15 replies to this topic

[kaicyung]

One of the most useful, yet misunderstood and frustrating new feature for the Seestar is the horizontal calibration. It can replace the leveling procedure used in the past, but has a few assumptions and a bug that is causing people headaches who are ready to abandon it.

I made an instructional video hoping to demystify this horizontal calibration step, with demonstration and tips that I find can allow one to have a successful imaging session consistently. Hope this can help you:

https://youtu.be/-05...VzAMR8G80cuqokz

[jprideaux]

Thank you for sharing this. One question. How important is it to be level for the horizontal (3-star) calibration? Some people have said this calibration may be a way to purposefully make it work near polar aligned but it would not be level in that case.

[kaicyung]

Thank you for sharing this. One question. How important is it to be level for the horizontal (3-star) calibration? Some people have said this calibration may be a way to purposefully make it work near polar aligned but it would not be level in that case.

No leveling is needed. In fact, I take advantage of this fact to enable my equatorial mode. Check out my video on that.

[redbaron12]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  This has been bugging and I was wondering if something was wrong.  I sought help in the Seestar thread and this information wasn't provided.  Now for my questions:  First, someone suggested shutting off horizonal calibration.  If I do that how accurate will it be?   Second, I frequently use it on my deck and although it faces west with views from north to south, there are trees to deal with so anything below 40-50 degrees is blocked.  From what I gather in your video, if I leave the calibration on I should START with a star in the western area with clear sky on either side so Seestar can slew left and right to another star before going back to the original star?  How much sky does it need?

 

The three times I've had it out, I started in the south, maybe 185-190 degrees on an object but there was limited sky to the left, a roof, and to the right, a big tree.  The calibration failed on the first try on two sessions but worked the second time.  On the other session, the calibration worked the first time.

 

Sorry for being wordy but you cleared up so much for me.  Thank you again.  I was worried that there was something wrong with it.

 

Mike

[jgraham]

To get the best performance out of my Seestar and to keep things simple part of my startup routine is to GoTo a bright star and take a short sequence of images. That way the Seestar can go through its optimization routines and I'm good to go. It only takes a few minutes and it makes the rest of the evening smooth and quiet.

Get'n the hang of it!

[hfsarber]

I have been using my Seestar exclusively in equatorial mode for DSO imaging.  My startup procedure:

 

Carry Seestar and Manfrotto tripod & fluid head outside (in one hand )

 

 

Unlock the fluid head and aim the Seestar as near to the North pole as possible.  I was using a red dot finder for polar alignment, but it doesn't need to be that close so I have since removed it.

Turn on Seestar and connect.

I then aim the Seestar at a star that has at least 30 degrees of open sky on either side.

Sync on the star.

Start Enhancing

The Seestar will perform the 3-star calibration.  If it passes you're almost done.  If it fails I shutdown the Seestar and start over.

After the calibration it will probably point out in the middle of nowhere.  IF it can see the sky it will 'usually' work it's way back to the first star.  If it doesn't I point the Seestar at the first star and sync to it.

From there it's usually good to go. 

Sometimes (after passing 3-star calibration and returning to it's starting point) I will tell it to goto a nearby star, center it manually, and sync to it.  That seems to help with goto's.

 

Harry

[Bobby3]

I read the articles and saw the YT video on horizontal callibration or three star alignment by Kai  Yung. Don’t understand it fully but wondered if there is still need to do the callibration that way after all the firmware updates since December. If yes, can somebody explain me which steps to take. I do understand the five main points (a clear sky, focussing etc) but what to do exactly. I switch the device on. Connect it to my phone. Move it manually to a bright star. Focus it. And then?

By the way, which problem is solved using this method? Do I leave “Horizontal callibration” on or off on the device?
Thanks.

[mandellglm]

Hi Bobby3. This is my work flow. I have a restricted horizon; best in the north & south. That’s where my clear sky areas are. I chose a star that I know & that is roughly in the middle of the clear area. I have been using Rigel. I turn on the Seestar & connect to the app. Do a compass calibration, turn the telescope roughly in the direction of Rigel & level the scope. I have the telescope GoTo Rigel. Rigel should be in your field of view. Click on the red button on the bottom to start taking pictures. That’s when Horizontal Calibration will start automatically. It moves in one direction & then the other. You end up back at Rigel. That’s it! Obviously your choice of star will depend on your individual site. I don’t have a consistent time when I focus. Leave Horizontal Calibration on. I hope that helps. Gordon

Edited by mandellglm, 07 March 2024 - 08:45 PM.

