Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack

What the Star Adventurer 2i Is

The 2i is an ultra compact, high precision celestial tracking platform for astrophotography. It carries up to 5 kg (11 lb). Besides Astrophotography and regular-exposure time-lapse, it offers long-exposure time-lapse and Sky-Watcher's patented Astro Time-lapse, and it supports star-scape photography.

The mount head measures 173.5 x 113.3 x 96 mm and weighs 1 kg (2.2 lb).

The 144-Tooth Drive: Celestial, Solar, and Lunar Tracking

The 86 mm diameter, 144-tooth aluminum alloy wheel gear is paired with a 13 mm diameter high-tension brass worm gear, driven by a DC servo motor.

Celestial, solar and lunar tracking speeds are preprogrammed, and customized speeds can be set in the Star Adventurer mini Console app.

Balancing With the 1 kg Counterweight

The Pro Pack includes a counterweight kit, a 1 kg counterweight and shaft, to balance the camera or telescope load.

With the wedge set up, the manual has you attach the mounting assembly, camera, ball head and counterweight, loosen the clutch knob, move the counterweight until the load balances, then fasten the clutch knob.

Polar Alignment With the Built-in Polar Scope

Tracking needs the rotation axis aligned with Earth's axis. The built-in polar scope has about a 7° field of view. For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the goal is to place the star Polaris in a specific position within the scope's reticle; in the Southern Hemisphere, the star Sigma Octantis is used.

The latitude (EQ) base has altitude and azimuth adjustment knobs, an altitude scale and a bubble level, and gives higher accuracy and stability than a standard photo tripod head. The companion smartphone app includes a "Polar Clock" utility that shows where to place the alignment star in the polar scope's field of view based on your location and the current time. Note that while the polar scope is built-in, the illuminator to light its reticle is an optional accessory sold separately.

Built-in Wi-Fi and the Mode Dial

The 2i has built-in Wi-Fi for the free Star Adventurer mini Console app for Android and iOS. By turning the Mode Dial to "APP", the mount creates its own Wi-Fi network that you connect to with your phone or tablet.

The app sets:

• Exposure Time & Interval: Set the exposure time and the frame period, which gives the camera time to cool down between photos.
• Photo Count: Define the total number of frames for your sequence.
• Tracking Rate: Select celestial, solar, lunar, or a custom speed.
• Dithering: Enable unguided dithering to slightly shift pointing between frames, which helps remove hot and cold pixels and satellite or airplane trails during stacking.
• Time-Lapse Settings: Set the swing range for a pendulum effect in time-lapses.

Customized settings are stored in the preprogrammed functions selected by the Mode Dial. This allows you to run your favorite sequence on a subsequent night just by turning the dial, without needing to connect to the Wi-Fi.

DSLR Shutter Control for Exposures Beyond 30 Seconds

Many cameras cannot set exposures longer than 30 seconds by themselves. The SNAP port, a 2.5 mm 3-segment stereo jack, lets the mount control the camera's shutter so exposures can exceed 30 seconds.

Connect your camera with the optional DSLR shutter control cable for your model and set the camera to BULB mode; otherwise the camera's own shutter setting takes over.

The ST-4 Port for Single-Axis Tracking Correction

For longer focal lengths you can connect an autoguider. The single-axis autoguiding port uses an RJ-12 6-pin ST-4 interface.

What the Pro Pack Adds

The Pro Pack adds the accessories the manual lists for the 2i:

• Latitude (EQ) Base: The equatorial wedge, attached to the tripod by its 3/8-inch threaded hole, adjusts the latitude for polar alignment.
• Adjustable Dovetail L-Bracket: To mount a camera or telescope, with fine-tuning of the pointing in two directions.
• Counterweight Kit (1 kg): A counterweight and shaft to balance the telescope or camera load.
• Ball Head Adapter: To mount a standard camera ball head with a 3/8" thread screw on the Star Adventurer 2i.

Dual Power via 4 AA Batteries or a 5V USB Input

It runs on 4 AA batteries (accepting a DC voltage range of 3.6V to 6.5V) housed in an internal compartment.

It can also run on external DC 5V through the mini-B USB port. The mode dial LED blinks slowly at low battery level. The mount operates in temperatures from 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F).

Field Setup: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Session

Set up your tripod and make sure it is stable. Attach the equatorial wedge by its 3/8-inch threaded hole, turn the tripod so the altitude adjustment knob faces north (in the Northern Hemisphere), and level it with the built-in bubble level. Set the altitude indicator to your latitude; the app shows it under Settings, Location. Mount the Star Adventurer 2i head on the wedge.

Attach the mounting assembly, camera, ball head and counterweight, then loosen the clutch knob and move the counterweight until the load balances. Fasten the clutch knob, remove the polar scope cap and polar-align with the wedge's altitude and azimuth knobs and the Polar Clock utility. Then connect the SNAP camera control cable and start imaging from the app or the Mode Dial.

Photography Modes

Astrophotography: the camera follows the sky so each frame of a sequence is framed identically, ready for stacking. Unguided dithering is available in this mode.

Time-lapse: short- and long-exposure time-lapse with horizontal or vertical rotation. Astro Time-lapse: the mount tracks during each exposure, then returns the camera to the starting point, so the sky moves over a fixed foreground in the video.