385 replies to this topic

[LDW47]

I had my S30 out again last night, for about 4 hrs, under a lot less than perfect skize, temps were -14° to -22° C, around Bortle 7 I would say. I stayed again with 20 sec. images as my test continues, I will move on to 30 sec. images shortly. With M1, IC 417 and Betelgeuse I used the new Cropping feature in the Editing, I like its ability. I had to limit M33 to about 30 min. as I was losing it into some western trees, Betelgeuse I literally took through some solid clouds, I was dumb founded, I was also amazed I could editly remove them to get what you see, I will try it again to confirm. Betelgeuse was my last image, when I went out to retrieve my 30 I couldn't see one star in the sky above, lol.

 

 

The S30 is proving to be a great little brother to my S50, what really amazes me is the lack of oblong stars and other distractions. And that lithium battery never ceases to amaze with its stamina in conjunction with my 20,000 mah external power pack, yes sir.

Edited by LDW47, 25 January 2025 - 09:45 AM.

[ensign]

 

I started these last nite at about 9pm and finished at 3am, temps went from -14° C to -23° C at the end, skies were pretty hazy with moisture even though they were almost cloudless, maybe Bortle 7 rated.  I am amazed at what the S30 can do with 20sec. exposures instead of my normal 10sec. I did about 10min. touchup each in Lr with these, no mosaic just denoise. The Witch Head Neb is very faint I am glad I got what I got in just 70 min., it should have had maybe twice that, maybe.

 

  Witch Head Nebula

  Sea Gull Nebula

   M101

 

So far this S30 is very capable unless you are a dreamer of sugar plums dancing in front of your eyes or in your head, lol !

 

Those are the exact targets I planned to try for were the clouds to magically part here as Astrospheric said they would.  Unfortunately my S30 stayed in its case as it has since I got it almost a month ago.  I particularly like the Witch Head - an object I have long hoped to see with my own gear.

[LDW47]

Those are the exact targets I planned to try for were the clouds to magically part here as Astrospheric said they would.  Unfortunately my S30 stayed in its case as it has since I got it almost a month ago.  I particularly like the Witch Head - an object I have long hoped to see with my own gear.

You will enjoy the S30, I am almost certain. If you are / were a low power, widefield observer with telescopes but if not hopefully you will enjoy it's alternativity anyway.  PS:  With the weather coming off the big lakes I can see why its still in the box, eh.

Edited by LDW47, 25 January 2025 - 10:15 AM.

[JimVision]

This was my first test image of the sun. This was a 2-minute video, saved as RAW, stacked with Autostakkert, mild wavelets in Registax, cropped and desaturated in Photoshop.

 

Sun S30 2025-01-24-10h33m16s-1j.jpg

Hi Airship.  Thanks for sharing your Sun photo.  Following the Sunspots from day to day fascinate me greatly.  I took another Sun photo yesterday.  Seeing your photo, and LDW47’s photos, since they are taken from day to day, you can view the different spots move.  Just amazing!

 

 

I have used Baader WL filters for years with all my telescopes, they are the industry leader by far. Recognized by all solar wl astronomers, in the know.  PS:  As you must know the natural color of the sun is white not orange or yellow, eh

Thanks LDW47.  I’ll look into the Baader WL filters you mentioned.  Why does the default Sun filter provided by Seestar make the image appear orange?  Or is this orange made by the software?  Just curious. 

[LDW47]

Hi Airship.  Thanks for sharing your Sun photo.  Following the Sunspots from day to day fascinate me greatly.  I took another Sun photo yesterday.  Seeing your photo, and LDW47’s photos, since they are taken from day to day, you can view the different spots move.  Just amazing!

 

 

Thanks LDW47.  I’ll look into the Baader WL filters you mentioned.  Why does the default Sun filter provided by Seestar make the image appear orange?  Or is this orange made by the software?  Just curious. 

Its made by that Thousand Oaks mylar filter that is supplied. They are the same when used with a telescope. Many people want to see the sun as orange or yellow because they think that is its natural color but its not, its just the earth's atmosphere that causes that color, in fact. The best time is between 10am and 12 noon before stiffer breezes and in particular stronger heat currants rising begin ie less constant distortion / changes in the air. Its the same with solar ha viewing.

Edited by LDW47, 25 January 2025 - 11:03 AM.

[JimVision]

 

Andromeda image taken last night with the S30.  I live in a light polluted city in Colorado.  Amazed that this little smart telescope could take such a wonderful image.  My S30 is on a Skywatcher tripod that I set down in the front of my house.  I heard stories, but seeing is believing.  It was 30 Fahrenheit outside, but I was equally amazed that I could control the S30 from my warm living room.  Man this is fun!

 

Jim

[LDW47]

 

 

 

Andromeda image taken last night with the S30.  I live in a light polluted city in Colorado.  Amazed that this little smart telescope could take such a wonderful image.  My S30 is on a Skywatcher tripod that I set down in the front of my house.  I heard stories, but seeing is believing.  It was 30 Fahrenheit outside, but I was equally amazed that I could control the S30 from my warm living room.  Man this is fun!

 

Jim

 

Very nice, the S30 is a great, compact, capable design.

[Digital Don]

Just got mine yesterday!  Another truly amazing instrument from ZWO and a nice companion to my S50!

 

Very windy this early morning, but clear so I couldn't wait to play with my new toy! 

