Seestar S50 FAQ

Seestar S50 FAQ

What does Seestar S50 come with?
Seestar S50, Tripod, Type-C Cable, EPP Shockproof Case, Quick Guide, Solar Filter.

What specifications of self-fitting tripod can Seestar S50 adapt?
Seestar S50 adapt the tripod with 3/8" screw connection in center.

How to update the firmware of Seestar S50?
Launch the App and connect to Seestar S50. The App will automatically prompt firmware upgrade if necessary and power over 30%.

What should I do if Seestar S50 cannot startup?
Perhaps you can check Seestar S50 battery and charge it before trying to turn it on. If Seestar S50 is still unable to startup, please leave a message or contact support at https://www.seestar.com/.

What can Seestar S50 shoot?
Stargaze Mode: Photographs deep sky objects.

Scenery Mode: Equal to a 1750mm ultra telephoto optical prime lens. Can photograph landscapes or animals.

Solar Mode: Photographs the sun. Solar tracking will be turned on automatically.

Lunar Mode: Photographs the moon. Lunar tracking will be turned on automatically.

What's the dimensions of Seestar S50?
S50 Size(mm): 142.5*130*257

EPP Case(mm): 320*160*310

Paper Packing Case(mm): 332*168*334

How does Seestar S50 differ from traditional astrophotography?
Seestar S50 is an entry-level intelligent astronomical telescope that sets itself apart from other entry-level telescopes by allowing users to "see" various deep space celestial objects through photography. However, due to its highly integrated design and lightweight body, it may not meet the requirements for "serious astrophotography".

How do I transfer my instrument's warranty?
Warranty period can not be transferred, second-hand Seestar S50 will be handled outside the warranty.

Is it normal for Seestar S50 to heat up during use?
It depends. It's normal under high load, especially in fast charging mode. If Seestar S50 heat up seriously when idle, please contact support.

What causes a firmware upgrade failure?
Battery low, insufficient storage, unstable network, etc, may cause upgrade failure. When upgrade failure, please restart Seestar S50 and try again.

What specifications of chargers and cables does Seestar S50 support?
Seestar S50 supports USB BC1.2 of adapters. Type-C cable which is the normal charging mode, supports 5V 2A; The maximum support is 12V 3A with the fast charge cable which is the fast charging mode.

Can Seestar S50 shoot any objects in deep space?
With its built-in anti-light pollution filter and good enough atmospheric transparency, Seestar S50 is able to shoot deep-sky objects even in city.

However, if we want to get good enough results, we still need to go to a dark site. We define the degree of light pollution into different levels. The larger the number is, the heavier the light pollution is. ZWO provides simple photos under different levels of light pollution after testing. We can compare them by ourselves. Also, don't forget that the moon is the biggest light pollution source at night, we must avoid such a time period as the full moon.

What is the weight of Seestar S50?
Seestar S50 is 2.5kg. Tripod is 0.65kg. EPP Case only is 0.6kg.

Can Seestar S50 be transported by air with battery in it?
Seestar S50 is equipped with a built-in lithium battery with a capacity of 22Wh, which complies with the standards set by the Civil Aviation Administration for air transportation. Based on our experience, it can be carried in your luggage. However, if you plan to check it in as baggage, some airlines may require the battery to be removed from the device. We recommend checking with the specific airline you are traveling with to ensure compliance with their lithium batteries regulations.

Name: Lithium-ion Battery Pack

Type: CH-18650-1S2P 20230606 1INR19/66-2

Max Charge Volt: 4.2V

Rated Capacity: 6000mAh

Rated Volt: 3.7V

Rated Power: 22.2Wh

Are there any extended warranty plan?
Not supported.

What is the fever threshold of Seestar S50? How many degrees will be reported as overheating?
The charging temperature range of Seestar S50 is 0℃ to 45℃.

The usage environment temperature range of Seestar S50 is -10℃ to 40℃.

The alarm temperature of battery overtemperature is 57℃. Seestar S50 will be forced shutdown automatically when the temperature of battery is above 60℃. There is no alarm of low temperature.

Does Seestar S50 support shooting while charging?
Support. Please note that, it is getting less and less charging when the temperature of battery is above 45℃ considering safety. For battery life, the charging stops when the temperature of battery is below 0℃.

Does Seestar S50 support shooting photoes and videos.
Seestar S50 supports photo capturing and video recording in Scenery Mode, Files are saved as JPEG and MP4.

Which sensor does Seestar S50 use?
e sensor of Seestar S50 is IMX462. It has a high sensitivity with a 1/2.8 inch format and a resolution of 1080*1920. The diagonal length is 6.46mm.

Is Seestar S50 waterproof?
Seestar S50 is not waterproof. If you use Seestar S50 in changeable weather, please make sure you can store it in a short time. The telescope is a precision instrument and it is not recommended to store it in high humidity environments. It's important to note that mold growth, water damage, and similar issues are not covered under the warranty.

