15 replies to this topic

[Lucas Bittar]

I use my Seestar with this tripod. The head can handle 15 kg. Do I need to purchase a wedge or will this do?

 

[MVoltae]

Depends on what you want to accomplish.  In alt/az mode your tripod should certainly be sufficient to mount the 2.5Kg Seestar.  However, that ball head looks a bit awkward for adjusting for EQ imaging and I would recommend a wedge.

[Lucas Bittar]

This doesn't look so safe.

 

[Lucas Bittar]

Depends on what you want to accomplish.  In alt/az mode your tripod should certainly be sufficient to mount the 2.5Kg Seestar.  However, that ball head looks a bit awkward for adjusting for EQ imaging and I would recommend a wedge.

As you can see from the photos I posted, it's pretty sturdy but it does feel risky. However, this is my first time using anything in EQ mode.

[MVoltae]

As you can see from the photos I posted, it's pretty sturdy but it does feel risky. However, this is my first time using anything in EQ mode.

Looks to me like optimized for disaster.  

[CraigR]

I use my Seestar with this tripod. The head can handle 15 kg. Do I need to purchase a wedge or will this do

No, no, no, no, no.

 

Consider the EZ EQ wedge from Peterson Engineering. Made specifically for the S50. https://petersonengineering.com . This has the advantage of moving the center of gravity so that it's balanced over the tripod and it's less expensive than, say, the Sky-Watcher eq wedge.

[Lucas Bittar]

No, no, no, no, no.

 

Consider the EZ EQ wedge from Peterson Engineering. Made specifically for the S50. https://petersonengineering.com . This has the advantage of moving the center of gravity so that it's balanced over the tripod and it's less expensive than, say, the Sky-Watcher eq wedge.

Thanks for the link! What exactly are the risks you see with my setup?

[CraigR]

Thanks for the link! What exactly are the risks you see with my setup?

First, the ball mount is going to be torture to use for polar alignment. Second, the angle you showed it at was just near tipping over. You can certainly try it, but it's going to be hard to tilt it up and down without also moving left and right. If you do try it, make sure there's a leg of the tripod pointing north and maybe add some weights to the southernmost legs.

[EdFromNH]

If you want to try that tripod, spread the legs out more so they stick out past the center of gravity of the Seestar. It will be lower but less likely to tip. And lower to the ground when it does. But a ballhead will still be terrible for polar alignment. That’s wedge linked above looks nice if you stay at one latitude.

[Airstrike]

if you value your SS you should never even consider that tripod n ballhead , it could very well give you a VERY expensive headache aswell as many polar aligning headaches

as mentioned get a wedge also get a solid pod one thats got scaffolding poles for legs with plenty of meat  

 

Wedge and a decent pod youll be glad you did 110%

Edited by Airstrike, 15 May 2025 - 10:14 AM.

[sanford12]

Just get a wedge and quit fighting it. With a Sky Watcher EQ base and tripod all set up I can go out set the S50 on the pad, eyeball Polaris hit polar deviation scan and have hit 2 greens 7 times in a row. Very minor adjustments to really dial it in. The S50 is all about easy why make it harder.

Edited by sanford12, 16 May 2025 - 05:52 AM.

[bradhaak]

No, no, no, no, no.

 

Consider the EZ EQ wedge from Peterson Engineering. Made specifically for the S50. https://petersonengineering.com . This has the advantage of moving the center of gravity so that it's balanced over the tripod and it's less expensive than, say, the Sky-Watcher eq wedge.

The Peterson device is okay as long as you never significantly change your latitude. One degree of change, which will make it completely unusable for Seestar polar alignment is less than 70 miles travel in a north/south direction. If you go to star parties or take your Seestar camping, it's game over. 

 

I also have concerns about an unbraced chunk of metal in any kind of wind. Yeah, I know it feels stable, but we're talking minute of arc movement to mess up a sub. And since a minute of arc is 1/60 of a degree, and in a ten second sub, the Seestar only moves about 2-1/2' of arc, this isn't enough to feel while holding the Peterson product, but it's more than enough to mess up your shots.

 

But yeah, at the latitude it was bought for, and in ideal conditions it's probably fine.  

[bradhaak]

First, the ball mount is going to be torture to use for polar alignment. Second, the angle you showed it at was just near tipping over. You can certainly try it, but it's going to be hard to tilt it up and down without also moving left and right. If you do try it, make sure there's a leg of the tripod pointing north and maybe add some weights to the southernmost legs.

But on this point, I agree with you completely!

[Peter Besenbruch]

The Peterson device is okay as long as you never significantly change your latitude. One degree of change, which will make it completely unusable for Seestar polar alignment is less than 70 miles travel in a north/south direction. If you go to star parties or take your Seestar camping, it's game over. 

 

I also have concerns about an unbraced chunk of metal in any kind of wind. Yeah, I know it feels stable, but we're talking minute of arc movement to mess up a sub. And since a minute of arc is 1/60 of a degree, and in a ten second sub, the Seestar only moves about 2-1/2' of arc, this isn't enough to feel while holding the Peterson product, but it's more than enough to mess up your shots.

 

But yeah, at the latitude it was bought for, and in ideal conditions it's probably fine.  

No, you have a bit more leeway than that, since you can adjust your tripod legs. The Peterson wedge has the additional advantage of ease of setup when it comes to putting the power button on top. The center of gravity is properly placed, and the whole thing is very stable.

[bradhaak]

No.

 

This is very important unless you want to make things harder. You want to level the tripod even if you're doing EQ alignment. If the tripod isn't level, horizontal adjustments also affect vertical and vice versa. You can still get aligned with a non-level tripod, but it makes the entire process more complex and time consuming.

 

As far as the button being on top, just start in landscape mode and rotate the horizontal axis until the button is on top and then switch over to EQ alignment.

 

And with a full height tripod (which I always use so nobody trips over the Seestar), point one leg north, and the offset doesn't matter. You're still in the triangle of the tripod's legs so everything is stable.

[Peter Besenbruch]

point one leg north, and the offset doesn't matter. You're still in the triangle of the tripod's legs so everything is stable.

This is important.