Turning the Seestar S50 Pro Into a REAL Astrophotography Rig 🔥, by AstroSimo on YouTube. 10 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Set up your tripod on firm, level ground and check that all leg locks are tight. Point one tripod leg north if you are in the northern hemisphere.
Fit the equatorial head onto the tripod and tighten it down. Make sure the head's polar axis can tilt to match your latitude.
Attach the Seestar S50 Pro to the equatorial head and lock it in place. Check that nothing can slip once the scope is loaded.
Adjust the head's tilt to your latitude and aim the polar axis at the celestial pole. Use the polar alignment routine in the Seestar app to fine-tune it.
Clip the 3D-printed power bank holder to the telescope and slot in the power bank. Run the cable so it cannot snag as the mount moves.
Slide the 3D-printed dew shield over the front of the lens. It blocks stray light and slows dew forming on the glass.
Power on the Seestar, connect your phone to its Wi-Fi, and let it complete its startup. Run the alignment and go-to routine in the app.
Take a short test exposure and check the stars are round, not trailed. If they trail, recheck polar alignment before starting your main session.
When you finish, switch off the scope and fit the 3D-printed dust cap. Store the rig somewhere dry.
Tips and common mistakes
Polar alignment is the step that decides whether long exposures work, so spend extra time getting it right.
Balance the scope on the equatorial head before imaging so the motors are not fighting the weight.
Keep cables short and taped down so they do not catch on the mount as it rotates.
Never look at the sun through the telescope, and keep the lens capped during daylight setup.
Questions
Do I need a 3D printer for these upgrades?
Only for the custom holder, dust cap and dew shield. The equatorial head is a bought part, and the scope works without the printed extras.
Why use an equatorial head instead of the standard alt-az mode?
An equatorial head follows the sky's rotation around one axis, which allows longer exposures without field rotation. That helps with faint deep-sky targets.
How do I know polar alignment is good enough?
Take a test shot of a few seconds and zoom in on the stars. Round stars mean you are aligned well. Trails mean you need to adjust the head again.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
