Skip to content

West Coast Astro Seestar s50 Mask Pro Bundle

The West Coast Astro Seestar s50 Mask Pro Bundle is our original solution to solve one of the biggest problems with Astrophotography, which is the amount of space that filters and masks can consume in your accessory bag. The Mask Pro Bundle of a custom holder which is inserted into your Seestar s50 and a series of "slides" that are inserted into the holder. This essentially allows you to carry 5 masks in the same amount of space that you would normally be able to only carry 2. Additionally as this kit is modular, you can purchase future expansion packages which will include slides that allow you to explore new possibilities for astrophotography. You can purchse the WestCoastAstro Seestar s50 Mask Pro Bundle on Amazon.com or eBay.com.

The Mask Pro s50 Starter bundle includes the following

  • 1x Seestar s50 Mask Pro Holder
  • 1x Seestar s50 Bahtinov Mask Slide
  • 1x Seestar s50 4x Diffraction Spike Slide
  • 1x Seestar s50 6x Diffraction Spike Slide
  • 1x Seestar s50 8x Diffraction Spike Slide
  • 1x Seestar s50 Dust Cover

Addon Packs

In addition to to the Mask Pro Starter Kit, the following addon packages are available for purchase.

  • MASK PRO System Expansion Pack 1 (Diffraction Masks) is available on Amazon.com and eBay.com.

Bahtinov Mask

What is a Bahtinov Mask?

A Bahtinov mask is an astrophotography tool used for achieving precise focus on celestial objects through a telescope or a camera lens equipped for astronomical observations. It was invented by Pavel Bahtinov, a Russian amateur astronomer, in 2005. The mask consists of a thin plate with a specific pattern of slots or cut-outs, which is placed in front of the telescope's objective lens or camera lens.

The design of the Bahtinov mask is ingeniously simple yet effective. It features three groups of slits: one central group parallel to each other and two additional groups that are angled at plus and minus angles relative to the central group. When observing a bright star or planet through a telescope equipped with a Bahtinov mask, the diffraction pattern produced by these slits creates distinct diffraction spikes. The central spike, created by the central group of slits, moves relative to the other two spikes, created by the angled slits, as the focus is adjusted.

To achieve perfect focus, the observer adjusts the focus of the telescope until the central diffraction spike is exactly centered between the other two spikes. This precise alignment indicates that the telescope's optics are perfectly focused. The beauty of the Bahtinov mask is its simplicity and the ease with which it allows for highly accurate focusing, which is crucial for astrophotography, where even slight misfocus can significantly degrade the quality of the images.

Astrophotographers and visual observers alike find the Bahtinov mask an essential accessory for its reliability and effectiveness in ensuring sharp, well-focused images of stars, planets, and other celestial objects. The West Coast Astro Bahtinov mask is designed to work flawlessly with your Seestar s50 and helps you to take the best possible photographs with your Seestar Telescope.