Guide: using a Seestar S50 for public outreach star parties

This guide will give tips on how to best use a Seestar S50 telescope to show public audiences the cosmos!

If you’ve read my review of the ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope, you’ll know I’m impressed with its ability to quickly and easily take basic images of deep sky objects like distant nebulae. In the review, I mentioned how the Seestar S50 could be great for public outreach events (sometimes called star parties). This is when one or more astronomers (professional or amateur) set up telescopes and let people look through them, hopefully giving a “wow” at what they’ve seen. The Seestar S50 has particularly high potential for urban star parties, where light pollution drowns out most deep sky objects meaning they look underwhelming when viewed through the eyepiece of even large telescopes. Enter the Seestar S50, which can display images of these faint targets. The more time you put into imaging a target — 10, 20, 30 minutes — the more light is collected, and the better the view.

I’ve done a lot of public events in my time, as my background is actually in science communication. I managed a planetarium for 10 years, and still run stargazing events professionally. My hope for this guide is to empower some of the Seestar S50 owners out there to use these gadgets to inspire a non-expert audience, perhaps even giving some people their first stargazing “wow” moment. Maybe you’re thinking of running a small event solo, joining with a group, or perhaps you’re from an astro society thinking of buying one of these telescopes. I hope there’s something for everyone.

Pimp my Seestar

It’s certainly possible to do good outreach using the Seestar with only its supplied accessories. You don’t need to buy anything else (other than a smart device for control and display). However, if you invest in some upgrades, the experience will be easier for you and better for the public.

I’ve found kit from my professional photography business that works really well, so that’s what I’m going to describe here. It’s important to note though that these are expensive, so should be considered “gold standard” accessories. Use them for inspiration, but don’t necessarily go and shell out £££ on exactly the same kit.

We’ll start with the tripod. The one supplied with the Seestar S50 is rather basic. If you’ll be using it at an outreach event, you’ll want to have it high up, perhaps on a table. But ensure the table isn’t used for anything else, as any wobble or person knocking into it will cause some shake.

I’ve swapped out the supplied tripod with my main photography tripod, a Manfrotto 055. It can extend to be very high if needed, and also has a central column that rises even further up. This is useful for keeping the Seestar unit visible — you want people to be able to see it — but out of reach from curious bystanders!

I have a strap attached to the tripod, which means I can sling it over my shoulder for portability (but not with the Seestar attached!)

The tripod is only part of the equation though. You also need a head to attach the Seestar S50. I use a Manfrotto X-PRO. This is a ball-and-socket head, which you can see in the image below. Cheap versions of this design aren’t recommended, as it may be difficult to keep the telescope stable, but this particular model is rock-solid. A ball-and-socket head also makes it very quick and easy to level your Seestar, even if the tripod is on uneven ground.

A standard photography tripod has a 1/4″ thread with which to attach accessories. The Seestar needs a 3/8″ thread however. So an adapter is needed. There are lots available, for example these. You may look at the image below and think that it won’t be stable, but the telescope is actually very light, and if you use high-quality components then it’s easily stable enough.

Update, January 2024: since writing this article, lots of Seestar users have been finding success with tripod level adjusters like this one. I can’t offer personal experience but they look good, especially for the price.

Next, I recommend a tablet for control and display. If you’re on a tight budget then sure, use your phone, but you really don’t want to risk that getting lost. Plus, a tablet has a bigger screen and so gives more impressive views. The Seestar app is compatible with Android and iOS. If you have a spare tablet then use that. If you’re going to buy something specially, then it doesn’t need to be top-end or a fancy brand. I picked up a DOOGEE T10S in a sale and it’s perfect for the Seestar: 10-inch screen, 1920×1200 resolution, 6600mAh battery, Android 13. Seestar images look more visually stunning on its screen than they do on my phone or even computer monitor. Shop around or buy second-hand and you should be able to find something sufficient for under £100.

Now comes the secret ingredient: a tripod arm. This will turn your tripod and telescope into a professional Seestar station! My tripod has an in-built attachment for this, and so I use a Manfrotto 15cm Micro Friction Arm. Again, just a reminder that I’m describing top-tier upgrades, which I can personally justify because I use them for my photography business. You may prefer to shop around and look for more budget-conscious solutions! An entirely separate cheap tripod just to hold the tablet is a valid alternative.

