Deciding on an object just like the Dumbbell Nebula will interact the scope’s filter. Credit score: Phil Harrington
You and I reside by a revolution in beginner astronomy. Not way back, I’d have suggested freshmen to avoid astroimaging, as a result of getting good outcomes is each costly and time consuming. Not anymore. As we speak, I inform them that state-of-the-art good telescopes can be found at comparatively affordable costs that allow tech-savvy neophytes get unbelievable outcomes the primary evening out.
One of many main contenders on this scorching market is the Seestar S50 from Zhen Wang Optical (ZWO). Launched in April 2023 at New York’s North East Astronomy Discussion board, the ZWO Seestar S50 seems nearly too good to be true. It guarantees that anybody, even with minimal astroimaging data, can seize high-quality pictures of star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, the Moon, and the Solar. It smooths the steep studying curve historically related to imaging.
The Seestar doesn’t look something like a standard telescope. The black plastic physique is manufactured from two components: the optical tube and the housing for the alt-azimuth mount and controls. Notably absent is an eyepiece. That’s as a result of the Seestar isn’t made for visible observations. As a substitute, it’s a standalone astrograph designed particularly to {photograph} the heavens.
ZWO’s Seestar S50 is a reasonable, moveable imaging telescope that can allow you to seize pictures of celestial objects. Credit score: ZWO
The Seestar is constructed round an apochromatic refractor that sports activities a 2-inch f/4.9 triplet lens coupled with a Sony IMX462 CMOS sensor. Collectively, they excel at capturing celestial objects regardless of the modest aperture. Its apochromatic optics guarantee sharp, true-color pictures, free from frequent aberrations.
The S50 comes packaged in a form-fitting polystyrene case, which is light-weight and durable. It has a small deal with and two clips to maintain it closed, however lacks a lock and a shoulder strap.
Inside, the Seestar is nestled in its fetal-like “off” place together with a small tripod, a brief USB-C charging cable, a short instruction guide, and a photo voltaic filter. The whole lot is held securely in molded cutouts and weighs a complete of seven.8 kilos (3.5 kilograms). By itself, the Seestar weighs 5.5 kilos (2.5 kg).
Two extra equipment are hidden contained in the Seestar: a dew heater and a twin narrowband nebula filter. The latter improves pictures of emission and planetary nebulae and can interact routinely when both sort of object is chosen. The filter may additionally be engaged manually by the person if desired.
The totally automated Seestar doesn’t include a hand controller. As a substitute, to manage its operation, the person should obtain and open the Seestar app on an Apple or Android cellphone or pill.
Until they’re completely mounted in an observatory, most top-end astrophotography setups require a very long time to assemble earlier than use. Not the Seestar. It sometimes takes not more than 10 minutes from opening the case to taking the primary pictures. That’s, until it’s sitting on uneven terrain; if that’s the case, it have to be leveled in accordance with the app’s onscreen directions. That may add a number of minutes, though there are third-party tripod attachments that make leveling simpler.
To start, take away it from the case and fix it to the included tripod or one with a 3/8-inch threaded stud. The tripod may be prolonged from its stowed place of 10.8 inches (274.5 millimeters) to 14.3 inches (363 mm). Some customers place the setup on a desk, however vibration generally is a drawback. As a substitute, I most well-liked to position it on a sturdy photographic tripod.
Awaken the Seestar by pushing and holding its sq. “on” button for a number of seconds, till it says “powering on; ready to connect.” 4 purple battery-status lights beneath the “on” button point out the battery’s energy stage. When all 4 are lit, the battery is totally charged. ZWO states that the battery will last as long as six hours, which I discovered to be estimate whether or not the evening is cool or delicate. Colder temperatures will diminish the time. In these cases, an exterior energy supply may be connected by way of the USB-C charging port.
As soon as the Seestar is alive, open the app and join the 2. I discovered the app to be straightforward to study while not having to evaluation included directions or ZWO’s on-line guide. Bear in mind that should you do want some teaching, the guide will assist, however I’d additionally suggest the plethora of YouTube movies, in addition to social media teams akin to “Seestar S50 (Official ZWO Group)” on Fb.
The Seestar broadcasts when it’s aligned and prepared. From the app, you’ll be able to view a 24-hour climate forecast, choose targets, alter sound, fine-tune focus, begin the anti-dew heater, and toggle the Seestar watermark. Select publicity instances of 10 (default), 20, or 30 seconds for deep-sky imaging, and resolve whether or not to save lots of solely the ultimate stacked picture or each the stacked picture and particular person subframes. It’s best to save particular person subframes if importing information into software program like PixInsight or Siril.
After all the things is ready, the Seestar will silently slew to the goal. It labored flawlessly each time, even when aiming on the Solar in the course of the day. The daytime Moon gave it a little bit of hassle, nevertheless, and was the one time I needed to manually intention the scope utilizing the slewing toggle management on the app’s display screen.
Tapping the purple shutter button within the app begins an publicity. Particulars bloomed on the display screen inside a minute. Whether or not it was spiral construction within the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) or the myriad stars in globular clusters, the Seestar delivered sharp pictures that continued to evolve till I pressed the shutter button once more. Exposures have to be began and ended by the person as a result of there’s no timer.
Some may assume that, with a focal size of solely 250mm, the Seestar is a wide-field telescope. It’s not. The compact CMOS sensor limits the precise area of view to 1.29° by 0.73°. That may trigger some undesirable cropping of expansive targets just like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Pleiades (M45). Including to this, the sensor has a large 16:9 side ratio (1920×1080 pixels) and can’t be rotated. (The photographs are displayed in portrait orientation in your cellphone.) Since there’s no technique to rotate the view on the alt-azimuth mount, you may need to attend till a distinct time of evening or perhaps a completely different season for the sky to tilt a goal in the fitting orientation.
Through the evaluation, two darkish triangles appeared in reverse corners of some pictures. These had been brought on by area rotation. The sky strikes in an arc, whereas the Seestar’s alt-az mount shifts in steps and rotates subframes to compensate, ensuing within the nook anomalies. To repair them, crop the picture or alter brightness and distinction utilizing packages like GIMP, Adobe Lightroom, and even your cellphone’s built-in picture app. Deciding on targets close to the celestial equator additionally reduces this.
The Seestar S50’s out-of-the-box efficiency is outstanding. Regardless of not being an skilled deep-sky photographer, I captured wonderful pictures from my light-polluted suburban yard, even underneath a Full Moon. The minor points talked about earlier don’t have an effect on my suggestion. It introduced me a renewed sense of pleasure and I’ve been out with it each clear evening. For these trying to discover astrophotography, the Seestar is a superb funding and simply plain enjoyable to make use of.
