Seestar S50 Equatorial Mount Assembly
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- Опубліковано 13 січ 2024
- This video describes how to convert an altitude-azimuth tripod into an equatorial mount for the Seestar smart telescope. In a separate video ( • Seestar S50 Polar Alig... ), we show how to polar align the Seestar and how to orient it to the equatorial view of the sky so you can use the Seestar app to find and track objects automatically. And in a third video ( • Seestar S50 Equatorial... ), we show how to lock three screws in place on the equatorial mount to make it even more convenient to use.
Please note: Though a few individuals have successfully used their Seestars on equatorial mounts, ZWO does not support such use. We cannot guarantee that such use will not result in damage to your telescope. Use at your own risk!
After publishing this video, we learned about apps (Polar Scope Align Pro for iPhone and Compass Steel 3D for Android) that can be used to polar align the Seestar, which would eliminate the need for a second red-dot finderscope (See the Smart Telescope Underworld post by Bro Mac; / 383692670812200 . We've not tested these apps, but we mention them here in case some of you might be interested.
Equipment used in this video:
ZWO Seestar S50 Smart Telescope, www.highpointscientific.com/z...
Celestron Starpointer Finderscope, a.co/d/8zbfoRS (We use two of these, one pointing in the direction the Seestar is looking and the other perpendicular to the Seestar base, intended to point at the north or south celestial pole).
Sky Watcher S20530 Star Adventurer Latitude (EQ) Base, a.co/d/7MgMNIr (To allow the Sky Watcher dovetail mounting screw to work with the Seestar, we trimmed plastic from the head of this screw. Alternatively, you can use a M8 (1.25) x 14 mm socket hex cap screw and an Allen wrench.)
77” NIANYISO Compact Camera Tripod, a.co/d/edrLrqx
Mounting Tape: a.co/d/hd7bQbJ
Many thanks to Kai Yung for pointing out that equatorial mode is possible with Seestar, for posting a video of his equatorial setup ( • Running Seestar with E... ) and his polar alignment procedure ( • Running Seestar in Equ... , and for answering our many questions.
This video explains both principle and practice for each step at a well paced cadence. I appreciate the way the steps include materials and their sourcing, modifications or adjustments (e.g. getting the mounting screws in a place they can be accessed), techniques including options (e.g. grinding down the locking knob on the equatorial mount), and why the modifications were made. I went through the whole video without a “Wait! What did he just do?” moment. Thanks for this Boyd, and Go Aggies!
so helpful thank you. I just did my first stacked images with the seestar s5 and field rotation is definitely something that affected my long exposure.
Fantastic tutorial! Explains the mounting very concisely and clearly! Thanks for all of the work that you put into this!
This is very good idea to convert an Alt-Az mount telescope into an equatorial mount telescope. I am excited to see the final result you will obtain.
To see some of our results, see 1:12 in this video.
@@physicsdemosAs expected, the walking noise was truly eliminated.
Thanks for producing this video!
This reminds me of when the Sky-Watcher AZ GTi WiFi Alt-Az (with go to function already) was modded so that it was able to work as an EQ with the same mods where you add a wedge, weight etc.
And ofcourse Sky Watcher also released an update for the EQ capability.
Now its just hoping for ZWO to allows us to have an increased exposure time + release an update for Mosaic mode.
Thanks a lot. What a detailed and helpful explanation.
waiting for part 2 nice
Here's part 2: ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.htmlsi=9XM2Bxj-0ROa9BnA
Very nice video and many good ideas ....many thanks from Italy
Thank you thank you thank you, now I will try it since zi have all I need.
Will be interesting to see a couple of images taken with this mod....Nice work!
If you want to see images that we've taken with the mod, go to 1:12 in the video. We're pretty proud of them!
Great video: easy to understand, doable by most people, and not overengineered. I was only looking for videos on mounting a finderscope on the S50 but watched you whole video because it was so well done and interesting. Thanks.
Thank you!
I attached the finderscope per your video and it works great! Thanks.
Great video and pics. I'd be grateful if you could do a followup video showing how you set the s50 app up to work in conjunction with the equatorial mount, are there particularly settings that need to be adjusted? Are you manually slewing to targets? Does the s50 get confused about its own alignment not being horizontal? Thank you in advance.
