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moonshinegnomie

(2,524 posts)
Tue Apr 30, 2024, 09:38 AM Apr 30

a game changer for astrophotograpghy

a few weeks ago i bought a new telescope that i could use with you groups. its a seestar 50 which combines a scope,a camera and a small controller to run the rig in a single package for only $500. rather than using an eyepiece it uses an ipad for displaying the view.
last night was really the first night ive been able to use it in depth.
This is m81 and m82 from last night. Only about 2 hours of exposure time before the clouds rolled in. while the scope displays the image on an ipad it can be set to save the images in a format that i could then use my astrophotography software on to enhance it even further.

setup is a breeze. you simply level the scope on a tripod and your pretty much good to go.

This is M81 and M82,a pair of galaxies in ursa major.

Not bad for a $500 piece of equipment

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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SorellaLaBefana

(168 posts)
3. Your Image is Much Better than many used in SeeStar Adverts :)
Wed May 1, 2024, 05:15 PM
May 1

Those are mostly of more flamboyant subjects which have been captured so many times by giant telescopes that they are both overly-familiar and so technically extraordinary that almost any other telescope’s will always look pretty drab in comparison.

Your composition, however, is so balanced the palette so subdued that it really stands out from many other astropix—and especially those made with a 2inch (50mm) scope!

Last week I also bought a SeeStar with the hope of starting deep space astrophotography.

I’ve long had a 3” scope which have used for direct observation—but the complexities of astrophotography (beyond what could be done with a telephoto on my camera) have long dissuaded me from even trying.

Your pic really inspired me. Especially since has been cloudy ever since I received my scope, and have only managed a few images of the sun behind scudding clouds.

Thank you SO MUCH for having posted this

moonshinegnomie

(2,524 posts)
4. a coule words of advice
Wed May 1, 2024, 05:18 PM
May 1

I set the seestar to save teh individual FIT images and then used pixinsight to stack and process them. much better result than just relying on the seestar

its a good addition to my main astrophotography rig . if we ever have clear skies again ill check t out furthe ron a few more objects.

TeamProg

(6,451 posts)
5. Sweet! Really nice! Mmmm, if you don't mind a suggestion which I think would make it even better would be to make
Wed May 1, 2024, 09:19 PM
May 1

the dark space black between the stars and galaxies.

Do I have permission to play with it?



moonshinegnomie

(2,524 posts)
6. go ahead and play :)
Wed May 1, 2024, 10:43 PM
May 1

the problem when you turn the background black is i lose some detail in the fringes of teh galaxy

moonshinegnomie

(2,524 posts)
8. thats my point
Wed May 1, 2024, 11:03 PM
May 1

your version loses the faint outermost "clouds" . its always a tough call with astro photos . i used to make the background black decided i like the extra detail with the lighter background

TeamProg

(6,451 posts)
9. Ah, have to agree. Fine tuning with a more delicate program or me taking more time might improve
Wed May 1, 2024, 11:35 PM
May 1

it beyond my quick adjustments.

Your new equip is awesome!

moonshinegnomie

(2,524 posts)
10. thanks
Wed May 1, 2024, 11:53 PM
May 1

i use special astrophotography software called pixinsight for processing astro photos. it expensive and very hard to learn but it cant be beat for heavy duty work

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