Questions that seemingly have multiple different answers

dfisherows

I need a definitive answer from ZWO.

Is a level sensor calibration done on every machine coming from the factory and if so would it be a good idea to redo it when used at my house?
When horizontal calibration first came out it was said that it was added to improve tracking of the SeeStar. Now people are recommending to noobs that if you do the HC you don't need to do leveling. Tracking and leveling are 2 different things. Does the HC remove the need to do leveling?
People are telling new owners of the S30 it doesn't need to be leveled. Is this true?
Thank you.

Tech@ZWO

dfisherows
Thank you for your patience.
1 Yes we calibrate the level sensor before out of the factory, if you notice the level sensor is not correct or have device to get higher calibrate data, of course, you can do that.
2 Does HC mean horizontal calibration? if so, it did correct the level error, and the users do not need to adjust the level after that, but the HC data will corrupts if move the Seestar.
3 For S30, In stargazing mode, it does not need to adjust the level after horizontal calibration, for solar system, the 'go' feature in wide lens will help to find the objects, does not it as well.

Tompilot1

I have had my S50 for over a year, so hopefully you will find this helpful.

I have not read any comments about the S50 level calibration being poor from the factory. I checked mine on the kitchen table (after I used a bubble level to make certain the table was level) and it was 0.0-0.1. I don't believe it is necessary to re calibrate unless it fails that type of test.
Horizontal Calibration. HC was developed so users did not have take the time to level the S50. By scanning two different areas of the sky, HC can determine and correct for off-level. For my situation, HC wasn't the best option for some viewing directions at my home. Trees and houses block large but not all from South to East. I found HC would fail as the S50 couldn't see enough of the sky. If I level it, I can skip HC and literally image through the gaps. Leveling or HC give the same result so it becomes what works best for you.
I don't have an S30, but I am reasonably sure it has to use HC.

KAx165v3

I’m not with ZWO but since there has been no response I thought I might add my feedback.

I don’t know if the factory does this, but there is no harm in doing a level sensor calibration at your home. I think it is a good practice.
IMHO, a HC can compensate for an imperfect leveling. But you shouldn’t need a perfect level if the SS is able to do a successful HC. However, there is one requirement to have a good leveling step, which is when you try to find the sun (or moon in daylight), since a HC is not possible without stars.
I don’t know the specifics of the S30 tripod, but it looks like you cannot extend the legs. I think people are saying (perhaps without much experience with the S50) the S30 doesn’t need to be leveled, because it does an HC (just like the S50).
Hope this helps.

curtismacc

Leveling the Seestar along with the internal compass are the equivalent of the "Level North" procedure for a typical Alt-Az telescope such as a Celestron Nexstar or Sky Watcher AZ-GTi, etc. For these the alignment directions say to point the telescope to the north and level the OTA when setting up. For the Seestar, leveling serves the same purpose while the compass in the Seestar provides the northern direction. Why do we do this? This enables an Alt-Az mount, including the Seestar, to assume a sky pointing model and be fairly close so that it finds the first object in the night sky you tell it to point to when performing the next step in the GoTo alignment process. In the case of a non-Seestar Alt-Az telescope the next step after "Level North" is to go to one or more stars in the sky, center them in the field of view and press Enter to let the telescope know that it is pointing at the object desired. This is how the non-Seestar Alt-Az telescope refines its pointing model so you can go to any number of objects throughout the night and they will be in the field of view. For the Seestar, the Horizontal Calibration substitutes Plate Solving at 3 points spaced 15 degrees apart for finding and centering 1 or more stars. If the mount is not leveled first, you will still be able to refine the pointing model on the non-Seestar telescopes but it will likely be off on the first couple of stars you tell it to point to and you will have to move the mount further to bring them into the field of view. For the Seestar, if it is not level, or the compass calibration is off, the same thing will happen, but Plate Solving will eventually get a good pointing model.

Now one caveat to this. Since the Seestar HC only looks at a small portion of the sky (30 degrees from one side to the other) whereas all of the GoTo alignment instructions for typical Alt-Az mounts suggest using stars farther apart in the sky and no in a line, I suspect ithe Seestar's pointing model will be more accurate when looking in the opposite direction of the sky if you take the time to make sure that it is level.

Simply put, leveling of the Seestar is not absolutely necessary but can speed up the initial HC process. And it takes a few seconds to do.

Regards,
Curtis

X4UI4pMZ

@Retro Bowl Very intriguing shares with convincing arguments. The apps allow users to select the best option. The idea that the S30 does not require level adjustment after horizontal calibration in stargazing mode is a very alluring one for the solar system.