This video shows the trouble I have doing a GoTo to the moon. What is the problem? #astrophotography #astronomy #zwo #celestron #coronado #solar #asiair
I'm an old guy and not very stable so dealing with anything 1 foot off the ground is challenging. I did spend some money to help me cope. I bought a leveler and a taller tripod. So much easier. Leveling, usually can get it easily down to 0 to .2. For calibration, I have a locking ring between the tripod and the leveler that I loosened, and I can spin the Seestar like a top without fear of it falling over. Again, more money, but it works for me. Makes the experience that more enjoyable.
The Seestar cannot rely on plate solving to find the moon. It must have an accurate level and compass. However, even compass calibration doesn’t always work because of minor local variations in magnetic declination (offset from true north) called magnetic deviation. In my particular location my local deviation is almost 5 degrees east of the regional declination of 14 degrees. Local Deviation can be caused by a number of things like powerlines, mineral deposits, or living next-door to Magneto. I never had any luck finding the moon and had to manually bring it to center. An alternative that others have reported and I have yet to attempt is to first use stargazing mode with horizontal calibration turned on and search for a guide star like Vega or Capella. Once it has figured out where it is, slew to the moon and switch to lunar mode. If the clouds ever clear I plan to give it a try. Of course that won’t help for daytime observations but it’s a start.
Compass calibration is quick and easy, and in the time you took trying to avoid this, you could have calibrated the compass. Another thing I have found with the Seestar is every now and again i run into constant "stack failed because of star trails". A recalibration of the compass typically fixes this: I am not sure why, but this does seem to work
I've been using the Sestar since Mid Nov'2023. I don't pay attention to the direction I have it pointed. I typically do a compass calibration if the Seestar says to and let it do its thing. It works. for the unit I have. Also if you have one of those revelers, those are a huge benefit, but after some use you need to place the whole thing on a level service and put the levers to neutralize or have it center.
Im having problem to do it. The progress of the green circle always stops after A while. I have manage only ones finish it. Is there a certain way to do it right?
@MrAndyy87 Keep turning the scope. It will eventually finish. I definitely have to turn it more than 1 rotation. It varies, not sure why. Last time I think it was about 5 rotations. Clear sky's tonight. I will make it a point to count.
I’ve had troubles with this very thing. Thankfully, the website was pretty quick responding with a solution. I turned off the horizontal calibration, calibrated the compass by spinning the telescope, leveled the scope with the green circles, and that seemed to fix the problem
I calibrate and level everytime. Never, I mean never had an issue finding the moon or sun. Maybe 25+ times. Calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, calibrate. Read, no short cuts then complain.
@@TelescopeGregI think you are wrong. Use the calibration compass and then check the level, in that order it will be critical for solar and lunar. It doesn’t hurt in any mode but it is critical on those. In lunar give it time enough to find the moon don’t desesperate
Yes, i calibrate, and level at new set up it goes to any dso no problem. I go to sun or moon the two closest,largest objects in the sky and it searching way out of range. And i ask it Why are you looking over there? The moon is over here! 😅😅
I'm an old guy and not very stable so dealing with anything 1 foot off the ground is challenging. I did spend some money to help me cope. I bought a leveler and a taller tripod. So much easier. Leveling, usually can get it easily down to 0 to .2. For calibration, I have a locking ring between the tripod and the leveler that I loosened, and I can spin the Seestar like a top without fear of it falling over. Again, more money, but it works for me. Makes the experience that more enjoyable.
The Seestar cannot rely on plate solving to find the moon. It must have an accurate level and compass. However, even compass calibration doesn’t always work because of minor local variations in magnetic declination (offset from true north) called magnetic deviation. In my particular location my local deviation is almost 5 degrees east of the regional declination of 14 degrees. Local Deviation can be caused by a number of things like powerlines, mineral deposits, or living next-door to Magneto. I never had any luck finding the moon and had to manually bring it to center. An alternative that others have reported and I have yet to attempt is to first use stargazing mode with horizontal calibration turned on and search for a guide star like Vega or Capella. Once it has figured out where it is, slew to the moon and switch to lunar mode. If the clouds ever clear I plan to give it a try. Of course that won’t help for daytime observations but it’s a start.
Compass calibration is quick and easy, and in the time you took trying to avoid this, you could have calibrated the compass. Another thing I have found with the Seestar is every now and again i run into constant "stack failed because of star trails". A recalibration of the compass typically fixes this: I am not sure why, but this does seem to work
@@trevglasbey3924 Thanks for the comments. I found this happened to me it was because I needed a better level adjustment. I think 🙂
I've been using the Sestar since Mid Nov'2023. I don't pay attention to the direction I have it pointed. I typically do a compass calibration if the Seestar says to and let it do its thing. It works. for the unit I have. Also if you have one of those revelers, those are a huge benefit, but after some use you need to place the whole thing on a level service and put the levers to neutralize or have it center.
You need to do the compass calibration until the green circle completes.
Im having problem to do it. The progress of the green circle always stops after A while. I have manage only ones finish it. Is there a certain way to do it right?
@MrAndyy87 Keep turning the scope. It will eventually finish. I definitely have to turn it more than 1 rotation. It varies, not sure why. Last time I think it was about 5 rotations. Clear sky's tonight. I will make it a point to count.
I’ve had troubles with this very thing. Thankfully, the website was pretty quick responding with a solution. I turned off the horizontal calibration, calibrated the compass by spinning the telescope, leveled the scope with the green circles, and that seemed to fix the problem
I calibrate and level everytime. Never, I mean never had an issue finding the moon or sun. Maybe 25+ times. Calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, calibrate, calibrate. Read, no short cuts then complain.
Why didn’t u just do the compass calibration as it asked??
@@Thewaspsnest65 mostly because it's not reeded for anything else. Including the sun.
@@TelescopeGregI think you are wrong. Use the calibration compass and then check the level, in that order it will be critical for solar and lunar. It doesn’t hurt in any mode but it is critical on those. In lunar give it time enough to find the moon don’t desesperate
The same thing with leveling and compass deviation happened to me when I tried to go to the moon. I have no other problem with DSO or planets.
Yes, i calibrate, and level at new set up it goes to any dso no problem. I go to sun or moon the two closest,largest objects in the sky and it searching way out of range. And i ask it
Why are you looking over there? The moon is over here! 😅😅
I'm having the same issue with Lunar goto. What I did find though, was if I did a goto a deepsky object first, it found the moon after that.
@@jdmillar1958 Good to know!
@@TelescopeGreg I'm guessing it's a software issue. I've heard a few folks having the same problem.
I'll try that, thanks