Star Trackers

The function of a Star Tracker in astrophotography

A Star Tracker is a compact, equatorial mount designed specifically for use with SLR (DSLR) cameras, system cameras and light refractors. While a standard tripod is limited to short exposure times to prevent ‘star streaks,’ a Star Tracker Earth's rotation. This makes it possible to make exposures of several minutes, keeping stars pointed and revealing faint details in nebulae and the Milky Way.

Compact design and pole alignment

The most important feature of a Star Tracker is its portability. Most systems weigh less than one kilogram, but can carry camera combinations up to 5 kilograms. To correctly track the rotation of the sky, the tracker must be aligned parallel to the Earth's axis. This is done with a built-in or external polar finder, which is used to point the mount at the pole star (Polaris). Many models offer an illuminated viewfinder for this purpose to increase the accuracy when setting up.

Tracking speeds and modes

Modern Star Trackers offer different tracking speeds:

  • Sidereal: The default setting for tracking stars and deep-sky objects.

  • Moon and Sun: Specific speeds for photographing our neighboring celestial bodies.

  • Semi-Sidereal: A setting in which the tracker moves at half speed. This is often used in landscape astrophotography to keep both the starry sky and the foreground acceptably sharp in one shot.

Power supply and external control

Star Trackers typically run on AA batteries or an external 5V USB power supply, making them suitable for use in remote locations. For advanced users, some trackers have an ST4 port for autoguiding. This allows a guide camera to correct small deviations in the tracking direction, increasing its usefulness at longer focal lengths.

Modular construction

Within our assortment you will find trackers that are modular. You can start with a basic setup for wide-angle shots and expand it later with a declination axis or counterweights for heavier telephoto lenses. This makes the Star Tracker a sustainable investment for the traveling photographer.