Nope, thanks to the new 3-point calibration, the Seestar S50 doesn't get confused about its alignment not being horizontal, and it finds objects just fine. We'll be posting a video about this in the next day or two.
Here's the followup video: ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.htmlsi=9XM2Bxj-0ROa9BnA
I would have liked to see the polar alignment procedure after you stopped this video and then finding and tracking an object with this arrangement.
We're working on this video. It should be out soon.
In a separate video (ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.html), we show how to polar align the Seestar and how to orient it to the equatorial view of the sky so you can use the Seestar app to find and track objects automatically. And in a third video (ua-cam.com/video/Xs4v44iD9W8/v-deo.html), we show how to lock three screws in place on the equatorial mount to make it even more convenient to use.
Just FYI I attached the finder (6x) telescope and a laser pointer to my Seestar via a cam suction mount, which usually used in driving recorder. It is cheaper and no damage/additional work to the surface to the Seestar, and because it is removable you can still use the original case.
I also wondered about that! On which sides did you mount the finder and the laser? Finder on lens side and laser on polar side? Those Celestron red dot finders eat batteries!!
Great video and indeed an improvement for a S50. But why not install a polar scope to enable proper visual polar alignment?
Boyd, thanks for the explanation, I thought do the same did no try because the Seestar checks the level, the level will be off and maybe not work, I will try the same, I have everything, just weather sucks. Thanks for sharing!
I understand that no longer does Seestar check the level. This has been replaced by the three-point calibration.
Woa!!!! Great video and incredible pictures!!!! I bought a Seestar but I never thought It could be possible to take so breathtaking pictures with it!!! By the way, could you please share with us more details of the parameters that you used to take that pictures (how much pictures did you stacked, how many seconds of exposure, etc)? and if you used only PI to process them or you used also other software! Thank you very much! I can not wait to see the second video!
Thanks so much! For answers to your questions, please see facebook.com/groups/seestar/permalink/348716674607288/, facebook.com/groups/seestar/permalink/350771554401800/, and facebook.com/groups/373417055173095/permalink/378377164677084/.
@@physicsdemos Thank you very much for the info! By the way, seen your pictures before and after your processing in PS, It´very clear to me that you have a lot of skills and acknowledge in processing. So, it would be great if you can upload videos of yours processing steps in PS in the future! It will help us (beginners) a lot! thanks!
@@renatopachecorodriguez892 We're actually using PixInsight (PI) to process the photos. I'll share your suggestion with my son Reynold, "King of the Dark," who does all of our image processing.
Here's the second video: ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.htmlsi=UDsDaweG0twYiT51
I understand that Adam Block has produced some good PixInsight tutorial videos: www.youtube.com/@AdamBlock
Great work, I might try a 3-way gear pano head (Benro) and test it. I am kind of new at this, so you used a red dot finder for Polaris, would a polar scope work (I have one from my move shoot move tracker) or if rough Polaris is OK, would attaching a laser pointer be fine? (provided it is allowed in the area most people are in).
If the gear head doesn't work, I will try the Skywatcher wedge, which I have too.
Thanks for the great rundown of your setup.
Sure, a polar scope should work, or a laser pointer. I don't think that precise alignment is necessary. We're getting great images with just rough alignment with Polaris. I imagine that the gear pano head should work, also.
Better option to replace clamping bolt on dovetail saddle. Smaller knob fits under Seestar. It comes with a shorter post too.
uxcell M8 x 30mm Metric Male Thread Knurled Clamping Knobs Grip Thumb Screw on Type Plastic Threaded Hand Bolt Knobs Black 4 Pcs
Great video. Do you think this procedure requiring no modification would work to polar align? Set up Seestar in normal level mode pointed at zenith point. Verify position using atlas. Precisely mark position of optical section in relation to base section with tape. Power down. Attach Seestar to any ball head or eq base. Power up, using scenery mode align tape marks. Now using built in optics align with polaris using correct offsets. A phone app like PS Align is very handy for visualizing exact celestial pole in relation to Polaris. This should put base rotation axis parallel to earth rotation axis.