 

Here's one of the first pictures I took - The Monkey Head Nebula, NGC 2175. The image was processed using AI denoising in the Seestar app. 

 

Not too bad for a 30mm scope!

 

Don

 

 

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[gjanke]

I posted these in the wrong thread. Here in the proper one.

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[LDW47]

Just got mine yesterday!  Another truly amazing instrument from ZWO and a nice companion to my S50!

 

Very windy this early morning, but clear so I couldn't wait to play with my new toy! 

 

Here's one of the first pictures I took - The Monkey Head Nebula, NGC 2175. The image was processed using AI denoising in the Seestar app. 

 

Not too bad for a 30mm scope!

 

Don

And as you get more familiar with it it will get more and more competent.

[nicknacknock]

A quick Pac Man from last night!

 

Used a 3D printed dew shield and it made quite a bit of difference Vs previous tests on same object

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[Spaceways]

Still getting to grips with my S30. All very new to me but good fun learning. First thing I've noticed is how often the evening sky is cloudy! Finally a bit of clear sky last night so S30 into the rucksack and off I went up the hill. An hour and a half of standing in the cold & dark but it was worth it. Photo centred on the wonderful dark Horsehead Nebula. Clouds came across now and again but I'm still very happy with the snap for my first go at this one. It was a little breezy but S30 didn't rejected much. Maybe took a little under 7mins to get each 5mins of photos. I ran it until I got an hour's worth.

Edited by Spaceways, 30 January 2025 - 09:11 AM.

[mega256]

A few pic from my NSN show  1-25-25 show with the SeeStar 30
These are live .jpg  right from the S30....no external processing ! Full Frames

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Edited by mega256, 30 January 2025 - 02:21 PM.

[mega256]

WoW so Eazy/Peazy SeeStar AI software.
Offline  ...durring daytime..........or live stacking(just AI it)
1.Turned on SeeStar (S30)
2.Attached to SeeStar with App.
3.Oppend up app to my album
4.Went to SeeStar  ...stargazing album
5.Picked a image from NGC2237
6.Tapped on the AI icon
7.Did a little Bright-cont-color adjustment. Save image.(to tablet)
8.DONE !...what great AI software ZWO added to the app.
BTW you can even crop the image with rotate tool !
WOW Eazy/Peazy to do..Now we can fix some not so good to NICE in 15 seconds..   In the daytime!
2025  a good year for ASTRO...lol

 

1st pic  No AI

 

2nd pic  with AI

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Edited by mega256, 30 January 2025 - 02:28 PM.

[NDBirdman]

Had a rare winter cloudless night tonight for about an hour so I took a pic of M42.  I have several using the S50 but recently received an S30 so I figured why not, I have several pics from other scopes to compare it to.  Also first chance to try out the AI de-noise.  I like it!

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Edited by NDBirdman, 30 January 2025 - 11:49 PM.

[ensign]

I’ve had my S30 since the beginning of January and the first time the clouds cleared was this evening.  I heard once that E E Barnard actually experienced withdrawal when he could not observe with his telescope for a period of time.  I can relate.  All of the following were taken from my Bortle 6 deck and except for M42 were tweaked a little bit with Astroedit on my iPad.

 

Edited by ensign, 31 January 2025 - 02:43 PM.

[ensign]

The Seagull Nebula

 

This used framing mode.

 

Edited by ensign, 31 January 2025 - 01:01 AM.

[ensign]

Witch Head Nebula

 

I should have used framing mode and a longer exposure.

 

[ensign]

Rosette

 

[ensign]

[Dale Smith]

Witch Head Nebula

 

I should have used framing mode and a longer exposure.

 

IMG_0031.jpeg

Still, well done, Mike! I have been unable to capture the Witch Head with my Dwarf 3, the last time was a 90 minute run. I haven’t tried with my Seestar S50 yet, but your S30 showed it. I’m Bortle 6/7, so that might be a reason.

[LDW47]

Witch Head Nebula

 

I should have used framing mode and a longer exposure.

 

IMG_0031.jpeg

I did mine at 70 min. and I probably should have done close to double that, as I mentioned. Its a slow tough one, at least that Bortle 6-7 nite it sure was.

 

[ensign]

I tried to pull more detail out of the Witch Head using Siril.  Clearly I need a good deal more data.

 

[LDW47]

I tried to pull more detail out of the Witch Head using Siril.  Clearly I need a good deal more data.

 

IMG_0992.jpeg

Did you bring it up with the Brightness and Contrast sliders while it was enhancing, I adjust 3-4 times on all objects while the SS is working away.  Thats what I did with my 70 min. take of the Witch Head and then stacking / denoise and minimal editing with the built in editor and Lr ie about 15-20 min. total. No framing.

Edited by LDW47, 01 February 2025 - 01:16 PM.

[ensign]

Did you bring it up with the Brightness and Contrast sliders while it was enhancing, I adjust 3-4 times on all objects while the SS is working away.  Thats what I did with my 70 min. take of the Witch Head and then stacking / denoise and minimal editing with the built in editor and Lr ie about 15-20 min. total. No framing.

I used the individual FITS files and stacked them.  My understanding of the adjustments during enhancing, including denoise, is that they only affect the final jpg and possibly the final pre-stacked FITS file stored internally and the jpg downloaded to your tablet/phone.

 

The above was the best I could do while keeping artifacts to a minimum.

 

Decisions, decisions…