Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Initial Setup
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- In this video I show you how to go through the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer initial setup. I explore the different options when it comes to setting the Star Adventurer up for imaging, and also how to align the polar scope.
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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Polar Alignment tutorial: • Sky-Watcher Star Adven...
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I liked that you mentioned the calibration of the polar scope. I've watched a lot of videos about this tracker but nobody has really talked about it.
Thank you! It’s important but easily overlooked
One of the best videos I have watched, very clear, easy to follow and not at all rushed, like some others I have watched. Have just set mine up for the first time with the advice given here, I was all up and running in under 10 minutes , thank you.
Thanks Neil, I really appreciate that
I live in western Montana in the States and have access to world class dark skies, no street lights for a hundred kilometers and that is a town of about 300 people. However, now in February, it is under about 2 meters of snow and running around -30C. So while I wait for July/August I'm headed to The Dry Tortugas to start my new hobby of astrophotography. Your videos helped me get ready for that. Thanks!
Welcome to the hobby!
Really helpful. Thank you 😊
Very nice presentation
Don't know much about this topic but is so interesting to learn new things! Keep going
Literally EVERY review of the Star Adventurer complains about the flimsy battery cover. As of July 2021 they still have addressed it. Overall it looks like a good system to quickly get shooting the sky.
I’ve got a CF tripod that has a hook under the base where I can hang a bag or weight to stabilise the rig. Your tip for aligning the polar scope is spot on. I used the same method for polar scope on my Celestron mount.
Thank you for best educational video off astrophotography on the UA-cam right now. I think I have done a decision to order Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer to start my journey within astrophotography.
Thank you 😊
Thank you for this. Very clearly explained.
Thanks for the tip on aligning the polar scope.
Yup, definitely liked it.. By far the clearest explanation of how to get started with this particular model. Im just about to buy one in the next few days..
Thank you! It’s a great little mount, you’ll love it!
I used the compass app and level bar on my cellphone, in daylight, to carefully adjust north and the elevation of polaris. When I checked at night, polaris was very close to the good position and on the ring.
Excellent video! One comment... actually, aligning the polar scope on the SA (or any other EQ mount) doesn't require the visual target be at infinity. Since the polar scope's axis and the mount's RA axis are -- or soon will be -- coincidental, there's no parallax. Therefore, any target that's in focus range can be used. I realized that after I drove across town (to a location where I could see a distant object) to align my old LXD75 polar scope a few years ago. :-)
great info and well presented. Just received my SW 72ED and sky adventurer in the mail this week!
Thank you! Congrats on your new equipment!
I have the Star Adventurer tripod with the extension and I love it. I find it light, as far as carrying it about but strong enough to do the job. I have used my Nikon D5600 with a 16 - 85mm lens with no issues. I would highly recommend it!!!
Brilliant! Thanks for the info 🔭
Great thanks for that I will now view your other tutorials.
Thanks Martin, really appreciate it!
Wow very good video that shows about good experience
Superb video! Really well explained. Steep leaning curve but I’m determined to incorporate more Astro into my landscape photography. I bought this in April and haven’t had much chance to practice. Took it out last night but didn’t understand what I was doing and struggled in the dark. Going to watch your videos on this kit and practice in the garden whenever I can.
Thank you! Practicing in the day time is definitely something I would recommend. Also for polar alignment, try doing it at twilight as it makes the process much easier when you’re doing it the first few times 🔭
AstroExploring thanks for that tip! I’ve got a solid set up - great tripod and pan/tilt head - and am just working out ergonomics of the whole set up etc in my living room today :) Luckily my power bank for charging phones etc powers the mount - have left it running for hours and it hasn’t cut out. That gets around the issue of losing the battery cover in the field in the dark. I’ll now seal up the battery compartment with clingfilm and duct tape. Looking forward to some clear skies for garden practice on polar alignment. I did calibration a few months ago using a roof aerial and it was easy - and calibrated our of the box anyway. What a great bit of kit for landscape photographers looking to do more astro without breaking the bank!!