Edit: I just realized the Seastar may be limited in vertical travel and may not be able to reach zenith
I'm not sure this would work, but we won't know until someone tries!
no creo que funcione en modo ecuatorial, envie un mail a zwo consiltando esto y me repondio un tecnico de zwo que el Seestar S50 no esta programado para funcionar en forma azimutsl solo alta azimutal, por eso me cuesta creer que te funcione en modo ecuatorial
Very interesting. Do you have any concerns that placing the base at the EQ angle changes the loads and direction of load on the gears and or bearings in the scope ? Any concerns that it could increase wear on those or is the base built sturdy enough that the gears and such can take the lateral load that wouldn't be there in Alt-Az mode ?
A Rigel, or Telrad finder might avoid some of your screw position issues.
Nice DIY project and a good video. Does the Seestar still fit in the supplied case with the red dot pointers attached or do you need to find another case?
No. It doesn't fit into the supplied case, unless you use the screws to detach the red dot pointers from their bases, the bases (which are taped to the Seestar) are low profile and I imagine that one could carve away a bit of foam in the case so that the Seestar would fit. But taking the pointers off and on each time we use it doesn't sound like much fun, so we're looking at buying an Apache 3800 case (www.harborfreight.com/3800-weatherproof-protective-case-large-tan-56769.html) to hold the telescope, the wedge, and perhaps other odds and ends.
I just bought this exact case from HFT and it's awesome. I can get everything I have including filters, dew shield, Bahtinov mask, power supply and charging cables, etc. That's definitely the case to get. The one it comes with is big enough for all of its supplied parts, but nothing else. You're going to want more. HFT to the rescue!!
@@michaelknapp5456 Glad to hear it. We have yet to fit the scope and attachments to the case.
Hi Dr Edwards, was wondering why align the side of the Seestar? Would you not align the base plane instead like mounting it on an equatorial wedge ?
Enjoyed the video, I am checking out a bazooka of info since I purchased my Seestar a few days ago. One question. Why do you need the red dot pointer for the camera orientation? From Kei's video you referenced; it looks like the level could be calibrated at the equatorial position and the plate solving would take over. I am thinking of this correctly? Am I missing a bonehead concept? Thanks Bill.
So far, Seestar hasn't been able to orient itself in the sky without our telling it where a star or two are in the sky. I would be glad to learn about a successful way for Seestar to orient itself using plate solving.
Kai recently posted his procedures for running the Seestar in equatorial mode at docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LmHbaSFyN8AbMBJ5no-gLZ_8tVHysWff9qSBeaGzhyQ/edit?fbclid=IwAR1MU8UM6zy5lEU9GmoJ7CnGO0Id5ZD6oft2DyDvEgqRNzIrLCEGJyPbJ1Q#gid=0
@@physicsdemos thanks. Wow "manually point the seestar" that could be tough. It looked as if you had to work at just getting the "Aggie A" centered in daytime landscape mode.
@@drdentin3215 Yes, but getting the Aggie A centered was a one-time procedure to align the red-dot finder so it points in the same direction that the telescope is looking. Thereafter, unless you knock the red-dot finder out of alignment, you don't have to do this again. Thereafter, all you have to do is to center the red dot on your target, which is a much easier process. In a separate video (ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.html), we show how to polar align the Seestar and how to orient it to the equatorial view of the sky so you can use the Seestar app to find and track objects automatically. And in a third video (ua-cam.com/video/Xs4v44iD9W8/v-deo.html), we show how to lock three screws in place on the equatorial mount to make it even more convenient to use.
Does the finder scope come with the mounting base or did you have to get that separate?
When will part 2 be available? I have a sky-watcher star adventurer 2i star tracker and that has it's own polar alignment. Was wondering if the SeeStar being out of level was going to be a problem for the telescope. As long as the telescope sees the star and the equatorial mount tracking the earths rotation will keep the captures OK. Is there a possibility of the telescope fighting the tracker?
