When Kaido Neo stood up in front of a full crowd at a stargazing night in Singapore — sharing his astrophotography journey with passion and confidence — his father, Lester Neo, couldn’t have been prouder.

That night, organized by father and son, wasn’t just about stars. It was about curiosity, learning, and a gift that had sparked something far bigger.

Kaido shared his astronomy journey

Just 2 years before, Lester had given Kaido a Seestar S50 telescope. He didn’t expect it to lead to community outreach, public speaking, or deep dives into astrophysics. All he wanted was to encourage his son’s interest in the sky.

“I just wanted to give him something meaningful,” Lester recalls. “A way to explore the universe, even from our own backyard.”

But that gift turned into something extraordinary.

 Kaido Neo，17-year-old student

Kaido, now 17, embraced his Seestar S50 with enthusiasm. Lightweight enough to carry in a Brompton bike bag, the S50 became their travel companion — from urban Bortle 9 skies in Singapore to the dark, crystal-clear Bortle 3/4 skies of Cingjing Farm in Taiwan, 2000m above sea level.

It wasn’t their first telescope. In fact, Lester had introduced Kaido to astronomy back in 2015 with a simple Newtonian scope — but like many children, the interest faded quickly. That is, until one night in 2022, when Kaido dusted it off, spotted Jupiter’s moons, and came running with excitement. That night, everything changed.

Seeing his son’s curiosity reignite, Lester dove headfirst into researching astronomy equipment. But the field felt overwhelming — full of technical jargon, steep costs, and a learning curve that threatened to kill the magic.

That’s where Seestar came in.

“The Seestar S50 changed everything for us,” Lester shares. “It made stargazing intuitive and enjoyable — no need to tangle with mounts, cables, or confusing setups. It let us focus on what really mattered: looking up.”

Together, they explored topics like focal ratios, sensor sizes, and deep-sky targets. Lester, with over 30 years in IT, found himself not only supporting Kaido’s learning but growing alongside him.

Their Seestar captured stunning astrophotos — even under light-polluted skies. Lester even began writing guides, helping others realize that yes, astrophotography is possible in the city, and yes, the S50 can deliver results rivaling gear many times its price.

Family Adventures with Seestar

But the most important outcome? Kaido finding his voice.

With the Seestar as his companion, Kaido took the lead in organizing a public stargazing night. He planned, presented, and inspired — just as he had once inspired his father. The event was fully booked, and the crowd left with a sense of wonder, sparked not just by the stars, but by a young person’s enthusiasm for them.

Lester Neo gave an astronomy talk