As camera technology continues to improve, more and more photographers are trying their hand at capturing the night sky. Even with improving technology and sensors that perform better than ever in low-light situations, there is still a lot to yearn for when it comes to astrophotography. Regardless of your experience shooting the night sky, a star tracker is an excellent investment that will help you get more detail and less noise out of your night photos.
If you wish to take better night sky and Milky Way photos, a star tracker is one of the best investments you can make. Even if your camera isn’t one of the best low-light performers on the market, a star tracker can help offset the camera’s limitations.
What is a Star Tracker?
A star tracker is an electronic device with a rotating plate that can match the speed of the earth’s rotation. A ball head goes on top of the plate, and your camera sits on the ball head. This allows for longer shutter speeds without experiencing trailing stars. Without using a tracker, your shutter speed will be limited, and in turn, you’ll have to raise the ISO to compensate, resulting in images with more noise and less detail.
Star trackers vary in size, with some as small as a pound and the size of an index card, with others being much bigger. Generally speaking, the larger trackers will be better for heavier lenses and photographers who want to capture deep-space images. In comparison, the lighter trackers are ideal for hikers and those who wish to shoot wild-angle night sky photos.
How Does a Star Tracker Work?
Most star trackers align with an object in the sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, you can align your star tracker with Polaris (North Star). In the Southern Hemisphere, you can align your tracker with Sigma Octantis (Southern Pole Star). Once aligned, you can program the tracker to begin rotation. The rotation is very slow and matches the speed at which the earth is turning. Effectively, this keeps the stars at the same spot on your sensor over long exposures, eliminating trailing and allowing you to use very long shutter speeds to capture highly detailed night sky images.
Is there any Downside to Star Trackers?
The biggest problem with star tracking is also the most significant advantage. Because the tracker rotates to match the stars, the earth — or anything in the foreground — will be blurry. If you’re only capturing the sky in your image, this doesn’t matter. But if you want a foreground in your image, you’ll need to take another image of the foreground, which you’ll blend with your sky image later. Star trackers can also be heavy and bulky, so carrying them around isn’t the easiest. In recent years, new trackers have been released that are both compact and lightweight, so if you plan on hiking with your tracker, look for a more compact option.
Do I Need a Counterweight?
Many star trackers include the option to have a counterweight, which helps offset the camera’s weight by balancing another weight on the opposite side. Most counterweights are easy to use but aren’t necessary for most shooters. If your camera and lens combined exceed five pounds, it might be advisable to use a counterweight, especially if you’re using a longer lens where the weight distribution is further out from the base of the tracker.
What Settings Should I Use When Tracking?
Every situation is different, but opening up your aperture to f/2.8 or f/4 is an excellent place to start. Then, set your ISO to 800 and adjust your shutter speed to 4 minutes. Alternatively, if you find there to be too much noise still, you can drop your ISO to 400 and open up the shutter speed to 8 minutes. Remember that the longer the shutter speed, the longer you have to wait between images, and any slight misalignment will be amplified in longer exposures. Always be sure to double-check the alignment of your tracker before starting a long exposure!
Best Star Trackers for Astrophotography in 2024
Best Overall: Benro Polaris Astro Edition
The Benro Polaris is the first electronically controlled tripod head that is one of the easiest trackers to use today. The head can be automatically aligned on various celestial objects, making it versatile in places where you can’t see the northern or southern pole stars. The alignment is very easy, and the tracker is easy to set up and use. In addition to star tracking, you can also use the Benro Polaris for People Remover, Panorama, Motion Timelapse, Dynamic Exposure Timelapse, and Focus Stacking.
Best for Telephoto Lenses and Heavy Cameras: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
If you’re using a heavy telephoto lens and camera to capture deep-space images, the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer may be the right tracker for you. With the added Counterweight Kit (sold separately), the tracker can hold 11 lbs of camera equipment. This is important for those with larger setups and any photographer who wants to shoot up to 400mm to capture images of galaxies or nebulas. Additionally, the included scope is easy to use to align your tracker, and all the accessories you need to get started are included in the kit.
Best Compact: Slik ECH 630
For those with more compact setups, the Slik ECH 630 tracker can support up to 4.4 lbs when star tracking. Compared to other trackers on the market, Slik’s tracker is not only lightweight but also compact and easy to fit inside your bag. The tracker doesn’t come in an odd shape like many others; instead, it is just a standard square shape, making it easy to pack around. Additionally, you can use this tracker for time-lapse, celestial, or lunar tracking.
Best Budget: iOptron SkyTracker Pro
The iOptron SkyTracker Pro is easy to use and won’t break the bank. With a polar scope attached on the side, this tracker isn’t tricky to set up or align to your target. This tracker is rechargeable; you can expect 24 hours of continuous operation on one charge. This means you should be able to get 3-4 full nights of shooting without a charge.
