Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Guide: Photo and Astro Packages, Accessories and What You Need

This site used to have six short posts about the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer: the Photo Package, an Astro Package, the Star Adventurer Mini, and three accessories (the Dec bracket, the counterweight kit and the latitude EQ base). They are now combined into this single guide. The specifications below come from Sky-Watcher USA’s current Star Adventurer 2i package pages.

What is a star tracker?

A star tracker is a small motorised mount that slowly turns your camera to match the rotation of the sky. Without one, stars turn into streaks in long exposures. Sky-Watcher describes the Star Adventurer as a portable, stable celestial tracking platform for sidereal (star), solar and lunar tracking, with automatic DSLR shutter release control and preprogrammed settings for time-lapse videos.

Key specifications (Star Adventurer 2i)

From Sky-Watcher USA’s product pages:

• Type: multi-function equatorial tracking mount with built-in Wi-Fi control
• Payload capacity: 11 lb (about 5 kg)
• Tracking: sidereal, solar and lunar rates
• Free Star Adventurer Console app for iOS and Android
• Built-in polar scope
• All-metal gearing
• Power: 24 hours of continuous use from four AA batteries, or power via 5 V mini-USB
• Built-in SNAP port for camera control
• Tripod connection: 3/8-inch thread socket, with an included 1/4-20-inch adapter
• Mount head weight: 2.69 lb with the ball head adapter, or 3.63 lb with the Dec bracket

Photo Package or Astro Package?

Sky-Watcher USA sells two main bundles:

• Photo Package: the Star Adventurer 2i mount, polar scope and ball head adapter. Sky-Watcher says the camera, tripod and optical tube are not included. This bundle suits a camera and lens on a ball head.
• Astro Package: the mount, polar scope and Dec bracket. Sky-Watcher says the tube, tripod, ball head adapter and counterweight kit are not included, and an EQ base is optional. This bundle suits heavier lenses or small telescopes.

The older post on this site described the original Photo Package as including the mount, polar scope illuminator and ball head adapter, which matches this layout.

The accessories, explained

• Dec bracket: Sky-Watcher USA explains that the declination assembly uses a Vixen-style saddle plate for attaching cameras, tripod heads or optical tubes. It adds a second axis so you can point a heavier load around the sky.
• Counterweight kit: used with the Dec bracket to balance a heavier camera or small telescope. Sky-Watcher lists it as a separate item, not part of the Astro Package.
• Latitude EQ base: an optional base that lets you tilt the mount to your latitude and fine-tune polar alignment. Sky-Watcher lists it as optional for the Astro Package.
• Star Adventurer Mini: a smaller sister model in the same family. Check Sky-Watcher’s current pages for its specification before buying, as it differs from the 2i.

Polar alignment in plain English

A star tracker only works properly if its rotation axis points at the celestial pole. In the Northern Hemisphere that is very close to Polaris, the North Star. The built-in polar scope helps you line it up. The better the alignment, the longer you can expose before stars trail.

Camera control and time-lapse

Sky-Watcher says there is no need for a separate intervalometer timer: with programmable shutter exposure settings, the Star Adventurer 2i can trigger a DSLR through its SNAP port using an auxiliary shutter release cable. Connected to your phone over Wi-Fi, it offers preprogrammed long exposures to help you create time-lapse videos.

Who is it for?

The Star Adventurer suits photographers who want to take wide-field Milky Way and constellation shots, or longer exposures with a telephoto lens, from a portable kit. Its 5 kg payload covers a camera and lens or a small telescope, but you should keep the total load comfortably below that limit for the steadiest tracking.

Beginner tips

• Use a sturdy tripod. The mount attaches with a 3/8-inch socket, so a solid photo tripod is essential.
• Start wide. Short focal length lenses are more forgiving of small alignment errors.
• Balance the load with the counterweight kit when using the Dec bracket.
• Carry spare AA batteries or a 5 V USB power bank.

Quick summary

• A compact equatorial star tracker with a 5 kg (11 lb) payload.
• Sidereal, solar and lunar tracking, plus Wi-Fi app control.
• Photo Package: mount, polar scope and ball head adapter.
• Astro Package: mount, polar scope and Dec bracket.
• The counterweight kit and EQ base are sold separately.

Jargon buster

• Sidereal tracking: turning at the rate the stars appear to move.
• Polar scope: a small sighting telescope for aligning the mount with the pole.
• Payload: the total weight the mount can carry.
• Vixen-style saddle: a common clamp for attaching dovetail bars.