Experiment
Measure the Distance to the Moon
Turn a sequence of real Seestar S50 lunar images into an estimate of the Earth–Moon distance and compare the result with JPL.
Try the experimentSmart telescope · Deep sky
Seestar S50
Our wide-field smart telescope for galaxies, nebulae and star clusters, combining automated tracking with live stacking.
Aperture50 mm
Focal length250 mm
Focal ratiof/5
Field of view1.29° × 0.73°
Why we use it
Wide-field astronomy made immediate.
The Seestar S50 is our compact deep-sky imaging telescope. Its 50 mm aperture and 250 mm focal length give it a much wider view than the NexStar 8SE, which makes it ideal for extended objects such as nebulae, galaxies and star clusters.
The integrated camera, motorised mount and mobile control system automate target acquisition, tracking and live stacking. Instead of waiting until the end of an exposure, participants can watch faint structure gradually emerge on screen as more images are combined.
That live-stacking workflow makes the Seestar particularly effective for remote sessions because the observing process itself becomes visible: you see how a faint target develops from individual frames into a useful astronomical image.
In practice
What it brings to a session.
Deep-sky targetsA wider field is well suited to galaxies, nebulae and clusters.
Live stackingMultiple exposures build up signal in real time while the session is taking place.
Integrated smart controlTracking, imaging and target selection are handled in one compact system.
Beyond astrophotography
Do science with a Seestar S50.
A Seestar image does not have to be just a photograph. Use real observations to measure the Moon, investigate orbital motion, follow eclipses and identify distant planetary moons.
Experiment
Measure the Diameter of the Moon
Use angular size, distance and simple geometry to estimate the physical diameter of our nearest neighbour.
Try the experiment
Experiment
Measure the Sun's Rotation
Track sunspots across successive observations and use their motion to estimate how quickly the Sun rotates.
Try the experiment
Interactive tool
Identify Planetary Moons
Upload a Seestar S50 image and compare it with calculated satellite positions to identify moons around distant planets.
Open the tool
Observation
Photograph Uranus's Moons
See whether the Seestar S50 can detect faint moons such as Titania and Oberon and learn how to identify them.
Explore the observation
Observation
Record a Solar Eclipse
Follow a solar eclipse with a Seestar S50 and turn the changing geometry of the Sun and Moon into an observing sequence.
Explore the observation