NAS Smart Scope Group
The creation of the NAS Smart Scope group recognises that the advent of (relatively) inexpensive computerised imaging scopes like the Seestar and Dwarf II offers great opportunities for amateur astronomers. NAS has already held image processing workshops, hosted by George Sallit, that provided a great way to enhance images from these devices, and in the months to come we hope to do more workshops and other activities for users of these little scopes. However, for now the hope is this page can be a forum for members to submit images, hints and tips, useful facts, news of retailer deals and more. If you have anything at all you'd like to contribute, please reach out to communications@newburyastro.org.uk to get your contributions uploaded.
Images of M13 and M92 in Hercules taken by Steve Knight using a Seestar S50
SiriL workshop slides
Many members will have found George Sallit's two sessions earlier this year on processing Seestar (or other) images in SiriL highly valuable. For those who would find a refresher useful, or who missed the original sessions, George's meeting slides are reproduced here.
SiriL Presentation updated .pptx
Tips for imaging Comet C2023 A3 (Tsuchinsham-ATLAS) with a Seestar
Members have been getting some excellent images of Comet C2023 A3 (Tsuchinsham-ATLAS) with their Seestar scopes, whether from the top of La Palma or from churchyards in Berkshire. George Sallit's image to the left was taken on 19 October 2024 at 19:19. 50mm Seestar telescope f5 with a 180sec stacked exposure of 10-sec images.
George has prepared a quick summary of tips for success:
Update the Seestar software before taking the images by connecting to the internet to get the latest data on the comet.
Make sure the mount is level.
Start imaging 40 mins after sunset and use the Comets section to select the Comet and press goto.
If it is too light, the telescope will Goto the comet but will not be able to centre it. Cancel the GOTO. Wait for 5 mins and retry the GOTO.
When dark enough the Seestar S50 will centre the comet. Move the telescope down on the screen to get as much of the tail in the field of view.
Use autofocus.
Try exposures of 1,2 and 3 mins. After that the motion of the comet will distort the head of the comet into a line.
Load your image on to the NAS Whats App.
Best of luck, everyone!
WhatsApp Video 2024-08-02 at 13.16.56_53aa4f51.mp4The Seestar Dance
It is something that not all Seestar owners realise, but to calibrate the compass for accurate image acquisition, you need to do an odd jig that effectively rotates the compass and allows it to understand where it's looking. Those new to these beasts may not have realised what they were seeing - well now you know. Our thanks to Tony for capturing Steve whilst engaged in this pursuit. There is no sound on this video - but our suggestion would be to use the Floral Dance as your soundtrack...