On the end of my Friction Arm is a tablet holder. There are loads available but I went with this one, and it’s pretty good. With this combination I can easily move the tablet to any position or angle. This kind of set-up is definitely more convenient than having to hold the tablet. It’s easier for the public to see too.

Time for a spot of health and safety. It’ll be dark when you’re doing outreach (unless it’s solar observing!) and you don’t want anyone to trip over your tripod legs. There’s an easy solution: red LED keyrings. I can’t remember where I got mine from, but these look basically the same. You want at least three, and attach one about half-way up each tripod leg using VELCRO or other brand equivalent dots (such as these). The lights themselves make the legs visible, and the lights shine downwards and create little circles of light where each tripod leg touches the ground. Make sure you get the type that have little switches so they can be left on without you having to hold the button down.

Some people advise rope lights around the bottom of a tripod, but I’ve never liked that as you’re creating an additional trip hazard. These LED keyring lights are cheap, simple, and work really well.

Prime Seestar S50 targets

Next let’s consider the targets that are best seen through your Seestar S50. Planets should be skipped, as the telescope’s focal length of 250mm won’t do them justice. The Moon is ok, but will look better through a visual telescope, and if you’re part of a star party event then there will be loads of those. It’s a decent option if you’re flying solo though, and the Seestar is the only telescope.

Deep sky is where the Seestar shines, and the brighter and brighter the target the better. Liaise with any visual telescope owners nearby though, as you’ll likely want to avoid doubling up on targets. Light pollution is also a consideration. The Seestar is brilliant for public events in cities, because you can use it to view objects that are essentially impossible to see, or appear very underwhelming, through a visual telescope.

The Andromeda Galaxy is a prime example. If you have countryside dark skies then you may well get a gasp from a member of the public looking at this through a telescope eyepiece. But from a city? Well it’s not much to look at, if it can even be glimpsed at all. Enter the Seestar, which bridges the gap to bring these faint fuzzies into view. Below is an image of The Andromeda Galaxy that I actually took when running a stargazing stand for a local inner-city school event. If you’re an experienced stargazer then you may shrug, but for almost every attendee there — adults and children alike — it was the first time they’d ever seen this with their own eyes. The light pollution was so bad that there was no hope of seeing this through an eyepiece.

When considering targets, it’s wise to consult some planetarium software in advance to make sure the object will be visible. Have a few in mind in case trees or buildings are blocking your view. Also decide on whether you want to stick with one target for the whole session (remembering that the view will get progressively better over time); or skip around the sky. My advice here is to base it on how busy the event is: loads of people queuing up for you, then stick with one target. If it’s quieter and you want to entice people back for another session, then maybe spend 10 – 15 minutes on an object before moving on.

Here are some good options to get you started, but it’s by no means an exhaustive list! These are all visible from the UK; your latitude will affect what can be seen.

• The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
• The Pleiades (M45)
• The Orion Nebula (M42)
• The Double Cluster (NGC 869)
• The Triangulum Galaxy (M33)
• The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281)
• The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146)
• The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023)

Check my review for more example images.

Set-up diagram #1: a single Seestar S50

At the simplest, you could just set up your Seestar on its tripod and get going. However, if you put a bit of time into creating a stargazing area, the experience will be more special for the attendees and make things easier for you!

Here’s an example set-up if you’re running solo:

It’s worth spending the most time in this section of the guide talking about the physical barriers in the diagram above. These can be anything really. The last event I ran was on a school playground, and there were plenty of chairs available, so I used these as barriers, hence the chair icons in the diagram. (Ensure chairs are facing inwards, otherwise people might sit on them!) Sometimes proper rope barriers are available for your use. If you want to be entirely self-sufficient, then photographic light stands are small, light, and quite cheap. This three-pack of mini light stands would work very well for a one-Seestar set-up. Ideally you want your telescope and audience facing the target you’ll be imaging — it’s confusing if what people are looking at on the tablet screen is actually behind them in the sky.

