Auto-Guider Tutorial - SkyGuider Pro & Star Adventurer (2021 Edition)

[@louisemanuel8044]

The Bob Ross of Astrophotography...Thank you Peter.

[@ntt2k]

Probably the most intuitive video I've seen on how to set up equipment for deep sky. As much as other youtubers are nice, their videos always seem to be about "this is the equipment I used, and these are these are the shots I've taken". Which has never helped, since there's a lot more involved. Thanks Peter!

[@brycenchad580]

sorry to be so off topic but does anyone know a trick to log back into an instagram account? I somehow lost my account password. I love any assistance you can offer me.

[@brycenchad580]

@Vincenzo Aiden I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im trying it out atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@brycenchad580]

@Vincenzo Aiden It worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my ass !

[@vincenzoaiden5383]

@Brycen Chad Glad I could help =)

[@pifilos]

I had quite a few questions regarding how guiding works. This video is a gem. Thank you very much for all the info.

[@arielarias9074]

Your videos are just too good, you're by far the best guy explaining these details for newcomers like me. Thanks

[@-WhizzBang-]

I bought the ZWO 120 mini and guide scope, followed your video to set it up with my Sky Adv Pro 2 and Laptop, worked perfectly! Thank you!

[@dmkoslicki]

This was fantastically helpful! And perfect timing since the exact equipment you discussed (that I ordered weeks ago) arrived just one day after you uploaded this video. Thank you!

[@magicker8052]

internet synchronicity rules

[@austinkaiser7190]

Thank you Peter, this is really helpful! Perfect timing as I’m just getting started in autoguiding!😁

[@waelomar3144]

I ve been searching youtube and internet through the wholw week to find useful tutorial about autoguiding... this video is the most comprehensive tutorial i ve seen ...you stated all information i need ...i find exactly what i searched for in this video....thank you Peter for this valuable information

[@cargo359]

Thank you, I did not realize I could use a guide camera with my SkyGuider

[@phutchis]

It makes a remarkable difference 4 min exposures at 600mm regularly. Hope to push that to 5 mins soon...

[@kalef1234]

only video i've found that clears up all the confusion for beginners. You make it so much easier than these 10 year old blog articles from boomers

[@IcedReaver]

You couldn't have uploaded at a better time! Waiting on my ASI Air Pro and 120mm to arrive. It's going to compliment my Star Adventurer Pro, Redcat 51 and Canon T3i. I opted for the WO guidescope which is the same price as the ZWO, but I thought the WO just looked nicer. Can't wait for it all to arrive!

[@Biriyanibulu]

among my favored setups but now have a EQ35M mount but both work the same

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Thanks, Peter! Your videos are very helpful! I got my setup working because of your videos! Well done!

[@mattmcbride5764]

Got the sky guider pro a few weeks ago and the sv bony UHC eos clip filter. Both work great and I made the decision for the tracker based on your videos as well as Trevor’s from astrobackyard. For months i couldn’t decide so thank you for helping me with that.

[@AstroDenny]

This is a cool video- The reason the planetary camera is USB3 is because the technique for planetary imaging is to capture as many frames as quickly as possible and USB3 makes that happen.

[@MazzifLOL]

Im just getting into AP. This one video has been the most valuable and informative. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

[@naratsitra4565]

The best explanation that I need right now, Thank you Peter!

[@Biriyanibulu]

Fantastic PHD2 tutorial Peter - Took me back to Mt. Rainier ,Really brushed up on it , As for the question I emailed you about - Sort of found out why I could not get a display on the ASIAIR PRO, I am doing it in the daytime and have been told to cover the top of the guide scope partially with tape - will let you know how that works out

[@kamilkp]

Fantastic video. You showed and talked about exactly what I wanted to know. Except for one thing: does the mobile app need to stay in foreground for the entire duration of the guiding? Or can it run in the background? (with the ASIair PRO)

[@RichardAtkinsonspaceman]

That’s a fantastic overview of guiding with the Star Adventurer. Thank you so much, it may have cost me £200 but worth every penny. 👍

[@Arthur_My_Dear]

Fantastic tutorial and teaching style. Thanks for giving so much time and effort like this

[@chrisdeverill9857]

Insanely helpful for a senior Newbie.Great video! I'm on my way!

