Unoffical Seestar Wiki

Unofficial, Unrelated, Unaffiliated in anyway with ZWO

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
aquisition_modes

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
aquisition_modes [2024/12/27 09:02] – [Planets] tailspinaquisition_modes [2024/12/28 05:45] (current) – [Stargazing Mode] tailspin
Line 34: Line 34:
 If the Seestar doesn't locate the Sun, use the crack between the OTA and the base as an aiming sight and point the scope using the joystick. To avoid looking at the Sun, just watch the shadow on the ground or hold your hand behind the scope.((The little hole in the solar filter can be used as a sight if you hold a piece of paper behind it. Caution: don't try to peep through the hole! The Sun will blind you.)) When the crack appears as a bright line in the shadow, point the scope a little left. Now tell it to GoTo the Sun again. If //that// doesn't work, try maneuvering the scope yourself to find the Sun. You'll know you're close because the edge of the screen will get brighter. If it gets darker you're going the wrong way. If the Seestar doesn't locate the Sun, use the crack between the OTA and the base as an aiming sight and point the scope using the joystick. To avoid looking at the Sun, just watch the shadow on the ground or hold your hand behind the scope.((The little hole in the solar filter can be used as a sight if you hold a piece of paper behind it. Caution: don't try to peep through the hole! The Sun will blind you.)) When the crack appears as a bright line in the shadow, point the scope a little left. Now tell it to GoTo the Sun again. If //that// doesn't work, try maneuvering the scope yourself to find the Sun. You'll know you're close because the edge of the screen will get brighter. If it gets darker you're going the wrong way.
  
-<WRAP box>You only get one chance to do the solar filter thing wrong.+<WRAP center round alert 60%> 
 +You only get one chance to do the solar filter thing wrong.
  
 If you point the scope directly at the Sun without the filter it will turn your Seestar into an expensive paperweight. If you point the scope directly at the Sun without the filter it will turn your Seestar into an expensive paperweight.
  
-That applies to taking the filter off, too. In your mind you’re thinking about shutting down or going to some other target, but the scope will still be pointed directly at the sun. So be sure to slew the scope away from the Sun before you take the filter off.</WRAP>+That applies to taking the filter off, too. In your mind you’re thinking about shutting down or going to some other target, but the scope will still be pointed directly at the sun. __Be sure to slew the scope away from the Sun before you take the filter off.__</WRAP>
  
 ===== Moon ===== ===== Moon =====
Line 46: Line 47:
  
 ===== Planets ===== ===== Planets =====
-Imaging planets is a little different because the planets appear teeny tiny thanks to the short focal length (250mm) of the Seestar, and because they’re very bright spots in the black night sky. ((You can use the Scenery Mode's 2x and 4x enlargement if you go to scenery but don't GoTo. Youll probably have to adjust the exposure too.))+Imaging planets is a little different because the planets appear teeny tiny thanks to the short focal length (250mm) of the Seestar, and because they’re very bright spots in the black night sky. ((You can use the Scenery Mode's 2x and 4x enlargement if you go to scenery but don't GoTo. You'll probably have to adjust the exposure too.))
  
 {{ :seestar_planets_page.jpeg?nolink&200|}} {{ :seestar_planets_page.jpeg?nolink&200|}}
  
-If you tap the image of any planet in gthe Solar Syatem menu, the Sun, or the Moon you’ll get a nice description and some data. Scroll down and you’ll see a handy chart that shows what time the planet is visible from your location and its current altitude and azimuth. Use that so you'll know if it’s going to be below the horizon or behind that tree before you waste time asking Seestar to find it. The white dot graphically shows you what the current time is and the line shows the planet’s altitude when it’s above the horizon. Drag the dot and it will show altitude at a given time, but unfortunately reported Alt and Az values don’t change, which would be useful.+If you tap the image of any planet in the Solar System menu, the Sun, or the Moon you’ll get a nice description and some data. Scroll down and you’ll see a handy chart that shows what time the planet is visible from your location and its current altitude and azimuth. Use that so you'll know if it’s going to be below the horizon or behind that tree before you waste time asking Seestar to find it. The white dot graphically shows you what the current time is and the line shows the planet’s altitude when it’s above the horizon. Drag the dot and it will show altitude at a given time, but unfortunately reported Alt and Az values don’t change, which would be useful.
  
 The Seestar won’t slew to a solar system object unless you press the Go Gazing button at the bottom of the screen. The Seestar won’t slew to a solar system object unless you press the Go Gazing button at the bottom of the screen.
Line 64: Line 65:
  
 ====== Stargazing Mode ====== ====== Stargazing Mode ======
-{{ :skyatlastarget.jpg?nolink&100|}}The most awe inspiring feature of the Seestar is its Stargazing Mode (which should be called DSO Mode). This is where the Seestar really proves that the Seestar is a great value.((Add up the retail prices of the individual components and you would have spent over $2000 for essentially the same capability)) This is the mode for capturing images of Deep-Sky Objects. Here's what it does:+{{ :skyatlastarget.jpg?nolink&200|}}The most awe inspiring feature of the Seestar is its Stargazing Mode (which should be called DSO Mode). This is where the Seestar really proves that the Seestar is a great value.((Add up the retail prices of the individual components and you would have spent over $2000 for essentially the same capability)) This is the mode for capturing images of Deep-Sky Objects. Here's what it does:
  
 __Automatic Image Calibration__: The Seestar automatically takes and applies dark, flat, and bias frames to the image, correcting for readout noise, sensor noise, and image train imperfections such was dust. __Automatic Image Calibration__: The Seestar automatically takes and applies dark, flat, and bias frames to the image, correcting for readout noise, sensor noise, and image train imperfections such was dust.
  
