SAG members attending the September 17 meeting had an up close exposure to the club’s SeeStar S50 astrophotography scope courtesy of members Ken Roberts and Patrick Hayes.
Both members presented separate slide shows (see the two pdfs in this story). Ken started with a slide show highlighting what the SeeStar can do and what it can not do.
Many Youtube videos are available online allowing you opportunities to become familiar with the scope. No eyepieces are used. All is viewed on a screen – an ipad (such as the club’s ipad) on on a smart phone loaded with the SeeStar app.
Patrick opened the SeeStar S50, explaining its small size, the tripod, the main unit and the accompanying case. He also had the club’s ipad purchased for use with the scope.
He explained the importance of having the tripod and scope leveled. Also, most important to remember, attach the solar filter to the scope while pointed away from the sun before any solar viewing attempts. The sun can easily fry the scope without a filter attached.
Patrick has compiled a list of his personal favorite Messier objects to view(a link to the list is provided below).
Every year in March, all 110 Messier objects are visible during the course of a single night. Stargazers around the world take advantage of this coincidence and plan a so-called Messier marathon. Should you undertake this challenge and sight every Messier object in a single night of observation, you will be awarded a Messier certificate (Dr. Burns knows the details).
Following the two presentations, and with darkness setting in, the in-class meeting concluded. We moved outside the building to allow Patrick to demonstrate the SeeStar S50 in action.
Members are encouraged to use the SeeStar S50 for themselves. Patrick is the acting custodian for the scope at this moment. To reserve you chance to try it out in your own yard, email Patrick at hayesp42@rogers.com. Your name will be placed on a loaner wait list.
If you are a club member and plan to borrow and use the SeeStar for astrophotography viewing, I recommend you download to your smart device (phone or ipad) the SeeStar app. This will help you become familiar with its interface.
Here is a link to the pdf slide show that Ken presented.
Here is a link to the pdf slide show presented by Patrick.
Here is a link to the Patrick’s favorite Messier objects list in pdf format prepared by Patrick. If you are a club member and are keen to have a copy of the Messier excel file compiled by Patrick, click Here.
Keep looking up.
Tom Kimber – News