Once you’ve positioned your barriers as shown, string up some battery-powered waterproof LED lights. We don’t want them on the ground, as then they’re a trip hazard. There are lots of LED rope lights available. This kind of thing is what you’re after. You might think it best to buy red LED rope lights to preserve dark adapted vision, but that can seem a bit scary to younger stargazers. Yellow or warm-white ones look nice and welcoming. Plus, these LED lights aren’t particularly bright. However, note that some amateur astronomers get very annoyed if anyone dares to use anything other than red lights. It’s best to make other astronomers aware of your lighting plans in advance. If it seems like it’ll cause friction, don’t push the point; it’s not worth annoying your teammates. Use red lights, or forego having barriers entirely. (You don’t want unlit barriers as they’re a hazard in the dark).

Once you’ve set this up, you’ll have a welcoming space that looks quite special. You’ve also created a stage area for yourself, and are controlling where the public attendees will be. This is much easier for you to handle than having people approach from all angles. It’s also safer, as it’s less likely anyone will bump into you or your Seestar. Oh, and you won’t have anyone standing directly in front of your Seestar, blocking its view!

Finally, if there are going to be lots of children present, consider having your Seestar set up fairly low so that they can easily see it.

Set-up diagram #2: a Seestar S50 and visual telescope

Now we’ve got a simple set-up sorted, let’s think about a complex example. Here’s a system for a very busy event using two telescopes: one Seestar and one visual telescope (i.e. with an eyepiece that people look through):

You might wonder why I’m talking about visual telescopes given that this is a guide to the Seestar, but I think that the two types of device pair together really well. Seestars are great for engaging a crowd and showing faint targets; while visual telescopes can only be used by one person at a time, but get the best “wow” moments. Someone seeing Jupiter, Saturn, or the Moon through a visual telescope for the first time is something so incredibly special that I don’t think the Seestar can quite match it. But use both and you can play to their strengths.

So, in this example the star party is very busy. This is based on an event I ran. I took two telescopes — a Seestar and a small refractor — as part of a bonfire night celebration. The stargazing turned out to be a huge hit, and there was a long queue for the entire evening! If we’re planning for a busy event, we need a system so you and any other facilitators don’t get overwhelmed, and also so it’s not stressful for the visitors.

If you set up the barriers as shown in the diagram, there’s a clear entrance point and direction for visitor flow. Ideally there will be three facilitators:

Facilitator 1: Mostly positioned by the queue entrance. This person sets the tone for the entire experience, so they need to be friendly, engaging, and excited, explaining to people what’s going to happen. Think of them as the warm-up act. They should also make sure people join the queue in the right place, and redirect anyone trying accidentally (or otherwise!) to skip the queue by going in through the exit route.

Facilitator 2: They’re running the Seestar. They’re in a prime location to make the most of the Seestar’s ability to engage a large number of people simultaneously. The queue is their stage, and everyone in it is the audience!

Facilitator 3: They’re running the visual telescope. They’ll call people forward when it’s their turn to look through the telescope, giving those biggest “wow” moments. Without the Seestar and queue they could get mobbed, but it’s much more civilised if planned properly!

The three facilitators can stick to their roles, or rotate through an evening so everyone gets a turn at doing everything. If it’s a whole night then you actually want four people, so breaks can be factored in.

This kind of set-up at busy events will give a better experience to the public (and facilitators) than if the two telescopes were set up separately and run independent of one another. If it’s not that busy — i.e. no need for queues — then you may prefer to have both telescopes set up separately, as in the first diagram.

Facilitator tips

Be enthusiastic!
Your audience will react to something based on how you’re reacting. Have you ever been to a talk where the presenter seems bored? Even if the content is interesting, you’re likely to be bored yourself. Conversely, an enthusiastic and excited presenter can make almost anything interesting! Consider this when using your Seestar with the public. You’re probably very interested in astronomy; I doubt you’d be out with the telescope in the cold and dark otherwise! Take that natural level of interest and excitement and dial it up just a notch. Don’t overdo it or you’ll seem insincere.