[Bobby3]

Thank you so much for answering (most of) my questions. This makes it clear to me. 
Two more questions:

From the place where I usually do the astronomy job I have a clear area all around, 360°. Is it still relevant to use these steps or can I use the original “Seestar method”?

Or, in other words (?): which problem is solved using these steps? Depends on clear area?

Thank you.

[mandellglm]

I think that the horizontal calibration reduces the need for precise leveling. I don’t know if precise leveling takes the place of horizontal calibration though. If I had a clear horizon for 360°, I would still use horizontal calibration. Fortunately, that nice horizon makes your choice of a star that much easier. If I am incorrect, I encourage someone to correct me. Gordon

[donheff]

I just got a SeeStar and am in a Bortle 9 location.  Will the 3-star alignment work fine even if very few stars are visible? 

 

Also, if I want to get the standard compass calibration and leveling approach a go, I understand the I will need to calibrate the level each session and possibly during sessions.  Will I need to calibrate the compass every session. or only if I move to a different location?

[lost_in_cosmosis]

I just got a SeeStar and am in a Bortle 9 location.  Will the 3-star alignment work fine even if very few stars are visible? 

 

Also, if I want to get the standard compass calibration and leveling approach a go, I understand the I will need to calibrate the level each session and possibly during sessions.  Will I need to calibrate the compass every session. or only if I move to a different location?

As long as the seestar can make out the 3 stars (which it can do much better than human eyes can) then it will work. 

 

Generally the compass calibration only needs to be done once unless you reset something. I'm not sure how picky it is about location though, as the most i have moved mine around has been from one side of my house to the other, which has not needed a recalibration. 

[mandellglm]

I don’t know if it’s necessary, but I calibrate the compass & level the scope every session. It takes less than 5 minutes. Gordon

[unimatrix0]

Unfortunately people with very limited sky area, the :"horizontal calibration" - which is plate solve calibration process doesn't always work, because there are just not free sky area available and the Seestar ends up slewing to spots where there are trees or something else in the view. 

Edited by unimatrix0, 09 June 2024 - 09:10 AM.

[Bikes4life]

One of the most useful, yet misunderstood and frustrating new feature for the Seestar is the horizontal calibration. It can replace the leveling procedure used in the past, but has a few assumptions and a bug that is causing people headaches who are ready to abandon it.

I made an instructional video hoping to demystify this horizontal calibration step, with demonstration and tips that I find can allow one to have a successful imaging session consistently. Hope this can help you:

https://youtu.be/-05...VzAMR8G80cuqokz

 

 

I have been using my Seestar exclusively in equatorial mode for DSO imaging.  My startup procedure:

 

Carry Seestar and Manfrotto tripod & fluid head outside (in one hand )

 

ManSeestar.jpg

 

Unlock the fluid head and aim the Seestar as near to the North pole as possible.  I was using a red dot finder for polar alignment, but it doesn't need to be that close so I have since removed it.

Turn on Seestar and connect.

I then aim the Seestar at a star that has at least 30 degrees of open sky on either side.

Sync on the star.

Start Enhancing

The Seestar will perform the 3-star calibration.  If it passes you're almost done.  If it fails I shutdown the Seestar and start over.

After the calibration it will probably point out in the middle of nowhere.  IF it can see the sky it will 'usually' work it's way back to the first star.  If it doesn't I point the Seestar at the first star and sync to it.

From there it's usually good to go. 

Sometimes (after passing 3-star calibration and returning to it's starting point) I will tell it to goto a nearby star, center it manually, and sync to it.  That seems to help with goto's.

 

Harry

Are you both able to join my seestar s50 smart scope discord server? (there is a link in my signature) only reason i ask is there are a few of us in there that is trying EQ mode with a wedge (me included) and we are just trying to work out what to do and as you 2 both have EQ working it would be great to hear exactly what you both do from start to finish for EQ mode (1 question for Viking1, when you point to the north star do you have the seestar pointing parallel with the horizon (so scope is at your latitude angle) or do you have it pointing up 90 degrees then angle it to the north pole star?)

[kaicyung]

I just got a SeeStar and am in a Bortle 9 location.  Will the 3-star alignment work fine even if very few stars are visible? 

 

Also, if I want to get the standard compass calibration and leveling approach a go, I understand the I will need to calibrate the level each session and possibly during sessions.  Will I need to calibrate the compass every session. or only if I move to a different location?

For Bortle 9, you will have more problem getting enough stars for proper plate solving. Be aware that each platesolve needs enough stars for calculation. One strategy is to start between Polaris and zenith.

 

I don't calibrate my compass.