Does Using The leveler And A Wedge For Polar Aligning The Seastar Really Works? - Forums

Topic starter

Jul 9, 2025 · Edited: Jul 9, 2025

Hello and welcome, I'd like to ask those who use the Seastar and do astrophotography in EQ Mode.
Does placing the leveller that we used to use for the ALT Az mode and placing the wedge above and the leveller below it, is it really work for polar aligning the Seastar?
Lately, I tried this method, and it somehow changed a lot in polar aligning the Seastar. After I hit get polar alignment deviation, it dropped the alt and az values below 10 degrees.
And ever since I've done that combination. It raised some questions for me.
Does it really work? I mean does will the seatsar be able to work properly?
Like it's gonna face the object I want to shoot at?
Or not gonna shift, or anything that makes the seastar say that it failed to recognise the target?
Or did it take too much time to initiate the shooting mode?

Jeramie

Jul 10, 2025

I think I understand your question regarding the Seestar. I own a S30 and shoot in EQ mode. I assume that an EQ wedge would work, however I opted to purchase a tripod head (similar to the ZWO TH10) that works the same as a wedge. This allows me to polar align and enable the EQ mode.

The Seestar will slew to targets no problem (goto). You don't need a wedge to slew to targets, but you will need one (or an adjustable tripod head) to shoot longer exposures with. My experience is that it does take some time to get everything aligned with the Seestar in EQ mode. Sometimes it requires multiple attempts to get good alignment as well. The best advice I have is to make sure you are on a level, solid surface before attempting alignment.

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Narayan Mukkavilli

Jul 11, 2025

I use a Manfrotto Junior geared head on a Manfrotto tripod for my Seestar 30; my wife likes to use her Seestar 50 sometimes in AltAz and sometimes in EQ mode.

For this reason she has left the leveller on her tripod- a Benro - and uses the Skywatcher wedge on top

She has had no problems at all. She usually shoots at 20 second sub exposures because I read somewhere that is the “ sweet spot” for the S50.. and has gone 4-5 hours with very few dropped frames and great results

The important thing both of us have found is to get polar aligned well. If we get star trails we stop and realign.

Usually only need to do this once- if that-, and then it tracks well all night. We go till the battery gets really low.

Hope this helpd

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