The telescope tracks well in equatorial mode. For our images of the Triangulum Galaxy (M33, 59 minute integration time) and the Pacman Nebula (NGC 281, 51 minute integration time) which are both shown at 1:16 in this video, our frame acceptance rate was about 73%, which is higher than we ever got in alt-az mode. Our image of the Pacman Nebula includes stars of magnitude 19 and perhaps 20 (see facebook.com/groups/seestar/permalink/350771554401800/), and ranks among the deepest images that anyone has taken the Seestar. At the same time, two nights ago, we used equatorial mode in the extreme cold (-4° F, or -20° C, which is well outside of the recommended Seestar temperature range of -10° C to 40°C), and our frame acceptance rate was something like 45%, and we got a nasty, noisy image).
Part 2 should be out in a day or two.
Part 2 is available: ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.htmlsi=UDsDaweG0twYiT51
And In a separate video (ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.html), we show how to polar align the Seestar and how to orient it to the equatorial view of the sky so you can use the Seestar app to find and track objects automatically. And in a third video (ua-cam.com/video/Xs4v44iD9W8/v-deo.html), we show how to lock three screws in place on the equatorial mount to make it even more convenient to use.
So, be interested to know if it worked for you? I tried it 5 times last night (52 degrees lat) and had no luck at all. it did pass it's 3 star alignment, but gotos would not work at all - just either kept trying and going the wrong way, or saying it had succeeded but was in totally the wrong area. It seems to be approx correct for a regular AZ-ALT position so I suspect it was still using a horizontal world view. No idea what Kai is doing differently as he does do a full walkthrough anywhere. Also since it has a built in compass I'd be surprised if it's orientation is not important (i.e. your S50 would still be 'pointing' at polaris whatever the ALT rotation, but perhaps it matters what direction (say the usb socket) faces in home position ? Though I tried several without success.
Through trial and error, we have worked out a polar alignment and 3-point calibration procedure that works most of the time, and we plan to post a video about it as soon as we get a clear night. One important step is to point the telescope at a bright star in the northern celestial hemisphere that is not too close to the celestial equator, and sync the Seestar app to that star. We tried Betelgeuse and the Seestar got stuck, presumably because the star is too close to the celestial equator. Then we used Capella, which Kai used in one of his videos, and this star worked better. But we need a clear night to hammer down our procedures and (hopefully) work out the bugs. Then we'll post a video of our findings.
try setting your location at north pole (disable internet first)
@@physicsdemos I was going for M45 which is close enough I'd have thought and should have therefore worked ? hmm. need to try again I suppose
@@RoInsanee That's a good idea. Have you tried it?
Here's a video that discusses our polar alignment and 3-point calibration procedure: ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.htmlsi=P7kkMFnl1wKvTVkm
So, I'm curious. ZWO hasn't certified the device for use with an equatorial mount, and I know it uses plastic gears inside. Are you at all concerned that the device will suffer due to being laid more or less on its side, and the effect this might have on the plastic gears?
Is the measurement listed M8 x 14mm correct? The threaded knob looks much longer than 14mm. I see some very low profile thumbscrews on Amazon and I was going to try them. But the 14mm is throwing me off.
I don't know if this is correct. We've not tried it - we just used the included screw and trimmed off some of its plastic head. The M8 x 14 mm screw is what some Amazon users recommend.
I actually tried this a few days ago, though my alignment was much less precise than this (I just used a fluid head that had degree markings and loosely aimed it in the direction of Polaris, though I actually own the skywatcher wedge and didn't think to use it... oops!).
However, something I noticed is that the seestar was incapable of locating objects like this. I believe it still thought it was set in the atlaz position, and it was unable to compensate for the extreme angle of my latitude (I'm much closer to the equator than you are). I then stopped trying it, I was worried that I may damage something.
Maybe I missed it in the video, but is that the purpose of the two finders? One, obviously, to align with the pole, and the other is so that you can manually find your targets, since the seestar will no longer do that for you?
Seestar can find objects like this, as we will show in part 2 of the video (to be uploaded within a day or two), once you have synced to an alignment star. You don't have to find targets manually.
We show how to orient Seestar to the equatorial view of the sky in this video: ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.htmlsi=8-bPIJBPPO325e1Y. If you follow these procedures, you can use the automatic finding and tracking capabilities of the Seestar.
