What is available to replace a Star Tracker?

I own an iOptron Star Tracker but have not been able to use it for a few years due to my eye sight. I cannot see Polaris at all in the sky anymore.

Is there anything else available to do the job where I do not have to align the star tracker myself to Polaris?

Thank you

Does anyone have ANY ideas?

Can't help but listening in as I am interested as well. I have not done any astro in a very long time (film days) and would like to get back into it.

gjl711 wrote in post #19416876
Can't help but listening in as I am interested as well. I have not done any astro in a very long time (film days) and would like to get back into it.

No problem. I am hoping someone can help us. Seems I have heard there are some things available that will align themselves in some way or other.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19416209
I own an iOptron Star Tracker but have not been able to use it for a few years due to my eye sight. I cannot see Polaris at all in the sky anymore.

Is there anything else available to do the job where I do not have to align the star tracker myself to Polaris?

Thank you

Could you use an app to identify the location of Polaris? I have the same tracker as you and in the UK I understand I don't need to use the "sight" to find Polaris - I just look for it in the sky and point the tracker in the rough direction. I haven't taken loads of photos with it so this may not be a great way to use the tracker.

I too have heard of options where it will self align. I am sure I watched a YouTube video on one such device. I will see if I can dig out the details

PSteven wrote in post #19416917
Could you use an app to identify the location of Polaris? I have the same tracker as you and in the UK I understand I don't need to use the "sight" to find Polaris - I just look for it in the sky and point the tracker in the rough direction. I haven't taken loads of photos with it so this may not be a great way to use the tracker.

I too have heard of options where it will self align. I am sure I watched a YouTube video on one such device. I will see if I can dig out the details

When I was able to see Polaris, I had to be VERY close to my alignment, not only left and right but also up and down. I fail to see how an app could get me very close at all.

It would be nice if you could find a video again to see how that works. Thank you for any help you can give me and gjl711!

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19416209
I own an iOptron Star Tracker but have not been able to use it for a few years due to my eye sight. I cannot see Polaris at all in the sky anymore.

Is there anything else available to do the job where I do not have to align the star tracker myself to Polaris?

Thank you

I know absolutely nothing about the subject, but this seems to have an "illuminated polar scope", might that help?

https://www.firstlight​optics.com …rer-astronomy-bundle.html

Pekka wrote in post #19416963
I know absolutely nothing about the subject, but this seems to have an "illuminated polar scope", might that help?

https://www.firstlight​optics.com …rer-astronomy-bundle.html

Thank you very much Pekka! I feel really HONORED to have your input into my thread!!

I will need to do further investigation on this product.

Hi Charles,

I have the Skywatcher "Star Adverturer Mini (SAM)" tracker, and as you may know, we don't have a bright star at the south celestial pole like Polaris. I've used focal lengths of up to 200mm with acceptable tracking after polar aligning as follows:

I have the altitude set at 72.5 degrees (which is our latitude here in Brisbane), and then I just use a compass and laser pointer to point the tracker to the south (taking into account the local magnetic deviation, which for Brisbane is +11 degrees).

Here is an example of Comet SWAN shot with 30 sec exposures with a 70-200 f/4L @ 200mm a couple of years ago, in monochrome and colour:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2j4F​quA

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iWV​B1n

S.R.M. wrote in post #19417746
Hi Charles,

I have the Skywatcher "Star Adverturer Mini (SAM)" tracker, and as you may know, we don't have a bright star at the south celestial pole like Polaris. I've used focal lengths of up to 200mm with acceptable tracking after polar aligning as follows:

I have the altitude set at 72.5 degrees (which is our latitude here in Brisbane), and then I just use a compass and laser pointer to point the tracker to the south (taking into account the local magnetic deviation, which for Brisbane is +11 degrees).

Here is an example of Comet SWAN shot with 30 sec exposures with a 70-200 f/4L @ 200mm a couple of years ago, in monochrome and colour:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2j4F​quA Comet SWAN tail 3rd May by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iWV​B1n Comet SWAN 3 May 2020 by Stephen Mudge, on Flickr

Hi Stephen,

You said:

You have to set this in your Star Adventurer?

For me I would set the values for where I live? I know my latitude and longitude using what I see in Google Earth Pro for my home.

What do you point a compass and laser pointer to?

Charles- try the compass in your phone to set true north. It may allow a correction for magnetic variation

Capn Jack wrote in post #19417830
Charles- try the compass in your phone to set true north. It may allow a correction for magnetic variation

Are you saying to try setting true north with the compass on my phone on my original iOprton Sky Tracker? Or if I buy what Stephen is suggesting?

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19417897
Are you saying to try setting true north with the compass on my phone on my original iOprton Sky Tracker? Or if I buy what Stephen is suggesting?

Either way. You want the sky tracker to point north.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19417902
Either way. You want the sky tracker to point north.

Thank you for your suggestion, but I can almost assure you doing that would not be near close enough. You need to be VERY accurate not only left and right but also up and down.

It seems I have read somewhere there are attachments made to work with telescopes that will do what I want it to do, but my memory is so piss poor I do not remember how that works or who makes them.

I aligned my weather station to true south by using Google Earth. It only works if you are going to use the same position or very close. What I did was to draw a line from my weather station position to the south pole on Google earth. Then I zoomed into my house and noted where the line intersected a prominent landmark. (for me it was a high tension tower about 4 miles away. ) Don't see why this couldn't work for true north as well, just draw the line to the north pole. I have to think it is quite accurate as well. Best think is it's zero cost to try.