DIY Astrophotgraphy Hinge Tracker

Ok so I am just looking at getting into astrophotography. I am not sure if this is helpful or a good design but I figured Id throw it out there. http://garyseronik.com …ker-for-astrophotography/

I'm interested too so I hope there are some replies.

That thing will work, but you will probably waste a lot of time and delete a lot of pictures that don't turn out well. I made three of them, and used them until I found out that there were commercially made trackers available. I ordered an iOptron Sky Tracker, and my Scotch Mounts (hinged trackers) have been gathering dust in the garage ever since. While it will track the stars if the calculations are right, it takes a lot of concentration and patience to use it. Aligning it is pretty much just ball-park alignment, at best, and if you have a manually operated one, like the one you referenced, you will likely introduce vibrations and blurred stars when using it.

The length from the hinge to the drive screw must be compatible with the thread spacing on the rod that drives it. I think I still have the calculations I used for a 1/4" x 24 threaded rod, or I could measure the one in the garage if you want. But if you can afford it, I would strongly suggest you buy a commercially made tracker and a really sturdy tripod to support it. Regular camera tripods with an adjustable center column are too flexible, and not solid enough.

Here's the final one I made, and a photo of the Milky Way I took with it before I learned about the commercial tracker I use now. I happened to have a chronographically controlled motor I used to drive it. My first one was manually rotated, like the one in your referenced link. Some of my more recent images, using the iOptron tracker are posted on POTN. I can easily take 10 to 15 minute exposures with it.