In a separate video (ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.html), we show how to polar align the Seestar and how to orient it to the equatorial view of the sky so you can use the Seestar app to find and track objects automatically. And in a third video (ua-cam.com/video/Xs4v44iD9W8/v-deo.html), we show how to lock three screws in place on the equatorial mount to make it even more convenient to use.
Can the seestar point straight up? If so you could you use the camera and point it to polaris for polar alignment?
I believe the short answer is "no," but if you figure out a way to do it, I would love to hear it!
Instead of levelling the board on the table for alignment of the plumb bob/red dot and crawling under the table, couldn't you have mounted it on your tripod and adjusted the legs and/or head until the Seestar says it is level?
Yes! But we were not sure we trusted the bubble level on the tripod, so we used the board and our own level, that we trust.
I've done this with a tripod with adjustable base + green laser pen in about 1 minute and a whole lot less expense and time. This imager is an ALT-AZ mount and doesn't have a Polar Align setting. So "close enough" counts for polar aligning. You really don't "need" to do all of this to get the same results.
Congratulations! And I certainly agree that precise polar alignment is not necessary. "Close enough" will eliminate most field rotation and make image processing easier. We have found, though, that the Seestar tracks better the closer you are aligned to Polaris.
Does the seestar have settings to be able to switch between an Azi to EQ mount? Since its not level anymore.
No
Has anyone tried using an EQ camera mount with S50? Like the iOptron SkyGuider Pro. These have a built-in polar scope so no add-ons or mods to S50 are necessary.
Instead of using a red dot finder to point to NCP how about laying a green laser in the groove between the two parts of the body. Use the laser to find NCP.
That should work!
Note that green lasers are prohibited at many star parties and many observing sites.
@@PatternMusic I’ve been an amateur astronomer for over 50 years and I have been to most of the star parties west of TSP. Using a green laser early to polar align is rarely an issue.
Yes to this. I've done this and it's super easy, fast, and close enough.
How do you get the app to ignore the leveling requirement?
We'll be posting our procedures soon.
In a separate video (ua-cam.com/video/ObM6bGUChFE/v-deo.html), we show how to polar align the Seestar and how to orient it to the equatorial view of the sky so you can use the Seestar app to find and track objects automatically. And in a third video (ua-cam.com/video/Xs4v44iD9W8/v-deo.html), we show how to lock three screws in place on the equatorial mount to make it even more convenient to use.
Ill just stick with alt az, im already squeamish why there are some youtubers doing a full teardown of their seestar...
It would be easier to use benro gear head
This is cool but I can't see anything you are doing.
You managed to complicate and make expensive a very simple project.
👎
I would be happy to see how you can achieve similar results with less money and time.
Doesn't seem much more complicated or expensive tbh
Don't do it!
I cringe when people do this. Even ZWO don't advise placing it on an equatorial mount, you're going to void the warranty! . The gearing inside are plastic and over time the drive mesh will wear away, and all you will end up with is an expensive door stop.
Cela ne peut pas fonctionner étant donné que la monture fonctionne en équatorial avec un axe azimutale/ascension et non avec les mouvements en mode équatorial, a savoir ascension droite et déclinaison, mécaniquement cela ne peut pas fonctionner correctement !!!!
Ce dispositif est censée régler le problème de dérogation de champs, soit:
Avec une monture azimutale le suivi est ok, l'objet est toujours au centre du champ de vision, mais il tourne sur lui même !!!! C'est le défaut de la monture azimutale....
Alors comme l'appli Seestar compense elle même la rotation du champ, une table EQ ne sert a rien, mais en plus vous perturbez tout le système !!!!
Franchement je ne vous conseille pas du tout de bricoler ce système vous allez jeter l'argent par les fenêtres.
La monture doit suivre péniblement les objets mais cela doit beaucoup plus perturber le système qu'autre chose, voyez avec n'importe quel technicien de chez ZWO qui vous expliquera sûrement avec plus de pédagogie que moi que le Seestar, pour l'instant, ne dispose pas de mode équatorial , et que les informations AZ envoyées par l'App Seestar sont en contradiction avec le montage EQ.
Voilà c'est carré 😂
Montre nous comment ça marche plutôt qu'on rigole un coup😊