for polar alignment ifound that the ipolar adapter for the heq5 fits the grove in the fine tuning adapter wih an o ring underneath attach ipolar over the plug covering the polar scope set all gear you are using then polar align very accurate
That’s a great tip!!
i am not sure which video you said this on, but i am eternally greatful for mentioning what (plate solving is). currently, i am using a very manual setup of skywatcher star adventurer pro kit with a modified nikon d7100 and a rokinon 650-1300mm lens so i cant slew my mount, nor can i get the footage from the camera to APT by cable cause i need a shutter release cable to USB so im doing it with the SD card transfer. but hey, i found trianglum, heart nebula, and almost helix before it set. THANK YOU!
No problem! 😃
perfect video and merci beaucoup !
Thanks !
Hello, as a newbie to the star adventurers, just received a new Star Adventurer 2i Pro wifi model and havent put on a tripod yet but trying to figure out how it works through you tube videos.
One question, does the tracker come from the factory with firmware? I see you can download firmware from Sky Tracker. But do I need to update this stuff before it will even work?
Thanks and loved you informative video.
So with the dovetail bar, how do you image towards the south? It looked like you didn't have much of an orientation apart from pointing north. Do you just keep changing the declination until it's facing south?
When u screw on the wedge to the tripod, except for the micro-adjustments, can u orient which direction the wedge is facing with respect to the tripod legs, or are u stuck with how it screws in? I will be on a slight slope, and I'd like 2 legs be side by side up the hill so that I can just put something under the third, down slope leg?
What do the different speeds mean? Which one should I use?
HI Nick, can you please tell what the dovetail size is? My dovetail is a the standard size (SVBONY) but the dovetail depth of where the screw from the Star Adventurer is too deep for the mount to screw to the dove tail (If that make sense) So, Im hoping that the I can get the dovetail you have attached to the scope and swap it. :-) Thanks!!
I just received my Skywatcher Star Adventurer Mini (SAM). However I haven't gotten an equatorial wedge. Would it still work without it? If so is there anything else I would have to do in order for it to work properly?
For milky way photography, could I set this up and frame the shot or would I not be able to move my camera for a better composition?
Yes you can adjust the SA in dec and RA to get the framing right
Ive seen a lot of these videos using the L bracket with the dslr facing northwards, I would rather use the L bracket with my dslr, as you state its better to polar align after you've set your equipment incase of accident knocks during set up. So what if a target you want is in the south, do you just turn your dslr or scope in the opposite direction to as you have it in this video. I hope this makes sense. I know the ball head is easier for this but you can't polar align after.
Use the clutch to unlock RA and rotate the equipment. Then use the declination knob next to the base that the DSLR sits on and you can point anywhere you want in the sky that way 👍🏻
@@AstroExploring thank you Nick, be good to see you use it in this way sometime as all I've seen on UA-cam users with the star adventurer is in the home position or using a ball head with is less stable and can't polar align after, clear skies and keep up the great work
For £100 you should have gone with the Skywatcher 3/8" stainless steel tripod, it's what I use and also works with big goto mounts.
I wanted a smaller tripod that I could use out and about for daytime photography too. I’ve also got an HEQ5 so have a sturdy tripod for bigger mounts 🙂
@@AstroExploring I use it as my portable mount for my star adventurer and 72ED Pro, along with my ASIair the setup allows me to get 4min+ guided subs. I wouldn't have put that setup on anything less sturdy.
Excellent run-through! One point though. The online manual refers to setting dates and times on the mount around the polar viewer I believe. You did not mention this. I can’t check myself as I am still waiting on delivery due to a back log of new orders.
You don’t need to use the date and time circles. Just use the polar finder on the SAM console app. I have a polar alignment tutorial that explains how to do it 🙂
Ok i am just getting into astrophotography and i have been hearing about autoguiders would i need this with a star tracker? what is the diference between star trackers and auto guiders?
if you do a really precise polar alignment you can get couple minute exposure with no trails w/o guider, rechecking alignment after putting all the gear on wont hurt either,
Hi Nick, just got the mini version and like it, I need a tripod and I see you recommend the Manfrott, would this be better to get in terms of payload for if I increase to the Larger SW Pro? I want to mount my 65mm Quad (5lbs) and camera totally 6lb which is at the limit of the mini and getting the SW tripod carries less payload? Am about to push the Buy button as Im in Spain for 2 weeks and really want to get the right tripod :-) thanks!
