MY PICK FOR YOUSeestar S30 Pro
Wide views & travelA wide field of view for big nebulae and star fields, and small enough to carry anywhere in its soft case. It's the one I take down to Europa Point.
See the S30 Pro on Seestar →
Astrophotography from the Rock
Gibraltar's night sky, up close
Original photos of the universe, shot from Gibraltar under city lights. Come and look through a telescope with us, or learn how to take your own.
Official Seestar collaborator
Monthly "Looking Up" column in the Gibraltar Chronicle
4,300+ on Instagram
GALLERY
Shot from the Rock
Nebulae, galaxies and the Moon, all from Gibraltar.
EVENTS
Look up with us
First public Moon night on Friday 23 October. Free, with donations to the GBC Open Day.
START SHOOTING
Take these yourself
The smart telescopes I use, and which one I'd pick for you.
Latest from the Rock
Open the gallery →From the Moon to the Whirlpool
Looking Up · this month
Orion is back
The Orionid meteors peak on the night of 21–22 October, and the Hunter's Moon rises on the 26th. Here's what to look for from Gibraltar this month.
Read the sky guide →
Gallery
Shot from the Rock
Every image here was captured from Gibraltar, under a light-polluted Bortle 7 sky. Tap any photo to see it bigger.
New photos every week on Instagram. Follow @gibnebula →
Start shooting
How I take these photos
Most of my images come from a Seestar smart telescope. It finds the target, tracks it across the sky and builds the image for me. No laptop, no years of practice, and it works from a balcony in Gibraltar.
1
Set it on a tripodBalcony, beach or rooftop. It levels itself and works out where it's pointing.
2
Pick a target in the appThe Moon, a planet, a nebula or a galaxy. Tap it and the telescope swings round.
3
Watch it appearThe image builds in colour on your phone, ready to save and share.
My honest pick
MY PICK FOR YOU
MY PICK FOR YOU
Which Seestar would I choose?
I shoot with both of these from Gibraltar. Tell me what you'd like to shoot and I'll point you to the one I'd pick.
MY PICK FOR YOU
MY PICK FOR YOUSeestar S50 Pro
Closer views & more detailMore reach for the Moon, the Sun (with a solar filter) and smaller galaxies and nebulae, so you see more detail in every shot.
See the S50 Pro on Seestar →Read the full S30 Pro vs S50 Pro comparison →
Bought one through my link?
- Bring it to a Moon night and I'll help you set it up and find your first target.
- Send me your first image on Instagram and I'll feature it on @gibnebula.
- Ask me anything before or after you buy. DM @gibnebula.
There's no discount code: you pay Seestar's normal price. What I can offer is help, from someone shooting under the same Gibraltar sky.
I'm an official Seestar collaborator. If you buy through my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it helps fund free public stargazing in Gibraltar.
Does it really work with Gibraltar's light pollution?
Yes. Every deep-sky photo on this site was shot from Gibraltar, under some of the brightest skies in the region.
Do I need any experience?
None. If you can use a phone app, you can use a Seestar. Most people get their first image on their first night.
Can I try one before I buy?
Yes. Come along to a Moon night and I'll show you one in action.
Still not sure which one?
Message me on Instagram and tell me what you'd like to shoot. I'm happy to help.
Guides
Plain-English guides from the Rock
Honest advice on smart telescopes, your first night out and what to shoot, all tested under Gibraltar's city skies.
BUYING GUIDE
S30 Pro vs S50 Pro: which Seestar should you buy?
Specs in plain words, what each one is best at, and the one I'd pick for you.
BEGINNER GUIDE
Your first night with a Seestar
From the box to your first nebula in seven simple steps.
CHRISTMAS 2026
Gift guide for stargazers
From a big-ticket smart telescope to free gifts that cost nothing but a clear night.
S30 Pro vs S50 Pro: which Seestar should you buy?
The short answer
Buying for a traveller, a first-timer or on a tighter budget? Get the S30 Pro.
Want the most detail from a balcony or garden, including the Moon and smaller galaxies? Get the S50 Pro.
The numbers, side by side
| S30 Pro | S50 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| UK price (approx.) | £649 | £999 |
| Aperture (lens size) | 30 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal length | 160 mm | 260 mm |
| Field of view | 4.6° (wider) | 2.8° (closer) |
| Weight | 1.65 kg | 2.8 kg |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh | 10,000 mAh |
| Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| In the box | Tripod, case, solar filter | Tripod, case, solar filter |
Specs from Seestar; prices from UK retailers in October 2026. Prices change, so check the current price before you buy.
What those numbers mean
Aperture is light. The S50 Pro's 50 mm lens collects nearly three times as much light as the S30 Pro's 30 mm. More light means cleaner, more detailed images in less time, which matters under bright skies like Gibraltar's.
Field of view is framing. The S30 Pro sees a wider patch of sky, so big targets fit in one shot: the whole Andromeda Galaxy, the Heart Nebula, the Pleiades with room to spare. The S50 Pro is more "zoomed in", so the Moon fills more of the frame and smaller galaxies like the Whirlpool show more detail.
Weight is how often you'll take it out. At 1.65 kg the S30 Pro slips into a bag for Europa Point or a holiday. The S50 Pro is still portable, but it's happiest set up on a balcony or in a garden.
Which one for who
Seestar S30 Pro
Best for first-timers, travellers and big wide targets. It's the cheaper way in and the easiest to grab on a whim. A great Christmas gift for a curious beginner.
Seestar S50 Pro
Best for detail lovers, Moon and planet fans, and anyone who's already hooked. More light, more reach and longer battery life for long sessions.