How can I get the photos and fits files?
You can get JPEG file in your smart device in Scene Mode and get Fits file in Seestar S50's internal memory in Stargazing Mode.

Remind that, when you use "live" function, the JPEG output file is in your smart device and raw file Fits format is in Seestar S50's internal memory.

Will Seestar S50 open SDK in the future?
At the moment, the Seestar series products do not offer SDK or support for third-party development.

How long is the battery capacity and battery life of Seestar S50?
Seestar S50 battery has a rated capacity of 6000mAh, and the battery life verified by ZWO laboratory is about 6 hours.

Tips: in actual use, the battery life performance will be different due to the difference in ambient temperature, operation process and shooting target, especially after the fog removal function is turned on, the battery life will be significantly shortened.

How long does Seestar S50 take to fully charge?
It takes about 4 hours to fully charge in normal charging mode which is 5V 2A.

It takes about 2 hours to fully charge in fast charging mode which is 12V 3A.

How about the lens stop and focal length of Seestar S50?
Seestar S50 is a triplet APO (including one piece of ED glass) with excellent control of chromatic aberration. Focal ratio F5. Focal length 250mm. The imaging performance is as good as a professional refractor of the same aperture.

I live in a very humid environment, does Seestar S50 work properly?
The telescope is a precision instrument and it is not recommended to store it in high humidity environments. Using or storing the telescope in a moist environment can pose a greater risk, such as mold on the lens and potential water damage. It's important to note that mold growth, water damage, and similar issues are not covered under the warranty. Therefore, it is advised to exercise caution and avoid exposing the telescope to excessive moisture.

What software do you recommend to edit the raw files?
You can edit the raw files delivered by Seestar S50 with software such as ASIStudio (stacking & processing). We encourage you to browse the different topics available online and to follow tutorials to learn how to use this software.

How about the FOV of Seestar S50?
The FOV of Seestar S50 is 0.73°x1.29°.

Do I need to install any application when using Seestar S50?
Seestar S50 is fully controlled through the mobile app. The Type-C interface on the device is reserved solely for charging and data transfer purposes and does not participate in the shooting control. If you need to control the S50 from your PC, you can connect the Seestar iOS app on macOS (M1 or later) or use the Seestar Android app on Windows 11 or HarmonyOS.

How to make sure my Seestar S50 is charging?
When you plug in the cable, Seestar S50's LED should be flashing a red color every second.

It will take two to four hours for the battery to be full. You can check the battery level when you're connected to Seestar S50 on home page.

Does Seestar S50 support custom setting of exposure time?
When you select the scenery mode, exposure per frame and gain are based on image brightness automaticly, with a maximum value of 33ms.

How about the storage of Seestar S50 has?
The Seestar S50 comes with built-in 64GB eMMC storage, providing approximately 50GB of available space for data storage. Users can conveniently transfer the images stored in the Seestar using a USB cable or through a Wi-Fi network. In order to ensure data stability, Seestar S50 does not support TF (microSD) cards.

What should I do if Seestar S50 active failed?
If active Seestar S50 failed, you can leave a message or contact the support team at https://www.seestar.com/. Or, you can also check the networking status of your smartphone or tablet and then try again.

Is the focusing performed by Seestar S50 manual or automatic?
The focus is managed automatically when Seestar S50 startup (autofocus). If you feel your picture is blurry or out of focus, you can start autofocus through "AF" button on the observation screen.

What is the battery life of Seestar S50? How to replace it?
Seestar S50 is equipped with a lithium battery that can be charged and discharged no less than 500 times. If you need to replace the battery, please purchase at https://www.seestar.com/ and replace according to official instructions.

Which type of shooting files saved? What is the resolution?
The format of shooting files are JPEG and FITS with 1080*1920 resolution.

What should I do if Seestar S50 is unable to connect to my PC to transmit data?
You can try to replace the cable or connect to a different USB port on your computer. If it still doesn't work, please leave a message or contact the support team at https://www.seestar.com/.

How should I do if Seestar S50 cannot be shut down through Seestar app?
Seestar S50 supports physical buttons to turn on and off. In operation, press and hold the power button for 2s to shut down normally, or for 6s to forced shutdown.

How does the shooting show in high-light pollution?
There are nine levels of dark space on the Bethel scale:

Level 1: Completely dark sky, color base black;

Level 2: Typical true dark observation site, color base gray;

Level 3: Starry sky in the countryside, color base blue;

Level 4: Rural/suburban transition, color base green;

Level 5: Suburban sky, color base yellow;

Level 6: Bright suburban sky, color base orange;

Level 7: Suburban/urban transition, color base red;

Level 8: Urban sky, color base white;

Level 9: Downtown sky, color base white;

The visibility of celestial objects through a telescope is closely related to atmospheric transparency, and to achieve optimal results, it is necessary to go to the darkest and most transparent locations. The commonly used classification for light pollution is the Bortle Scale, where higher numbers indicate higher levels of light pollution. We provide reference sample images for targets observed in different light pollution levels for comparison.