Hi Simon. The tripod is great for smaller payloads. When I am using it with my telescope I generally find it a bit too wobbly tbh. It tracks the sky okay but any slight movements and the tripod starts to shake a little. You can buy a Sky-Watcher HEQ5 tripod which will be much sturdier
@@AstroExploring Thanks Nick, I ordered an EQ6 R Pro and only just got confirmation so going to pick it up. I did consider the HEQ5 but thought I will get Aperture fever so went bigger. Going to use the Mini Mount for MW and Nebulae - thanks again! Simon
Great video! Do you ever use the graduation circles to polar align? Judging by the steps, it sounds like it's the most accurate (and the easiest, as you don't have to crouch down and view thru the polar scope to align) method of polar alignment, but the manual does not necessarily state so. Would you be able to do a video of it in the future? Thanks for the great video again, mate!
EDIT: Apologies, I felt like I was missing something with this method, and I was right - you still have to put Polaris at the 6'o clock position in the FOV of the polar scope to finish the polar alignment. Oh well!
Yeah unfortunately you have to look through the polar scope either way!
On 7:49 you’re showing that green device on the bottom of your camera. Where is it from, that accessory? I need this as well. Thanks so much!
Is it the round green accessory that I attached to the mount? That comes with the Star Adventurer? Sorry if that’s wrong but the time stamp you’ve linked shows me attaching the telescope so I’m not sure what item you mean
nice video. quick question though.... using the accessory can you illuminate the polar scope with all the kit connected?
Thank you! Yes there is an adapter that comes in this box to allow you to use the illuminator while you have your kit mounted but I’ve lost mine unfortunately
Anyone who highlights the "Upcoming pup" gets a thumbs up, regardless of the content!
Haha thanks!
What if the object you want to shoot is behind you after polar alignment? I'm waiting for my Star Adventurer and this is something that was bothering me for a while :)
Great video, I have a question, I'm new to astrophotography I just got my Sky-watcher star adventurer when I look through the scope on the star adventurer I see everything upside down. Am I doing something wrong or is that the way its suppose to look?
Hi Luis, everything you see through the polar scope is inverted so it will appear upside down 🙂
I presume this setup is strictly for Viewing or DSLR camera...This Skywatcher appears to be very nice for these operations...Thank you
It can be used with any lightweight setup e.g. camera lens + DSLR but also small refractor telescopes and dedicated astronomy cameras
Could you provide the make and model of your ball-head mount? Great video!
Thanks! I use a Manfrotto Element tripod which comes with a ball head. It has a payload capacity of 8KG which is more than enough for the SA. It also has a hook on the bottom to hang some extra weight off for extra sturdiness.
Hi Nick, great channel, been watching a while but now I have a question. I've been using the Star Adventurer with a 70 -200 lens and a dslr. I've recently bought the 72ed and was eager to see you balance it with a FF and dslr. Unfortunately you didn't. I can get it balanced in the RA ok but the DEC is just too heavy. Any suggestions
Hi Nick. Unfortunately the only way to achieve Dec balance properly is to buy a longer dovetail. I cover this in other videos but the dovetail that comes with the scope is just too short
I have a problem with my Star adventurer.. I think. recently purchased a Skywatcher Star adventurer pro, Since buying it I have only had it out twice because of weather conditions. I have had it set to Astro time-lapse mode both times. The motor runs fine for 30 seconds, then it adjusts back and forward before moving on again. I have set it up with and with no weight on the tracking mount, and the problem persists. I have adjusted the worm screw as suggested by some members of Stargazers lounge and I have completed a factory reset in case I have added something into the app that I shouldn't have and I am totally lost on what to do next.
I don't know if it's something I have done wrong with it or if there is an issue in the gearing
please help.
