Master your Hestia
with our collection of video tutorials.
On this page, you will find a variety of tutorials for Hestia and its Gravity app.
These tutorials cover a range of topics to help you properly set up your Hestia and perform both day and night observations.
- Make sure you have an Internet connection.
- Scan the QR code printed on the back of Hestia.
Tripod Assembly
- Be sure to tighten all tripod joints to prevent Hestia from tipping over.
- Install Hestia on the tripod following the instructions in the video above.
- Release the altitude and/or azimuth axis according to your directional requirements.
- Position Hestia horizontally and make sure the tripod is securely tightened.
- Place your phone above Hestia, keeping the eyepiece in the center of the screen.
- Place your phone gently onto the eyepiece with the eyepiece always remaining visible in the center of the screen.
- Position the magnets to secure the phone.
- Point Hestia towards a uniformly bright area, such as blue sky.
- Adjust the position of the phone and magnets so that the round shape on the screen is as clearly defined as possible.
- Confirm the installation when the green circle on the screen is properly aligned.
It is essential to maintain the best possible alignment to ensure optimal quality photos.
- Point Hestia in the direction of a bright area (a lamp post, a lit wall, etc.). Make sure the tripod is securely tightened.
- Adjust the following camera settings: increase exposure time to approx. 0.3s; activate preview boost. Increase ISO if image brightness is insufficient.
- Place your phone above Hestia, keeping the eyepiece in the center of the screen.
- Place your phone gently onto the eyepiece with the eyepiece always remaining visible in the center of the screen.
- Position the magnets to secure the phone.
For installation in daytime or in the early evening, please refer to the "Daytime installation" video.
- Adjust the position of the phone and magnets so that the round shape on the screen is as clearly defined as possible.
- Confirm the installation when the green circle on the screen is properly aligned.
It is essential to maintain the best possible alignment to ensure optimal quality photos.
- Open the ISO menu and switch to manual.
- Move the slider to adjust the ISO.
- Note that manual ISO control is linked to exposure time control.
ISO in photography indicates the camera's sensitivity to light. High ISO allows you to take photos in the dark, but can add grain to the image. Low ISO gives sharper photos for daylight shots when light is abundant.
- Open the Exposure menu and switch to manual mode.
- Move the slider to adjust exposure time.
- Note that manual exposure time control is linked to ISO control.
Exposure time defines how long the camera lets light in. With a long exposure time, the image may become blurred and take time to appear.
To observe the stars, you should choose the maximum value.
Short exposure times freeze the action and produce sharp images, but they need more light.
- A distance of at least 20m is needed to produce a sharp image.
- Open the focus menu and switch to manual mode.
- Set the cursor to 50%.
- Turn the focus ring to improve image sharpness. It is necessary to make at least one turn to have a noticeable effect on the image.
- Continue until the image is as sharp as possible.
- In the focus menu, move the slider to improve image sharpness.
Use the focus ring to adjust focus according to object distance.
If the sharpest position is at the end points, you need to turn the focus ring: unscrew it if the slider is at 0%, tighten it if it's at 100%.
During the day, you can choose to switch back to automatic focus once the ring position is correct. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
- In the focus menu, press the "focus assistant" button.
- Let Gravity capture a series of images without making Hestia move.
- Once the sequence is complete, zoom into the image to see the details more clearly.
- Select the sharpest image by adjusting the slider.
- Confirm the position once you've made your choice.
Solar observation must be carried out with Vaonis solar filters. Never look directly at the sun without the filter, as this could injure you or damage your phone.
- Select solar mode from the camera menu.
- Install the Vaonis solar filter by screwing it onto the front of Hestia.
The image will turn black, with only the sun remaining visible after the filter is installed.
- Attach the Solar pointer to Hestia.
- Aim at the sun with Hestia, using the tripod.
- Use the solar pointer's shadow to help you aim at the sun.
- Once the sun is centered on the screen, fix the tripod's altitude axis.
⚠ Never look directly at the sun with your naked eyes, as it can cause serious damage to your vision.
- Adjust ISO if necessary to avoid saturating the image.
- Adjust focus. (See the corresponding tutorial if necessary).
- Take a photo using the central button.
- Select Moon mode from the camera menu.
- Aim at the moon with Hestia, using the tripod.
- Once the moon is centered on the screen, fix the tripod's altitude axis.
- Adjust ISO if necessary to avoid saturating the image.
- Adjust focus (see the corresponding tutorial if necessary).
- Take a photo using the central white button.
- Choose "Deep sky mode" from the camera menu, and close the catalog without selecting a target for the moment.
- Aim at a starry patch of sky. You need to set the exposure time to maximum. Then, if necessary, increase the ISO and Boost Preview so that the stars appear on the screen.
- Adjust focus to obtain the finest/sharpest possible images of stars (see focus tutorial if necessary). With long exposures, the slightest movement will blur the image, so it's best to use the focus assistant for this step.
- Once the image is in focus, open the camera menu again and choose a Deep sky target which is visible from your viewing location. (Visible targets are marked with a green dot)
- Gravity needs to perform an initial star field analysis before it can guide you precisely. Target a star field with at least 6 stars and let Gravity perform its analysis. Depending on object distance and compass accuracy, it may be necessary to perform several star field analyses.
- Follow the alignment instructions to center your target.
- Once the target is centered, press the central button to start stacking. Gravity will take and stack multiple images to produce the best possible picture.
⚠ Avoid moving Hestia during this step to prevent blurred images.
- Select Planet mode from the camera menu and choose your target. Depending on the time and place of observation, not all planets will be visible.
- To activate the alignment assistance, make sure you set the exposure time to maximum.
- Gravity needs to perform an initial star field recognition before it can guide you precisely. Target a star field with at least 6 stars and let Gravity carry out its analysis. Depending on object distance and compass accuracy, it may be necessary to perform several star field analyses.
- Follow the alignment instructions to center your target.
- Once the planet is centered, lower the exposure time to avoid image saturation.
- Press the central button to take a photo. Note that Gravity doesn't stack on planets, only Deep sky objetcs.
By default, Gravity displays a round image that corresponds to the maximum view with Hestia, but you can choose a different frame.
- Open the Frame menu.
- Choose the frame of your choice.
- When you are satisfied with the displayed image, press the central white button to save a high-resolution picture.
- Gravity waits for the phone to be fully still before triggering a shot, so that the image is as sharp as possible.
- In Deep-sky mode, Gravity performs stacking, which can take several seconds (see Deep-sky tutorial).
- The photo is saved in your phone's photo gallery, in the "Gravity" album.