To properly track the stars that appear to move across the night sky each night, a star tracker must be polar aligned and balanced. How to Use a Star TrackerĪ star tracker’s job is to match the rotation of the Earth so that you can take long exposure images (at nearly any focal length) of the night sky. Canon EOS Ra, Canon RF 15-35mm F/2.8 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer. The photo below showcases many incredible deep-sky objects from the California Nebula to the Pleiades.ĭeep-Sky Astrophotography using a Star Tracker. Make no mistake, a star tracker gives you the ability to dive into the deep-sky. Being a deep-sky astrophotographer means that I aim to expose the incredible objects seemingly hidden in our night sky, and a star tracker helps me accomplish this. However, many of them are ultra-wide field shots of the sky, lacking the reach needed to reveal wonderous deep-sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies. There are plenty of night sky photographs shared on Instagram and other social media platforms from adventurous locations, and some of them are downright phenomenal. Here is a list of my top choices to consider:īefore I go any further, I want to remind you of the kinds of images possible on a star tracker. I’ll do my best to explain why the overall user experience is the number one factor to consider when choosing a portable tracking camera mount. Each model available has its own strengths and weaknesses, from the portability factor to maximum payload capacity. To be effective, a star tracker needs to be capable of accurately tracking the night sky for long-exposure night sky photography. If you are interested in capturing Nightscapes, or Milky Way photography, a star tracker is arguably the most important investment you’ll make in equipment. In this post, I’ll discuss the topic of using a star tracker for astrophotography, and compare some of the best choices available in 2023. I have learned that portable tracking camera mounts can vary depending on the brand you choose, from the mechanical design to the polar alignment procedure. Over the years, I have had many opportunities to review star trackers for astrophotography. In my latest star tracker video, I share my most full-featured portable rig ever. I recommend the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i (Pro Pack) for beginner astrophotographers looking for the best overall experience. Astrophotography demands long-exposure tracked images to collect as much signal (light) as possible, and that is exactly what a star tracker allows you to do. Your exposure lengths are no longer limited to 30 seconds or less due to a moving sky, and you can dial back camera settings like ISO and F-stop.Įquatorial camera mounts are designed to align with the polar axis of the night sky so you can take long-exposure images that are free of star trailing. When it comes to astrophotography, quite simply, a star tracker allows you to take better images. The Best Star Trackers for Astrophotography I have created this resource for those looking to finally dive into astrophotography the right way, with a star tracker. I am a full-time astrophotographer that has used many different star trackers from several brands for many years. Deciding which one to spend your hard-earned money on can be a daunting task. Star trackers are now more accessible to amateur photographers than ever, with many options to choose from. Recent models now include dedicated smartphone apps to manage your imaging session, and even point to deep-sky objects in the night sky. These devices are commonly used with a DSLR camera and lens, or even a small astronomical telescope. The device ‘tracks’ the motion of the stars to allow you to take long exposure images of space without star-trailing. A star tracker is a portable tracking camera mount designed for astrophotography.
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