scope can do,
The SeeStar native mount mode is AltAz but does support equatorial mode requiring the addition of a wedge.
Several imaging modes of supported:
Deep Sky (Nebula, Galaxy and Clusters)
Sun, Moon, Planet and Comet
Scenery
In operation the phone app acts to command the SeeStar but does not need to be connected constantly once the SeeStar has been command.
The telescope can be used interactively, the user can watch the image integrate, or using a plan mode where a sequence of observations can be defined for the night, with start and stop times defined for each object.
So far I have only used it for Deep Sky imaging in AltAz mount mode using the plan facility. This mount mode is easy to setup and does not require night to deploy (see below comments on equatorial mount mode). In this mode it is simply a matter of turning on and putting the SeeStar outside with a good view of the sky. (see image for the app, left half shows the main screen and the right the plan screen).
It is advisable to calibrate the compass sensor first, there is also a level sensor, I have not had need to calibrate this.
One thing not included is a dew hood/lens hood. If you are in an area of significant light pollution this is very advisable. I sourced a hinged one that:
Hinges into place at the start of an observation
Folds back when the telescopes arm closes at the end of observation
Attaches via self adhesive Velcro strips.
Although the telescope include internal batteries, it is advisable to use an external power bank for all night operation. I connect this with a long USB cable and use a 20,000 mAhr model.
How the telescope operates.
The telescope knows it’s approximate location from your smart phone’s GPS fix, it’s internal sensors give it an approximate orientation. The telescope then refines it’s pointing using plate solving (pattern matching stars).
In setting a plan, you:
1) Create and name a plan
2) Search for a desired object
3) Click add
4) Set of clear the light pollution filter
5) Set the start and stop times, (the Altitude is shown for information).
6) Repeat from (2) as needed.
The user then turns on the telescope, connect the app to the telescope, turn on the dew heater if desired and execute the plan. You can then deploy the telescope prior to the start of the plan, I allow at least 15 min for thermal stabilisation before the start of imaging, more if I can. At the start of the plan the telescope arm will open and start imaging each target in turn. Once complete the arm closes. It is advisable to disable the auto-off feature so the telescope is kept warm until retrieved in the morning. I have always found the autofocus acceptable.
For larger objects there is a mosaic mode available allowing a 2x increase in angle of view.
The telescope will provide internal stacks (final images) of each object. If you want to externally process the data then you need to set the telescope to save all the sub-frame images. Sub-frames from multiple nights or even locations and devices and be combined to increase the integration time.
I download to the PC the sub-frames and process in Siril (free under GNU licence, see https://siril.org/) and more conventional photo software. There are lots of YouTube videos to help you get to grips with Siril and the various free scripts.
Limitations
The telescope is a great for nebula, galaxies and clusters but not really powerful enough for planets like Jupiter, Mars etc, there will be very small in the frame.
Equatorial Mode
The advantage of EQ mount mode is longer sub-frame exposure times than the default 10 seconds, and no rotation of the subject over time (frame rotation). To use this a wedge or tripod head is needed to tilt the telescope to account for your latitude. The setup is achieved via a software managed polar alignment procedure. The telescope uses plate solving to calculate its orientation and provide adjustment feedback to the user. Thus this type of setup requires night and reasonably clear skies.
Other SeeStars
There are also the wider view s30 and s30 pro. A s50 pro is expected to be available shortly.