Hi,
Thanks for the rgeat review. May I ask you what do you think of the combo star adventurer / evostar 72ED. I read quite a lot that the 72ED is too heavy for the star adventurer. I would like to start astrophotography and I am looking for an easy to use nomad set I could bring outside in the nature to take pictures of DSO combine with a canon 6d. Would you recommand this combo for a beginner? Thanks a lot.
Lots of people, including me, use the 72ED on the Star Adventurer. It’s not too heavy but you’ll definitely need a good solid tripod to go with it, that will be key to success. If you have your 6D and some lenses already then have a go with that setup first 🙂
Great tutorial! 1 question, I've read from many that the 72ed is a bit too heavy for the star adventurer. Have you encountered any issues w tracking accuracy? Have you tried autoguiding?
The 72ED isn’t too heavy, it’s well within the limit of the SA but you will need a very sturdy tripod to handle the weight. I haven’t had any tracking issues, making sure you tripod is level and stable is key, plus an accurate polar alignment and you should be fine. I haven’t personally tried auto guiding but I know there are people who do it with great success
@@AstroExploring Perfect. Thank you!
Hi,
Great video, but one thing.... How about levelling your tripod ?
Thanks! Levelling the tripod is important for polar alignment, which I cover in my PA video but for the initial set up out of the box it doesn’t really matter
Is this the cheapest one of Sky-Watcher's EQ mounts? Can't really afford an expensive one.
It is the cheapest but bear in mind you’ll also need a good sturdy tripod for it to sit on, so factor that into the costs too
@@AstroExploring thank you! I'll put some research into which tripod to buy
Hi just got one of these got a stupid question if you mount the telescope to it with it pointing north how would you be able to capture the south being it’s pointing at an angle
I get this asked more than any other question so it’s definitely not stupid! You use the right ascension and declination adjustments to rotate your equipment to face the way you want them to. On the declination there’s is a knob to turn your equipment and the RA clutch is on the main body of the SA. Hope that makes sense
AstroExploring now you have said that it makes sense lol I don’t know why I didn’t think of it thank you so much
So far, I have gotten away with my DSLR mounted on a ball head, but will eventually have to start using the fine-tuning assembly for longer focal lengths/heavier lenses, or even small telescopes. With the dovetail plate/l-bracket/fine-tuning assembly setup, how do I frame, for example, the milky way that is in SE/S/SW directions?
Hi Sunil. You release the RA and DEC clutches and manually move your equipment to your desired area of the sky and then lock the clutches down again. I briefly cover it in the video 🙂
@@AstroExploring yeah, a little too brief for me to completely get it lol. I don't have the setup in front of me, so I can't quite visualize how the DEC adjustment would go (RA is obvious, of course), but I'll maybe watch another video or two on the basics of eq mount, or try it myself.
There’s a little clutch underneath the dec bracket that you can undo which allowed you to freely move the telescope or camera around on that axis
Cheers, mate! :)
What is that dovetail bar on your scope? I have the SA and would like to mount my 72mm refractor on it . Great video
The dovetail that I connect the 72ED on it is the L bracket that cake with the SA. It’s the dovetail bar that the counterweight fits into. Hope that helps
Just reviewed your video on the SA. I was asking about the the dove tail bar that is attached to your scope via the ring straps . In the video you then attach scope to the fine tune assembly. I can’t seem to find a dove tail bar like the one your using . The reason I’m asking is I have balancing issues with my 72mm Atro Tech .
Great tutorial ! Keep em coming
Do I need to calibrate the polar scope if I just use the sam console app to see where polaris is and polar align easily as long as the 0 on the reticle is on the top?
Yeah you’ll still need to do it because as soon as you move the mount in RA it will drift off Polaris. If you’re buying a new one, the polar scope probably won’t need adjusting though 🙂
im new to this so might be daft question but if im using a heavy lens and point everything north to get set up but I want to move the camera to point south is a using a ball head the only way to do this
Not a daft question at all 😊 you could also use the L-bracket and counterweight that I showed in the video. You would move this by unlocking the clutch and rotating the mount in right ascension. Then use the knob at the top of the bracket to change the declination. I hope that makes sense. Feel free to pop a message to me on my Instagram or Facebook so I can send you some pictures if that helps
@@AstroExploring ill look you up on Facebook if thats ok. Thanks for you help. Appreciate it
I am completely new to astro photography and i have a question.
