Frequently Asked Questions

 FAQ

This topic assembles  available information about a number of questions being asked about this scope.

Formal support

What is my backer number? (You need this for all communications!)

Log into KickStarter and click on "view your pledge." Right under your name is your backer number.

How do I report a missing/broken issue?

Latest! Some users have received this support link. I think everyone should know about it:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceMBUFWZgSyEOQKjhmrsQePJFef_SmXP-Z1PmU6qw9iFYh3g/viewform 

From Newsletter #12: "If your device exhibits instability, please attach photos of the issue and email our support team: mailto:edusnapstar@gmail.com."

Update #16 now includes a form for reporting support/delivery issues. Some users find the form does not allow designating the necessary issue. In this case, try the email above.

Latest downloads

App (official)

Developers have provided an official download site for both platforms at:

App (beta, currently v2.1.2 for Android)

For the Android version of the app, this link seems to be hosting the most current development build. It seems to be on a monthly release schedule, so check often for updates.


The latest drop (V2.1.2 as of mid-June 2025) has improved the interactions for both Scene and target modes, along with guided help for setup. 

Firmware (currently v2.0.18)

See Newsletter #12 topic 2 for a link to the latest firmware (as of mid-June 2025):

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/926466273/edusnap-smallest-smart-telescope-for-visual-and-photograpy/posts/4348048

What’s the login code for theEduSnap app?

The Wi-Fi password for the app is 12345678

Power issues

I can connect to the scope and see it on my phone but the battery won’t charge. It only works if I keep it plugged into the 120v outlet! If I unplug it shuts off and disconnects from my iPhone!

This introductory version of the scope operates only by external power. There is no built in battery. Early on, the design photos seemed to suggest they had an external battery in mind, but they ended up providing the GAN charging adapter as standard. When I'm in my driveway, that is what I use. For portability, I hang a power pack from the hook under the tripod. The mount adapts its power through the PD cable to the right voltage. A USB-C power bank of 10,000mAH or more can run it for several hours.

This mount has no battery. The part that looks like a charger (with a 35w USB-C port) is actually used in power supply mode. After you connect the mains power, the mount should go through a short leveling step. 

If you cannot get this far, check to see if the USB-C ports in the mount might be pushed too far into the black base. If they are wiggling loosely inside the black part, there may have been a known assembly issue with missing screws for holding the circuit board.

Image issues

Why do saved deep sky photos from my EduSnap telescope sometimes have a white wedge on its sides?

There is a reason for that angled white frame on some of your photos: Alt-Az field rotation.

Field rotation is a common artifact on sky photos made on Alt-Az mounted telescopes like the EduSnap 53ED. The image field of an alt-az scope is referenced to the horizon for both the horizonal and vertical sides of that field. As the Earth rotates under the sky during a long series of exposures, the path of sky objects rotates slightly relative to that horizon reference. During live EduSnap image stacking, you might start seeing the artifact in as few as 5 stacked images as a whitish edge that creeps in from one or two corners of the developing frame.

This article provides a deeper dive about the cause of this artifact: https://telescopemount.org /astrophotography-with-alt-az -telescope-mounts/#:~:text= Field%20rotation%20principle

The EduSnap images are obviously well aligned in the middle of the frame. That is because EduSnap processing performs "derotation" for each image before stacking. Necessarily, non-image noise enters the corners of the frame over time. This non-image noise ends up on the edges of the final stack. Normally we just crop it out or "burn in" the edges in an image editor.

Known development issues

If you watched the development videos and photos that the developers published in earlier newsletters, you saw a manufacturing process being set up from the very start. There are several known issues related to this first run that may be within your ability to fix without voiding the warranty.

Missing the setscrew for the eyepiece

Clearly packaging was a SNAFU for the first rewards release for backers. With only bubble packing, lots of loose parts seem to have slipped out during shipping. FWIW, the screw size is M3 x 8mm, a common size for astronomy products like eyepiece mounts and finder setscrews. I found 20 items for about $10 on Amazon, but there might be one in a hardware store special items bin.

A screw is missing on the bottom of my mount. Is this a problem?

From inspection of the mount base, six holes for screws had loose tolerances in their molded widths. It is not particularly important if one or two screws slipped out and got lost. A hardware store should have in its small parts bins a flat head screw of size #4x1/4" (or about 6mm wide by 7mm long--correct me please!) that will adequately substitute.

Why is the knurled focusing ring difficult to turn?

In one case, the mounting rings from the dovetail bar were attached too close to the focusing ring, impeding its ability to turn. Use a 2.5mm Allen wrench to back out one screw on each ring, and move the rings a bit away from the focusing collar, then re-tighten them. 

In my case, the movement of the fluted focusing ring started off rough, but I got it to move more smoothly after a session of winding it in and out.

I hear a rattling sound inside my mount/I can't plug my cables into my mount.

Check to see if the USB-C ports in the mount might be pushed too far into the black base. If they are wiggling loosely inside the black part, there may have been a known assembly issue with missing screws for holding the circuit board. If you want to keep the warranty, go to Newsletter #16 and follow the reporting link published there.

Known published information about this scope

Official materials about this scope (mainly campaign collateral)

Sponsored YouTube reviews

Note that at the time, these reviewers had even less information about using the product than we have now. These reviews primarily were for raising awareness for the initial campaign that is now funded and closed. The previewed accessories would be nice to have someday.

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