Starry Nights and Serendipity: A Story from the Golden State Star Party 2025

From June 25th to June 29th, under the pristine, dark skies of Northern California, nearly 500 stargazers, astrophotographers, and cosmic dreamers gathered for the Golden State Star Party (GSSP)—a celebration of stars, science, and shared passion. Over four nights, the sky cooperated beautifully, offering up a canvas of clarity, free from city lights and cloud cover.

Among the hum of tracking mounts, the snap of DSLR shutters, and the glow of red headlamps, the ZWO tent quickly became a hub of activity. Astronomy enthusiasts of all stripes dropped by to explore the latest gear, ask questions, and share their own imaging war stories. The compact and user-friendly Seestar S50 was a particular crowd favorite. Over and over, visitors remarked how it had reinvigorated their love for the night sky—especially those who had grown weary of cable clutter and software woes.

Many attendees asked eagerly about the rumored larger Seestar, hoping for even more aperture without sacrificing the simplicity that made the S50 so beloved. “Just take my money already,” one attendee joked, “but only if it still sets up in under two minutes!”

The much-anticipated raffle and door prize event brought the crowd together in a mix of excitement and anticipation. Among the prizes: filters, books, star charts—and a Seestar S30. Cheers erupted when the winning name was announced: Rich Ozer, the longtime organizer of GSSP.  He read the number and said “Oh Shit, that’s my number!!

The laughter that followed was contagious. Rich, who’s well known in the community for his elaborate astrophotography rig —grinned as he held up the compact Seestar.

“As you guys know, I have a very complicate rig,” he said, pausing for effect. “This just solved all my problems.”

The crowd howled. And just like that, the high-tech astronomer became the newest convert to the all-in-one revolution.

As the final night fell and tripods were packed away, the spirit of GSSP lingered: a mix of wonder, friendship, and a shared sense of cosmic curiosity. And for ZWO, it was another reminder that while technology might evolve, the joy of discovering the universe—whether through a complex rig or a Seestar—remains timeless.