If you hae done the polar allignment done, then how do you "move" the camera if you want to take pictures of something where Polaris is not visible anymoren (like Polaris is in the north and the thing you want to take pictres of is in the south)
If you’re using a ball head then simply adjust the ball head to frame up the target in question. If using the L bracket and counterweight then you’ll need to release both the RA and declination clutches to move your camera/telescope to your desired target. Hope that helps
You polar align the mount not the camera/scope. Once polar aligned as long as you keep the mount pointing exactly how it was you can loosen the RA and DEC clutches and point the camera wherever you want, then close the clutches again and use the fine adjustment controls to center perfectly, DO NOT use a ball head, your image will have trails in them even at on short exposures.
Great informative video, thanks 👍
Just wondering one thing, what power source do you need? Just a 12v plug in like the bigger mounts or does it have internal batteries?
Thanks Dylan! You can power the mount with either 4x AA batteries. Or if you can connect to the mini USB port if you have an external power source that can support USB charging at 5V
@@AstroExploring Thankyou very much, I have one more question maybe you mentioned ib the video and I missed it. I don't understand how this mount actually tracks, Do you just align the mount and then manually point your camera at the object you want?
Yeah that’s absolutely right. You’re polar aligning the mount not the camera. Once you’re aligned you don’t move the mount itself but move the camera using either a ball head or rotating the RA and declination clutches. Hope that makes sense
@@AstroExploring Thanks, still sounds strange to me, used to the way my heq5 works but I'm sure it will make sense when I start using it.
It will definitely make sense once you have it. Just that you adjust it manually rather than your mount doing the work 🙂🔭
Hello, what's the name of that tripod? it seems to be really balanced and tough, so i think i am gonna buy one.
Thanks
It’s a Manfrotto tripod. Link is in the description
@@AstroExploring ah ok sorry, i didn't see it. i was focused on the video! :D
@@KTMAstroAdventure no problem! 😃
Could I Mount a Celestron SE6 Nexstar and would it support it??
That telescope would be far too big for the Star Adventurer. Really you need to be looking for small refractors
I recently bought one of these for astrophotography and I cannot get the thing to balance. I will get it to balance and then I move my equipment and have to rebalance it. But once it starts to move it swings out of balance. It's like my unit cannot hold the balance correctly. Have you had any experience like this? Great video as well!
What equipment are you using on your SA? Once balanced you should be able to freely move in RA and Dec freely with no issues
@@AstroExploring I have been using my Nikon D850 and 200 to 500mm lens, total weight is 6 lbs. So under the payload capacity of the unit. I haven even tried switching cameras to my Z6 mirrorless which is half the weight of the D850 and still goes out of balance. All my images are blurred even when it looks stable as well. So I believe it needs to be calibrated too.
Jarrod Ames are you using a ball head? You need to be using the L bracket and counterweight to balance that payload properly, hopefully you’re already doing that
@@AstroExploring No ballhead as the weight seems to be too much. I got it to balance finally last night with an extra counter weight. However, I cant get sharp photos. I am still seeing star trailing in any shots longer then 15 seconds.
Jarrod Ames hi Jarrod if you’re seeing star trails after 15 seconds then it may be your polar alignment. I’d suggest spending time really getting your PA as accurate as you can and then maybe try a short focal length lens at first to see how that goes
Everyone makes a video on how to setup the tracker but nobody makes a video on how to use it, explain how to turn it on and how to know is WORKING. Nobody gets into specific details. 😢
12:53
You kinda remind me of Ed Helms
:)
Wish I had his money!
@@AstroExploring The amount of scopes we would buy with that money :D
First comment! Great video... I'll be referring to this as I get mine set up haha
Thanks very much! You’re a pro, you’ll have no trouble with it 😃🔭
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Great explanation - thanks so much!
You’re welcome!