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Taking stunning night scapes of the sky is best done with a tracking mount. There are now many choices and it can be difficult to make an informed decision. This post will compare the various options on the market today and help you decide which is best for you.
What Is A Sky Tracker?
A sky tracker mount is an equatorial camera/telescope mount that attaches a tripod. It slowly rotates at speed that counter acts the rotation of the earth. If you were to point your camera to the sky and hold the shutter open, you would only have about 15 to 30 seconds before star trails would appear.
In order to get enough light to photograph the Milky Way or other galaxies, you need as much light as possible. This requires that you hold the shutter open for minutes or even hours.
A sky tracker is an equatorial mount. This means that is has 2 axis. The base is oriented towards Polaris if you are in the Northern Hemisphere which is due north – with minor corrections. The second axis rotates the camera slowly and matches the rotation of the earth. If properly aligned, no start trails will appear in your final image.
GoTo Capability
Most star trackers lack GoTo capability due to having only a single RA motor. Recently, SkyWatcher has come out with the Star adventurer GTi. This is a fully capable GoTo mount with 2 axis motors. It’s a game changer in the industry. Finding the object you are looking for is the most challenging part of the process. A GoTo mount makes this so much easier. You can focus your energy on getting the best images instead of hunting around the night sky for your subject.
Not only that, but the price is only moderately more expensive than a standard sky tracker.
GoTo Capable Skywatcher GTi Mount
Can I use if for the Sun, Moon, and Stars?
Yes. In recent years the star trackers have included multiple options but most importantly at least 2 speeds. To track the stars, you need a slightly different speed than you would to track the Moon. The moon is orbiting the earth and is quite close. Therefore you need a different speed than if you were looking at a distant object such as a galaxy. There are switches on the trackers that allow you to select the correct rotation speed. Generally, you will see a moon or a star icon which makes it easy to choose the right speed.
| Image | Tracker | Built In Polar Scope | Max Camera Weight | Price | Battery | ST4 Port | Wifi | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skywatcher Star adventurer GTi | Yes | 11 lb | $640 - Head unit | 8 AA or 12V dc power pack | Yes | Yes | GOTO Mount | |
  | SkyWatcher Star Adventurer PRO | Yes | 11 lb | $414 | External mini-USB power support or 4 AA batteries | Yes | Yes | |
  | iOptron Sky Guider Pro Camera Mount with Polar Scope, Mount Only | Yes | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) | $288 | Built In Rechargeable | Yes | Optional | Mount only. Buy the kit for all needed parts Wifi extra - iOptron StarFi Wi-Fi Telescope Adapter |
  | iOptron Sky Guider Pro Camera Mount with Polar Scope, Kit | Yes | 11 lb | $398 | Built In Rechargeable | Yes | Optional | Wifi extra - iOptron StarFi Wi-Fi Telescope Adapter |
  | Vixen Polarie | Optional | 3 lb | $311 | 2 AA | No | No | Solid Japanese design. Requires 2 extra mounts, not included |
Difference Between Sky Watcher and Sky Guider Pro
The Sky Guider Pro is more advanced than the Sky Watcher Pro. The Sky Watcher pro lacks the guide port which is needed to attach a guide camera. A guide camera can send small adjustments to the tracker so that you can increase the accuracy of the tracker.
Both mounts share similar features except for the following. The biggest factor in my view is the ability to guide it out of the box.
Batteries
- SkyGuider – built in Li-Ion
- Star Adventurer – 4AA with flimsy holder or use a usb power pack. Some have commented that the batteries are hard to insert and the cover comes off randomly.