[@tacomaastro7462]

I use a 24" monitor on one of my setups, that has a privacy screen on it which reduces the side glare from the monitor. Also, there is a PHD2 Beta2 version that supports multiple star guiding.

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

I really appreciate this video Peter. I appreciate your calm, focused manner in outlining the steps one by one. This makes it easy to use this video, almost as a checklist. This video wil help so many in bring the wonder of our world into a better view. I live in a fairly light poluuted area and was mostly trying to use SharpCap to giude and image with my Star Adventurer but it would just never work correctly. It doesn't take long to realize what a steep learning curve astrophotography is and videos like this help make it so much easier.

[@AhmedAly1]

I already own everything in that video except the AsiAir pro, and I was too lazy because of the fact that I need my laptop with me. Luckily I found an AsiAir pro available and ordered it, it's arriving on Monday, hopefully that will encourage me more to go out.

[@psybiggs]

super helpful and detailed video thanks, used it last night to image Elephant Trunk Nebula with my SWSA and ASIAIR, thanks.

[@A_RosnerNZ]

Insanely helpful and very greatly appreciated. Kudos to you Sir. My guidescope and cam are in DHL-ing their way to me and thanks to this tutorial I anticipate hitting the ground running with them.

[@Ambress]

Funny a little perhaps, but I've never used the nosepiece for my ASI120MM-S with the ZWO Mini Guide Scope, because it will screw directly onto the scope's threads after removing the wide angle lens. The nose didn't seem to fit, so I thought was was doing the right thing, but being more persistent with the nose today, it does in fact slip into the guide scope if you wiggle it a bit to work it past the tension bands. Then, focusing is achieved strictly using the fine focusing tube of the scope, not requiring much effort to focus. The scope was on a ball mount so I could position it to point wherever I found best, but sometimes the cable ports weren't positioned as I preferred and I was just wishing I could rotate the camera body a little. Well, nose to the rescue, now I can and there's no concern regarding focus because I can fully nest the nose to bring the camera flush to the back of the scope, set focus again using the fine focus adjustment, then leave it set for all use thereafter.

[@cosmophile9]

This was so helpful! Thank you Peter for being so precise on the tutorial!

[@racingmike]

Thanks for this very detailed and informative informations. Very very useful for me. Thanks again :)

[@astroterrace]

Awesome tutorial, Peter! Hope I should be able to do autoguiding my SkyGuiderPro mount soon, Thank you for sharing the tutorial.

[@csmith2183]

Peter, thank you for your video, I have a Star adventurer with a Sharpstar 76 and a ZWO 120mm mini set up like you have in the vid. I had tried several nights to get it to track but it wouldn't. I have worked out that my dec was set to on.. from watching your vid. Its cloudy tonight but as soon as I get a clear night I will be giving it a go. Thanks again.

[@nerys71]

such amazing videos!! how much you want to bet that pro is a arduino !!! I am thinking of having a giant solid concrete block poured out back and setting up my camera on that. surround it with "gym matt" so me walking around is isolated from the ground a little and that giant multi thousand pound concrete block should provide some good inertia. just got to save up for the goodies!

[@nicholasjaworski9368]

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for

[@charon7642]

Keep doing it Peter, You are my example!

[@jimm5593]

Thank you so much for this excellent tutorial. Just what I was looking for.

[@tbeau29]

thanks, i just purchased this with a star guider pro. i get them tomorrow and monday and i want to practice in my back yard . this will help.