---

Ask questions.
This might sound counter-intuitive, but the best facilitators tend to do the least amount of talking. Instead, ask your audience questions, and guide them to the right answers. For example, let’s say you’re using the Seestar so look at The Andromeda Galaxy. Rather than stating “this is The Andromeda Galaxy,” ask “can anyone guess what we’re using the telescope to look at right now?” Be positive about any answers given, never replying with a flat out “no” or “that’s wrong”. Instead, use the answers you receive as a springboard. So, if someone replies “stars”, don’t say “no”, but rather something like “ah good guess, it’s actually lots of stars! Any ideas what we call a huge collection of stars like this?”

This approach is much more engaging for the majority of audiences, and it’s interesting for the facilitator too. Note though that some people do like a facilitator to info-dump at them, so be prepared to do this for particular people if necessary — but this should be the exception rather than the rule.

Another useful thing about questions is that you can use them to control the pace of your presentation. Let’s take set-up #2 given previously, where the Seestar operator is talking with people in the queue to the visual telescope. The slower the queue is moving, the more questions you can ask.

---

Drum up a crowd for the Seestar.
Viewing the Seestar’s display is a great communal activity, and it’s fun to have a crowd of people watching together. People are attracted to crowds, so you may need to entice some folks over first, and then it can snowball from there. A good opening for the Seestar in particular could be “hi, would you like to see a new type of telescope in action?” If you see anyone on the periphery, give a friendly “hi, feel free to come and join us,” but then don’t push it further; you don’t want to pressure anyone.

---

Involve all members of the audience.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of focussing on and talking with just one or two members of your audience — especially if they’re particularly engaged. Try to make eye contact with everyone, and if you’re asking questions (which you should be!) encourage answers from people at the back and sides too. Don’t pick anyone or put them on the spot though.

---

Explain how the Seestar works.
The actual method by which the Seestar collects data is interesting in itself, and you might find that as much a draw as what you’re observing. Using simple language, you can discuss how the Seestar collects light in 10-second bursts, then combines them to create a long-exposure image. If you’re imaging the same target over a whole night, invite people to check back later and see how the image has improved.

---

Don’t assume prior knowledge.
You may think that the people attending star parties and outreach events are already astro experts, but people from all walks of life like to come along. Avoid assuming anyone has a certain level of background knowledge. Many adults don’t know the difference between a star and planet for example. Don’t ever act shocked or surprised if hear basic misconceptions, and never make the person feel bad or stupid. If you’ve been following the strategy of asking lots of questions, you’ll very quickly establish someone’s level of knowledge, and you can pitch your follow-up questions and answers accordingly.

---

It’s OK to say “I don’t know”.
New facilitators are often nervous that they’ll get asked lots of questions they don’t know the answers to. It’s absolutely fine to say that you don’t know. “That’s a great question, I’ve never been asked that before. To be honest I’m not quite sure.” Follow this up with an educated guess if you can.

---

Treat conspiracy theorists with respect.
This is actually a huge topic, but I’ll just give the executive summary here. If you’re in a position where you’re taking to a public audience about astronomy, there’s a chance you’ll interact with a conspiracy theorist, such as flat Earth or faked Moon landings. You should absolutely avoid calling these people stupid, or be completely dismissive of their views — even if that’s what you actually think! You won’t change anyone’s minds that way. Instead, do your utmost to be respectful. Note that being respectful doesn’t mean agreeing with them. Listen to their opinions, and gently offer a more conventional scientific viewpoint. Don’t think of it as a battle; instead you’re just two people trying to understand the cosmos. It’s unlikely you’ll change their minds, and reeling off evidence and facts probably won’t persuade them. By all means stand your ground and present your views, but don’t be combatative.

Most people in this situation think the end goal of the conversation is to convince the other person that you’re right and they’re wrong, but this is very difficult to do if someone has deeply entrenched views. Instead, your end goal should be to have listened to their viewpoint, have stated yours, and finish with all parties being on good terms. If you can end with a friendly handshake then you’ve done a good job. If they or you get angry, then more harm than good has been done. This can be extremely challenging, and even professional science communicators with years of experience can have real trouble!

---

So, in conclusion…

I hope that guide has given you some ideas and maybe inspiration for using your Seestar S50 for public outreach. It’s a powerful too, and helping at star parties can be a very rewarding experience.

If you have any extra ideas, tips, or stories to share, please use the comments box at the bottom of this page or contact me here.

---

If this article has helped you, please consider making a donation.