Does it work from a city?
Yes. Every deep-sky photo in my gallery was taken from Gibraltar, under a Bortle 7 sky, which is about as bright as it gets. Both scopes have a built-in light-pollution filter and stack many short exposures, which is what makes city astrophotography possible.
Still not sure?
Come and try both at a GibNebula Moon night, or message me what you'd like to shoot and I'll point you to the right one.
Affiliate links: I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps fund free public stargazing in Gibraltar.
Your first night with a Seestar
Just unwrapped a smart telescope? Here's how to go from the box to your first nebula in one evening. No experience needed.
Before it gets dark
- Charge it fully and install the Seestar app on your phone or tablet.
- Update the app and the telescope while you're still indoors on good Wi-Fi. The app will prompt you if there's an update.
- Pick your spot. You need a clear view of a good chunk of sky and steady ground. A balcony, rooftop or beach all work.
On the night
- Set up and level the tripod, power on, and connect from the app.
- Let it find its place. The Seestar looks at the stars and works out exactly where it's pointing. You don't need to align anything by hand.
- Choose a target. Start with the Moon if it's up, it's instant and spectacular. Then try something from the app's list. Good first targets this winter: the Pleiades, the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.
- Be patient and watch it build. The image improves as more frames stack. After 10–20 minutes you'll see colour, and an hour or more brings out real detail.
Five tips from a Gibraltar balcony
- Turn your screen brightness down. Your eyes, and your neighbours, will thank you.
- Watch for dew and the Levante. Humid nights can fog the lens. Check the forecast and bring it in if the cloud rolls over the Rock.
- Avoid the Full Moon for faint targets. Nebulae look best on Moon-free nights; save Full Moon nights for the Moon itself.
- Never point it at the Sun without the solar filter fitted. It comes in the box. Use it every time.
- Save, then share. Tag @gibnebula and I'll share my favourites.
Want a hand on your first night?
Bring your Seestar to a GibNebula Moon night and we'll set it up together.
Gift guide for stargazers
Buying for someone who's always looking up? Here are my picks, from a gift they'll use for years to ones that cost nothing at all.
The big gift: a smart telescope
If you want to give them the universe, this is it. A Seestar takes real photos of nebulae and galaxies from a city balcony, with no experience needed.
Seestar S30 Pro · about £649
Light, wide-view and easy to carry. The best first telescope for a curious beginner or a traveller.
Seestar S50 Pro · about £999
More light and more reach for sharper detail. For someone who's already hooked or loves the Moon.
Prices from UK retailers, October 2026. Check Seestar's site for the last order date for Christmas delivery.
Stocking fillers under £30
- A red-light torch. Lets you read a star chart without ruining your night vision.
- A planisphere. A simple rotating star wheel that shows what's up on any night of the year. Get one made for around 35–40° north to match Gibraltar's sky.
- A flask and a folding chair. The secret to staying out long enough to see a meteor.
A step up: binoculars
A pair of 10×50 binoculars is the most underrated astronomy gift there is. They show the Moon's craters, Jupiter's moons and the Pleiades beautifully, and they're useful in daytime too.
The free gift: a night under the stars
Bring them along to a GibNebula Moon night. Entry is free, they'll look through a real telescope and try a Seestar, and every donation goes to the GBC Open Day.
Need help choosing?
Tell me who it's for and what they'd love to see, and I'll suggest the right gift.
Seestar links are affiliate links: I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The other suggestions aren't affiliate links.
Events
Come and look up with us
We're building Gibraltar's community telescope, one night at a time. Look through a real telescope, ask anything you like, and go home with photos.
FIRST NIGHT · FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER
Moon nights
Craters, mountains and lunar seas through our Celestron EdgeHD 8, with Saturn as a bonus. Free and family-friendly, with donations going to the GBC Open Day. Held every few weeks when the weather plays ball.
HOTELS & PRIVATE
Stargazing sessions
Guided night-sky experiences on hotel terraces, rooftops and beaches. Perfect for guests, proposals and special occasions.
SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY
Workshops & charity nights
Talks, hands-on 3D Moon models, and open nights raising money for local causes.
2 AUGUST 2027
Total solar eclipse
Gibraltar sits in the path of totality. Safe viewing, eclipse talks and guided events in the run-up.
Public nights are free and run roughly monthly, more often when the skies are kind. Every donation goes to the GBC Open Day. They always depend on the weather (and the Levante), so follow on Instagram for the latest.Message to book
Looking Up · Gibraltar Chronicle
What's up in October
Every month I write "Looking Up" for the Gibraltar Chronicle: a plain-English guide to what you can see from the Rock. Here's the short version.
All month
Orion returns. Find his Belt after midnight, then the misty Orion Nebula just below it.
21–22 Oct
Orionid meteor shower. Dust from Halley's Comet burns up overhead. Best after midnight, looking east.
26 Oct
Hunter's Moon. October's full Moon rises over the Mediterranean.
About
"I grew up on the Rock with no telescope, no club and nobody to look up with. GibNebula is what I wish I'd had."
I'm Jordan Montado, a lifelong stargazer who photographs the night sky from Gibraltar. GibNebula is building Gibraltar's first community telescope: free public nights, school workshops and a place for anyone who's curious about the universe.
Official Seestar collaborator
Gibraltar Chronicle columnist
4telescopes
4,300+followers
12Chronicle columns a year
Hotels, schools, sponsors, or just a question about the sky? The quickest way to reach me is on Instagram.