The impact of moonlight on the brightness of the background light in the sky is also very large, and can be considered as naturally occurring light pollution, which is scattered by the atmosphere and will be dispersed throughout the sky. There is even a twilight-like effect when the moon is about to rise or just after setting. Therefore, conventional deep space photography should be carried out when the moon is below the horizon, during the period from the 25th to the fifth day of the lunar calendar, the night without the moon is the longest, which is more suitable for deep space photography. We remind everyone to avoid observing or capturing astronomical events during the full moon phase for better observational outcomes.

How long can Seestar S50 shoot video and what is the format?
The format of shooting video is MP4 in Scenery Mode and the duration is limited to 100 minutes.

In Sun Mode or Luna Mode, the formats of shooting video are MP4 and AVI. The duration is limited to 100 minutes for MP4 and 10 minutes for AVI.

Can I observe the Sun with the Seestar S50?
Please note that it is strictly prohibited to point Seestar S50 directly towards the sun. Please follow the instructions in Seestar app to install the solar filter correctly first.

It's easy and quick to observe and shoot the sun with "Solar Mode" in Seestar app.

When shooting the sun, do I have to use the standard solar filter?
⚠️ DO NOT OBSERVE THE SUN DIRECTLY! For solar photography, We offer high quality solar filters as a standard accessory to meet the needs of different usage

What is the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication distance of Seestar S50?
The effective Wi-Fi communication distance at 2.4G or 5G of Seestar S50 is in 10m.

The effective Bluetooth communication distance of Seestar S50 is in 5m.

The results were tested in an open and simple environment with no shelter between the devices

What filters are built into Seestar S50?
Seestar S50 is equipped with three built-in filters: UV/IR Cut filter, dark filter, and dual-band anti-light pollution filter (OIII 30nm/Hα 20nm). The switching of the dark filter is automatically controlled by Seestar. As for the UV/IR Cut filter and light pollution filter, users can switch between them in the app based on their own needs.

Is it necessary to be connected to the Internet to use Seestar S50?
No. Seestar S50 uses a Wi-Fi network to communicate with your mobile device, but that doesn't mean it needs an Internet connection. When you shoot or stargaze, you simply need to connect to the signal emitted by Seestar S50.

You only need the Internet to :

- Active your Seestar S50 at first time,

- Create your account or load your data,

- Browse, Nearby and share works on Square,

- Update Seestar app.

Please note that in order to continue surfing the Internet, you will need to use the Data network (4/5G) of your mobile device as the Wi-Fi network will already be used by Seestar S50.

Can Seestar S50 shoot artificial celestial objects such as ISS and CSS?
Seestar S50 does not support the tracking of near-Earth satellites. Users can try to shoot the space station by transiting the sun or the moon.

What is the wind protection level of Seestar S50 for outdoor use?
Seestar S50 is a lightweight astronomical telescope so wind can affect its tracking accuracy. We recommend using it when the wind scale is 4 and above.

How to update the comet list in Seestar App Objects?
When you open the Seestar App, the App will automatically connect to the internet and update the comet list in the Object library to ensure that the comet data is up to date.
To avoid inaccurate comet positions and to ensure that the comet will be within Seestar's field of view after a successful GoTo, please make sure your cell phone or tablet device has access to the internet when you open the Seestar App.
At the bottom of the comet list, you can see when the data was updated and the version number of the comet list.

Does Seestar S50 support Voice Control?
Not supported.

Seestar S50 is AZ mount, how to eliminate the field rotation problem?
The Seestar S50 uses Alt/Azimuth mount for target tracking and capture, which indeed introduces field rotation issues. To address this problem, we have imposed a maximum exposure time of 10 seconds for its IMX462 sensor. Additionally, during the post-processing stage, we apply software algorithm to eliminate field rotation and enhance the overall image quality.

What is the temperature range of use?
The recommended temperature of use is -10℃ to 40℃. Note that when the battery temperature exceeds 60℃, Seestar S50 will automatically shut down. Generally, the battery temperature is about 10℃ higher than the ambient temperature.

Can Seestar S50 be modified to an equatorial mount?
Therefore, at this time, we do not consider providing official modifications to convert it into an equatorial mount mode.

Can Seestar S50 guide during stargazing?
Seestar S50 does not support guiding. And since its exposure time for a single frame is only 10s, there is actually no need for guiding. Additionally, the S50 features a target autocenter function, ensuring that the target remains in the center of the view throughout the entire capture process.

Dose Seestar app support multiple languages?
Seestar app is currently under development for multi-language support. The completed versions include Simplified Chinese and English. The development and adaptation of the app for French, Japanese, and Spanish languages are in progress. Additionally, Seestar S50 is undergoing wireless certifications for various countries to ensure compliance with local regulations.

What is the after-sales policy of Seestar S50?
Please inquire after-sales policy at https://www.seestar.com/, or contact customer service for consultation.

Is there a multi user mode on Seestar app?
Not supported. It is possible to connect only one mobile device simultaneously on Seestar S50.

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