When you live under Tasmania’s crisp southern skies, the stars are never far away. 🌌 But for Alan Brain, a passionate astrophotographer, clear nights are still a rare luxury.
A longtime user of traditional equatorial gear, Alan was no stranger to cables, polar alignment, and long setup times. But in September 2024, chasing that elusive “quick fix” under fleeting clear skies, he added the SeeStar S50 to his kit.
“I wanted something simple—something that could deliver that instant gratification,” Alan says. And it did.
For months, he explored the universe in Alt/Az mode, capturing stunning deep sky images with ease. But everything changed when he decided to try EQ mode with a wedge this week…
“Wow!! I’m blown away with the results,” he says.
In just 4 hours, he captured 4 spectacular deep sky targets—including a globular cluster, two nebulas, and a galaxy 31 million light-years away—with only 3 hours and 20 minutes of actual exposure time.
“My best night ever with the SeeStar S50.” ✨
But this story isn’t just about beautiful images—it’s about connection.
Alan, once a flight sim enthusiast, shared his love of the cosmos with a friend from Houston, Texas. Now, their conversations have shifted from virtual cockpits to real stars, sharing their astrophotography journeys from opposite sides of the planet. 🌍
Though the skies may be cloudy sometimes, Alan’s telescope is ready.
Because when the clouds part over Tasmania, he’ll be waiting—with the SeeStar pointed at the stars, and his heart full of wonder.
These are the images from Alan's first night using EQ mode with his S50:
NGC6188 The Firebird Nebula (also known as the fighting Dragons of Ara)
Nebula 230x20Sec LP Filter+ Stars 30x20Sec UV/IR Cut Filter
NGC6744 Spiral Galaxy in Pavo (Caldwell 101) 61x20Sec
NGC3372 Eta Carina Nebula / Keyhole 62x20Sec
NGC5139 Omega Centauri Globule Gtar Cluster ✨(Caldwell 80) 56x20Sec