[@stargaizerss]

I have the Star Adventure pro 2i and I use an Astro-Tech 70mm ED APO on it. I have bought all the Arca Swiss adaptors to attach my 50mm guide scope to my L bracket on my 60D. I haven't used ASIair for polar alignment but I have used Sharp Capture Pro with its Polar alignment procedure. I plan on using my guide scope to do the polar alignment with my DSLR.

[@AE5X]

I've been trying to buy an ASI Air bundle for my SW SA for weeks now. No one has the 120 mini in stock. No one. UPDATE: I stand happily corrected! A bundle of joy is now on the way...

[@martrich1098]

Great video Peter, thanks. The ZWO mini guide camera and scope are definitely on my upgrade path for my gear.

[@my1Jehova]

Thank you very much for making this video. I am very sick and have always wanted to take up photography and astrophotography really interests me so as a bucket list sort of thing I bought a star adventurer 2i, guide camera and scope, modified mirrorless camera, and the ASIAIR Plus. I have been beating my brains out trying to figure this all out but was becoming disheartened. THEN ..... I saw your video. You explain things in a very detailed and articulate way that even I am now looking forward to doing this. Thank you again. I don't know what the cost of your courses are but I will certainly be looking into it.

[@cmeluzzi]

Thank you very much! I had lots of doubts about guiding and now everything is clear.

[@dschenk952]

Thanks, Peter. You answered a lot of questions I have as I begin doing long exposure photos. Coincedentally I just happen to have the same equipment you are using except I'm using a Canon 80D. I'm looking forward to a clear night to put all this to the test. First targets will be several Messier objects as they're all rising in the east at Astronomical Twilight. Of course I think I just cursed myself and they're be clouds for the next week or two. :)

[@horizonbrave1533]

This is a treasure trove of information thank you so much!

[@friedaspyder8485]

I'm having trouble getting through the video. Your voice makes me want to fall asleep. Just kidding. I picked up a svbony 32mm f4, and a usb camera module. Now I need to print out a holder for the camera. I haven't settled on the tracker quite yet. Was planning on using the svbony for polar alignment to start with.

[@friedaspyder8485]

I made it through it. Thanks a bunch. Very good break down.

[@Martinko_Pcik]

The PHD recalibration is needed whenever you use ST4 cable instead of letting PHD itself to fully control the mount. It is because ST4 doesn't allow the application to know where you are moving between targets. In other case you don't have to recalibrate.

[@dougiesmart1623]

This is a great tutorial as I have tried some others and seem to make this process rather complicated. Your video is superb in that it clearly walks you through the equipment required for basic guiding. I have a similar set up but have a HEQ5 mount, but should be simple enough to make the necessary adjustments. I will be taking notes from your video and translate them into my first PHD2 guiding session in the near future. Well done :-)

[@badmatt4227]

Nice video, this has quantifiable information.

[@suwandicahyadi9213]

hi, love your videos. in this video you mention of using PHD2 for the guiding, can PHD2 be used for capturing images as well? Or we should use a different software for capturing the images. like NINA?

[@oq17]

Peter - Thank you for this video. I had a couple of questions: While making adjustments to the camera, you mention to turn the auto-guider off. While the guiding is off, does the tracker continue to provide tracking (unguided) ? I would hate to lose the target while fiddling with the camera. Thanks!

[@ohwell2790]

Just ordered a Classical Cassagrain telescope and it will arrive in a few days from Jan 22/2021 just do visual but may get a planetary camera. Like your videos.

[@aerozg]

Nice. I have the Star Adventurer and got the SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED. I would love to get into autoguiding. I've looked up this setup online and it seems i only need a guide camera and software to run it. The general consensus seems to be around the ZWO ASI 120mini mono camera, and PHD2. Is there anything else i would need, or can i just take it from there?

[@nunopsilva]

Great explanation! Was looking to see this exact setup which is the same I have, except that I have a 300mm lense

[@galluhnlloyd2198]

Great job, well done! Highly appreciate your contribution. Keep going on!

