Seestar S50 — first impressions
Smart Telescope
This is the telescope that started this gallery — my official entry point into the world of astrophotography. It’s not the telescope you buy if you want to chase every last bit of signal, but it’s the one that gets you imaging deep sky objects straight out of the box.
FLO is a UK based retailer. You can alternatively purchase directly from ZWO. Be sure to check eBay and Facebook marketplace to compare prices.
Pros
- + Fully automated goto, plate-solving and live stacking — point it and it finds the target itself
- + Built-in light-pollution filter makes usable results possible from a back garden
- + Built-in dew heater for longer sessions overnight
- + Genuinely portable — the whole kit packs into one small case
- + Live-stacking view builds the image in real time, so you can see it working
- + Packaged with a solar filter so you can start observing the sun straight out of the box
Cons
- − Small aperture caps how much faint detail you'll pull out of dimmer targets
- − Fixed optics — no swapping cameras, filters or eyepieces
- − Processing control is limited next to a manual rig shooting raw subs
Recommended Accessories
Worth pairing with these if you're buying it.
Tripod Leveller
Inserted between the tripod and the Seestar body. It allows you to level the telescope using smooth micro-adjustment knobs rather than shortening and lengthening the individual tripod legs supplied with the Seestar.
This will work on most tripods with a similar thread and not limited to just the Seestar.
Power Bank
Extends imaging sessions past the 3–4 hour internal battery life. The Seestar can run directly off an external battery via its USB-C port while simultaneously charging the system. Alternatively, I just run a weather shielded extension cable the Seestar and keep it plugged in over USBC.
3D-Printable Accessories
If you've got access to a 3D printer, these are worth printing instead of buying.
Dew shield
Slides onto the front of the Seestar to cut stray light and slow dew forming on the lens. Slides off cleanly when the arm closes.
Design by Jam_2016 on MakerWorld, CC BY
Bahtinov mask
Fits over the front of the Seestar for checking focus against a bright star before an imaging session.
Design by Mike Crapo on MakerWorld, CC BY-NC-SA
Photos