-__Live Preview__: The app provides a real-time view of the night sky through the Seestar's camera. This allows you to see (dimly) what the telescope is pointed at and make adjustments as needed.+__Live Preview__: The app provides a real-time view of the night sky through the Seestar's camera. This allows you to see (dimly) what the telescope is pointed at and make adjustments as needed using the joystick or Sky Atlas.
  
-__Target Selection__: You can select your desired target either from the app's recommendations or by manually choosing an object from the Sky Atlas. You can also create your own favorites by entering a name, Declination (Dec), and Right Accession (RA). A new feature allows you to 1ouble the field of view of the captured image, essentially by creating a mosaic.{{ :tom_-_1_1_.jpeg?nolink&100|}}+__Target Selection__: You can select your desired target either from the app's recommendations or by manually choosing an object from the Sky Atlas. You can also create a list of your own favorites by entering a name, Declination (Dec), and Right Accession (RA). A new feature allows you to double the field of view of the captured image, essentially by creating a mosaic.
  
 __Automatic GoTo and Tracking__: Once you've selected a target, the Seestar automatically slews to the object and begins tracking it, compensating for the Earth's rotation.  __Automatic GoTo and Tracking__: Once you've selected a target, the Seestar automatically slews to the object and begins tracking it, compensating for the Earth's rotation. 
Line 79: Line 80:
 Hydrogen alpha (Ha) and Oxygen three (OIII) emissions. If you’re in a light-polluted area, you can enable the filter to minimize its impact on an image.((The LP filter is not recommended for galaxies or emission nebulae such as the Wizard and Pleiades.)) Hydrogen alpha (Ha) and Oxygen three (OIII) emissions. If you’re in a light-polluted area, you can enable the filter to minimize its impact on an image.((The LP filter is not recommended for galaxies or emission nebulae such as the Wizard and Pleiades.))
  
-__Image Saving and Sharing__: Once you're satisfied with the image, it ill be saved to the Seestar's internal storage, your mobile photo app, and and your can share the result with the whole Seestar Community.+__Image Saving and Sharing__: Once you're satisfied with the image, it'll be saved to the Seestar's internal storage, your mobile photo app, and your can share the result with the whole Seestar Community.
  
 In essence, Seestar's DSO Mode (er, Stargazing Mode) takes care of the technical aspects of capturing astroimages((To be pedantic, what the Seestar does is not astrophotography, it's astroimaging. No photographic process using silver halide is involved. But this isn’t a battle worth fighting because common usage always wins. That’s why we call the event each evening //sunset// not //earthrise// even though we’ve known for 800 years the Sun isn’t rotating around the Earth.)), allowing you to focus on enjoying and sharing the lovely images of deep-sky objects you and Seestar produce. In essence, Seestar's DSO Mode (er, Stargazing Mode) takes care of the technical aspects of capturing astroimages((To be pedantic, what the Seestar does is not astrophotography, it's astroimaging. No photographic process using silver halide is involved. But this isn’t a battle worth fighting because common usage always wins. That’s why we call the event each evening //sunset// not //earthrise// even though we’ve known for 800 years the Sun isn’t rotating around the Earth.)), allowing you to focus on enjoying and sharing the lovely images of deep-sky objects you and Seestar produce.
  
  
-=====Sky Atlaa=====+=====Sky Atlas=====
  
 The Seestar Sky Atlas is a comprehensive star map feature integrated into the Seestar mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. It includes an extensive database of celestial objects and provides a "tonight's best" list of recommended targets to observe. The Seestar Sky Atlas is a comprehensive star map feature integrated into the Seestar mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. It includes an extensive database of celestial objects and provides a "tonight's best" list of recommended targets to observe.
  
-==== Key Features ====+{{ :screenshot_2024-12-26_at_6.02.36 am.png?nolink&200|}} 
 +{{:1712910346818-nmtt1vweg2.png?nolink&400 |}}
  
-=== Navigation and Control=== +==== Key Features ====
-  * Enables automatic object finding and tracking through the telescope's built-in mount +
-  * Provides real-time astronomical weather information and moon phase data +
-  * Displays sunrise and sunset times based on user location+
  
-=== Object Database === +The red target frame can be moved to a target and blue pointing frame will GoTo 
-  * Contains an extensive collection of deep-sky objects +Searchable collection of deep-sky objects such as emission and reflection nebulae, supernova remnants, and globular clusters
-  * Automatically recommends optimal targets for viewing each night +
-  * Particularly suitable for bright objects like emission nebulae, supernova remnants, and globular clusters+
  
-===User Experience=== +Features 
-Interface is intuitive and user-friendly, especially for beginners +  * GoTo with plate-solving accuracy 
-Quickly locates selected targets with automatic plate-solving capability +  * Recommends optimal targets for viewing each night 
-Receives regular updates from ZWO to improve capabilities and overall experience+  * Live sky compass allows you to point mobile device at a target and the GoTo 
 +  * Framing mode lets you select an area up to 2x and rotate the frame for optimum composition of a mosaic
  
 While Sky Atlas is great for controlling the telescope, some users have found ways to use third-party software like SkySafari for additional object database access. While Sky Atlas is great for controlling the telescope, some users have found ways to use third-party software like SkySafari for additional object database access.
aquisition_modes.1735318926.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/12/27 09:02 by tailspin

Page Tools