[@JanKotarzewski]

This is a pretty good tutorial! Thanks mate

[@Gordonlanguam]

This is perfect i just started doing research on autoguiding

[@tomadunia8883]

Thanks for fantastic video. Just a quick question. ZWO 120mc -s I've heard opinions color camera is not good for guiding. What do you say to that? Tia

[@othonbenavente1876]

I enjoy your videos and manner of presentation very much. I recalled that you had the ZWO 120mm mini as a guide camera, but recommended the 120mm-S largely due to the USB-3 interface. On that recommendation I purchased the 120MM-S, but now I can't focus it properly on my William Optics Uniguide 50/200. I'm stuck. Any suggestions?

[@jr10]

Awesome video. I am a Newby to Astro photography, and you have helped me past several challenges already. I was wondering what issues you had with the guide scope being mounted to the hot shoe? I have the Canon D250/SL3 , and nobody seems to have an L bracket for that model. Thank you again for all your help and excellent videos. Subbed.

[@woody5109]

As always, great detail, thank you

[@joshuadqueen]

Damn! Glad to see this is a new video! I've watch others and they are helpful. I had a question about the 120s. I do have this. When I remove the wide angle lens and ring I am able to screw the camera directly to my guide scope. Is that an option, screwing the camera onto the scope, instead of using the adapter and locking screws?

[@phutchis]

Joshua if I understand what you mean...I have the same camera and I always screw on the adapter as Peter suggests and insert it into the back of the guide scope securely. I would not just insert the camera into the guide scope hope this helps.

[@tomservo3728]

Excellent video Peter, Thank you. I am about to decide which autoguider to use on my Star Adventurer Pro; this looks perfect at the cost, but I only have an Ipad; is there a compatible app that you know of?

[@hangerbird]

Another great info vid!!!! Now you talked about once this is going, not to touch the camera again due to vibrations. So I was wondering, when using a DSLR, would the vibration from each timed exposure cause an issue with this tracker, due to the vibration?

[@TheAnoniemo]

I think the wide angle lens that's included is for using it as an all-sky camera.

[@phutchis]

Great tutorial Peter. I find a lot of the time PHD2 looses the star is due to high level cloud appearing that reduces or blocks the guide star for a short period. If the cloud clears then as you say stop and restart PHD2. I also tend to run using pixel setting rather than Arc seconds more but result is the same. I also notice that the Dec line just stops for some reason and the single RA line left by itself..no idea why but it helps with the view.

[@88mixture88]

Peter, this is a great introduction to Phd2, ZWO 120 and the corresponding ZWO guide scope. I'll be setting up and using it in a couple of nights. A few questions though. First, there's an IR cut off filter for the ZWO camera. Do you use it? It would add protection of the camera sensor and maybe allow a little better focusing because of the removal of unwanted IR. I wonder if the guide scope could be focused before starting up Phd2. Maybe using Sharpcap and have a live image. And maybe use a 30mm Bahnitov mask then. I don't know if this could be purchased online but in my case, I'd use my 3d printer and make one like I've done for my other lens and telescopes. Also, the Star Adventurer support has an additional mount capability where the guide scope could be attached. This could eliminate the added counter weight and give the ability to point the guide scope to another part of the sky.

[@FromGregg]

Thank you so much! This will help me tremendously!

[@piplewis5139]

Okay, this video is an absolute life saver. Thank you!! Quick question: why is it bad to be pointed up to Polaris? Sorry, that might be kind of a dumb question lol!

[@ub1701]

This was excellent. Thank You, Peter!

[@tomrc4328]

I have the Star Adventurer 2i, and it has the Auto Guider port. Do I need the ASIAir for it to do any guiding, or can I just use my laptop to view and focus the camera? I will be shooting with a DSLR, manually controlled. Thanks for the videos.

[@KevinSmith-uv7bf]

Hi, excellent video. Why is the camera not attached directly to the mount and mounted on a spacer block or something? I have my camera attached directly to the Star Adventurer. Whats the benefit of doing it your way?

