Star Trackers: Long-Exposure Night Sky Photos With Your Own Camera
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If you already own a camera and lens, a tracker lets it take long, untrailed exposures without buying a telescope. Specs are from iOptron, Sky-Watcher and the listings. We haven't tested them.
How they work
Celestron's glossary describes an equatorial mount as one that "compensates for Earth's rotation by having its right ascension axis rotate parallel to the Earth's axis." A tracker does exactly that for a camera. You aim its axis at the celestial pole using the built-in polar scope, and it turns at the sidereal rate, which Celestron puts at "about 15 arc seconds per second of time."
Compared
| iOptron SkyGuider Pro | Star Adventurer 2i | Star Adventurer GTi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Single-axis EQ tracker (iOptron) | Motorized tracking platform | Full GoTo EQ mount |
| Payload | 11 lb (5 kg), balanced | See maker | 11 lb (4.98 kg) |
| Weight | 2.2 lb with battery | 2.4 lb (listing) | 5.7 lb head kit; 22 lb mount kit |
| Power | Internal Li-Poly; up to 20 h at 20°C (listing) | AA, up to 72 h; or USB (listing) | 8 AA or external 12V |
| Polar scope | Illuminated AccuAlign | Illuminated | Illuminated |
| Control | Built-in; solar, lunar, sidereal, 1/2-speed | Wi-Fi via SAM Console app (Pro Pack listing) | Wi-Fi via smartphone, or SynScan hand controller |
From iOptron's product page and Sky-Watcher's GTi product sheet unless marked "listing."
iOptron SkyGuider Pro
iOptron's full package includes the alt-azi base, illuminated polar scope, a declination bracket and a 1.35 kg counterweight; camera, lens, ballhead and tripod aren't included. Its 1/2-speed mode is meant for shooting starry skies and landscapes together, per iOptron.
iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount
- 2.2 lb (1 kg), per the listing
- Up to 11 lb (4.99 kg) payload, balanced
- Illuminated AccuAlign polar scope
- Internal battery, up to 20 h at 20°C
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i
Works with existing photo tripods, runs up to 72 hours on AA batteries and has Wi-Fi control in the 2i version, per the listings. The Pro Pack adds an equatorial base for polar alignment.
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Astro Pack
- Motorized camera tracker, per the listing
- Built-in illuminated polar finderscope
- AA power for up to 72 h, or USB
- 2.4 lb
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack
- Motorized portable tracking platform, per the listing
- Works with photo tripods
- Wi-Fi control with the SAM Console app
- Equatorial base for polar alignment
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi
A step toward a full telescope mount: GoTo, multiple tracking rates and an 11 lb payload. The mount kit adds a tripod with pier extension, per Sky-Watcher. Sky-Watcher's sheet notes camera and telescope aren't included.
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount Kit
- Full GoTo equatorial tracking mount head, per the listing
- Tripod with pier extension; counterweight bar
- Built-in illuminated polar scope
- Built-in Wi-Fi
Or let the scope do everything
Smart telescopes handle pointing, tracking and stacking in one box. See smart telescopes.
FAQ
What does a star tracker do?
Turns your camera with the sky for long exposures.
SkyGuider Pro payload?
11 lb (5 kg), balanced.
Does the GTi have GoTo?
Yes.