[@johnwarren5436]

Just purchased and setup this auto-guider camera (ZWO ASI120MM-S) +scope for my SkyGuider Pro. I thought this guider camera+scope might also double as a finder scope but it displays images on PHD2 software similar what to my Canon DSLR displays with a 600mm lens. I’ve seen pictures of similar auto-guiding setups where an additional ball head was affixed down by the counterweight to hold it. I suspect this allows for pointing at just about any nearby place in sky that might have a brighter star to track.

[@2193191]

Outstanding video! Great work.

[@roberthill8459]

Great video! So to be clear, once I am done shooting one object, say a galaxy, and move the camera to another object, do I need to run the calibration again, or just let PHD2 pick another star in the new sector I am working in?

[@byzcol]

For folks that want to use the software on a Windows system on an Android emulator, ASI recommends using the free Bluestacks software. I've played around but not got everything running yet but it lets you run the app on a laptop which is nice.

[@hoaithanhnguyen7178]

Thank you for the tutorials. I have a question, the auto guiding with sky guider pro only can do if we already have good polar alignment, right?

[@fiorinidaniele]

Peter, you referred to an another your tutorial to adapt the miniscope ZWO 30F4 to an L bracket. I saw it but I noted that in this video you differently attached the ARC SWISS adpatper to leg of the miniscope. At 12.37 of this video it looks to me that the little foot of the scope is not removed, while in the other tutorial you suggested to remove it. I have exactly your equipment except for the L-bracket and I have personally noted that it is better to keep the little foot instead of removing it, because the arcswiss adpater (the same you have) is much stabler when rested to the little foot, despite it is less centered, once the screw is attached to its empty hole. Do you confirm my understanding? Thanks in advance

[@marienmettaie8155]

Very helpful video Peter, as always! Can the ASIAir polar alignment routine be done using the guide camera and scope? I plan on purchasing the ASIAir guiding kit and using an intervalometer for imaging with my unsupported main imaging camera (sony mirrorless with Z61ii)... Would i need to select the 120mm mini as main camera first for the polar alignment, and then switch it back as guide camera for the guiding? Would this work?

[@jwcarr2521]

This is a great presentation, thank you Peter. One quick question, what mode are you putting your Sky Adventurer in. In the App mode it does the calibration perfectly. However, when I start the capture program the Sky Adventurer no longer responds to PhD2.

[@rodrigoflores5575]

hi Peter, nice video. I'm trying to make your recommendation, I have a Sigma 150-600, Nikon Z5, FTZ Adapter mounted on top of my Star Adventurer, and I add the guide camera just like you do with the L Bracket. My problem is with the weight distribution, this is with a decline towards where the guide camera is, I can't balance it. How did you manage to prevent it from swaying to one side?

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

Thanks Peter. Just a question, the autoguider setup, can it be still used for wide angle astro? Can they be used to polar align with sharpcap or only PHD2 for tracking?

[@ddiver7908]

damn dude, you keep your nails really nice and trimmed. Aweseme tutorial

[@Ziogeppo00]

Hello, very nice video, as usual. I particularly appreciated the detailed description of components. The point not completely clear to me is: if you attach the guide scope on the side of the camera (by mean of the L-bracket) don't you move the center of gravity of the structure outside the main dovetail creating some kind of unbalance, a torque actually ? The same torque that we try to eliminate when we try to perfectly balance camera+lens by moving the dovetail back and forth... Thanks in advance :-)

[@PeterZelinka]

Yep, good point! That is one downside of this method. Some people try to counter-balance this by adding weight to the other side of the DSLR. Of course, that adds to the total weight of the setup, which isn't ideal either. Since we don't have a simple mounting bracket on our telephoto lenses for the auto-guider, we don't have any perfect solutions at this point.

[@KevinSmith-uv7bf]

@@PeterZelinka a fix is to turn your lens and camera upside down upside the collar mount. The L Bracket will be facing upward and you can connect guider on top instead of the side. You can even connect intervelometer 'underneath' the camera. Also leaves extra space on the side if you wanted a red dot or something else if needed. Of course you will be imaging upside down but who cares if you know your camera well.

[@h.vanzeijl3057]

very good tutorial, thanks for posting

[@JoshHarrisPhotography]

Hey Peter - Thanks for all the helpful videos. Do you have anything on doing a polar align with the ASIAir Pro and the Star Adventurer specifically? I'm using those two with the ASI120MM Mini and when it completes the first step of plate solving, it says to click 'Next" and that the RA will rotate 60-degrees. It *seems* like it's supposed to happen automatically (I don't have a "rotated" button to indicate that I've rotated it myself) and yet nothing happens. Not sure how the Star Adventurer is supposed to be set for this to happen. Thanks!

[@kamilkp]

Does the guidescope need to be pointed the same way the telescope/lens is (parallel to it)?

[@stef2499]

Thanks a lot lol, i just spent ages trying to calibrate till you told me in vid, that dec guide must be off

[@stef2499]

I have no gotten my ioptron to guide at less than 2“ precision, im impressed. I guess i nailed Polar alignment today!

[@Jbzy3000]

This doesn’t seem as hard as I once believed. Thanks. Now I need to blow more money. You’re going to have the wife side eye me.

[@RichardHZhou]

Hello Peter, Thanks for the videos! I have Nikon D850 and Nikkor 800mm lens. The weight is about 12.2lb. Do you know which guide gear that can handle my equipment? Or is there any safe cushion that 11lb guide gear can handle my equipment? --Thanks!

[@ujjwaldatta6713]

Peter, I have a Canon RP. I don’t see any L-bracket on the side. Do certain cameras come with the side bracket attached or is it available on the market to attach it to a camera? If so, there are no 3/8” screw threads for an attachment. Forgive my ignorant questions. Thanks.

[@stef2499]

i need this lol. I have almost the same setup as u Edit: Is it possible to use a wired connection with Ipad? I mean it should be possible on the ipad pro in my knowledge. The laptop i own id rather not move outside.

[@jeremys9672]

Maybe a stupid question but I seem not to find this in any guide out there. On the star tracker you have a dial. Do I put it on star tracking or in APP mode? Thanks for answering. I have a Star Adventure i2 tracker.

[@davidjennings2733]

Thank you, great info... Clear Skies..

[@guillermohernandez-ching113]

Thanks for explaining the process!!!

[@bart9625]

Great ! What connection did u make (@12m50) from the sky watchers L to the lenscollar ??

[@vladimirbotko9576]

I can imagine my first auto-guiding will lead to 3:1 time spent on set up rather than taking pictures :) If I may perhaps stupid question, at what point shall I start tracking with SkyGuider, as the mount does not have go-to system, once I found the target and centered it? and then? never switch it off right? Because without goto I am mostly afraid of loosing faint target..

[@stevenrandall6016]

Have the Star Adventurer 2i and just ordered the same ZWO Guide set up, but connecting to the 2i states that you can only use ASTRO Mode, where App Mode allows the remote operation of DSLR, Does Guiding not work in APP Mode ??

[@aBoogivogi]

For the cameras can you buy the colour version of the camera or do you need the mono version in order to use it as an auto-guider? I'm guessing the colour camera is more useful if you want it to do double duty later on and work both as a camera for an auto-guider and for imaging planets.

[@BLarsenPhoto]

Does the auto-guider also help with polar alignment? I'm in the southern hemisphere so if it does this would be very helpful.

[@teracoda]

Just wondering how accurate/practical the guiding is since there is only 1 axis that can be controlled (right ascension) with the SGP. Perhaps I'm not understanding the guiding correctly but the declination can only be adjusted manually.

[@OptiquevideoFPV]

Hey man, quick question, I followed your tutorial thanks for that, when I get to the step to click on auto guiding, after the star is selected. It don't work. The green aiming thing stays grey. Any ideas? Thanks