How to Set Up The Sky Watcher Star Adventurer (ALL versions)

In this video, we go over how to set up all versions of the Skywatcher Star Adventurer. A few have wifi, but not all, but we go over the basics of getting this star tracker set up.
This video is NOT sponsored.
While all Astronomy stores are great, I HIGHLY recommend Agena Astro. Check them out here: agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382645....
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Gear mentioned in this video:
Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i:
amzn.to/3mdP5UP (Amazon)
bit.ly/43mLsif (Agena Astro)
Star Adventurer Tripod: bit.ly/3Omafyr (Agena Astro)
Astrodymium Rings for Rokinon 135 with EAF holder: bit.ly/3pMZATd (Agena Astro)
Neewer Tripod: amzn.to/3r91lqN
Rokinon 135mm: amzn.to/31Ewzxl
Rokinon 14mm: amzn.to/3FVRYRK
Dovetail for the 135mm: amzn.to/3YkRfSu
SWSA Altitude Lever: amzn.to/3JmXjnM
Please do subscribe if you haven't: / @astroescape
My Astro Gear:
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro: amzn.to/3yJSfVU (Amazon)
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro: bit.ly/3oam0NL (Agena Astro)
William Optics Zenithstar 61: bit.ly/3IiEv9E (Agena Astro)
Flattener for Zenithstar 61: bit.ly/3OojrCF (Agena Astro)
ZWO EAF: bit.ly/3W9UGfh (Agena Astro)
ZWO ASI294MC Pro: bit.ly/3o3Fd3R (Agena Astro)
ZWO ASI Air Plus Kit: bit.ly/3Ilevua (Agena Astro)
AC to DC 12V Power Adapter: amzn.to/3CNEx4h
Recording Gear for the Curious:
Camera: amzn.to/3BQjJKn
Microphone: amzn.to/3E17I7R
Tripod: amzn.to/3Ci0haW
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this, and pay for replacement screws I've dropped in the dark. Thank you for the support!

[@ShevillMathers]

Thanks for the video on how to use this lens etc. A couple of observations that you may have missed, wearing a black top with black components makes things almost invisible. Using the silver dovetail, just slide the two rings towards one end rather than centred, this allows the camera to be easily rotated and not being restricted by the silver dovetail rail.

[@alexabadi7458]

Great detailed, clear and useful video, thank you !

[@kbruff2010]

Thank you!

[@AstroEscape]

You're welcome, I hope your nights under the stars go smooth!

[@viinse1427]

Even though i dont have a sky tracker this video was so usefull to just explain me what you can do with this stuff haha. Thanks for the video

[@JoshuaD88]

I just got this one yesterday its awesome

[@AstroEscape]

You could still get one. It has it's uses.... even coming from an AM5 owner!

[@AstroEscape]

Congrats! Take it out to play yet?

[@JoshuaD88]

@@AstroEscape yeah I have its unfortunate though that I only have a 18 - 55mm kit lens :(

[@mikehardy8247]

I bought the SA GTI, thinking I'd use one of my existing tripods. Soon realized a dedicated tripod saves the trouble of frequent building and teardown. Having it ready to go on it's own tripod is definitely the way to go. Ordered it before Xmas and got it a few weeks ago. Proof of it's usefulness. I also bought the pillar, what's another $30. This is well worth $125 all in. When you set tripod down facing north, and level, you know you're probably going to be outside of the mounts adjustment range with azimuth Bolts alone. Picking it up is frustrating, because you need to re-level. Turns out the top pillar mount once attached to tracker uses 3 nice threaded knobs in pillar. You drop the mount into the tube, it sits nicely secure. Loosely tighten 3 Bolts, and you can rotate (pan) the tracker to get it close to Polaris. Then use fine adjustments on tracker. Not mentioned in literature. In anticipation of the issue bought a panning base for $60. Half price of entire dedicated tripod. Anyone buying a SA tracker, just get the tripod!

[@AstroEscape]

That's an interesting way of setting it all up Mike. Thanks for the trial and error, getting the tripod designed for the device is the way to go (although they need to start bundling them together in stores).....

[@mikehardy8247]

It does come with tripod, unless you opt out which I did. Like I said unless on tight budget, having it ready to go is so much easier. 3 screws are on pillar. They hold the mounting plate that attaches to wedge with 3/8" bolt that fits into pillar tube. Once placed into tube, 3 knobs (thumbscrews), screw into a groove in that plate. Once screwed in enough to catch that lip it can't fall off, but is still loose enough to turn. Once your compas points geographic north (not magnetic) tighten the 3 screws. I to am learning asiair and dedicated astro camera. Yah, clear nights are few and far between. Haven't gotten through polar alignment on asiair, or focus because of clear nights.

[@katgrrl77]

Thanks for the video. Did you do a follow up on how to actually connect the shutter and store the photos on the DSLR? That is where I am getting stuck.

[@AstroEscape]

Not yet, I'll get to that in the future though :)

[@gruncletim]

Hi, great video. I was curious about the guide scope you're using. Is it a passive scope, meaning does it require a hookup to a laptop for use with some guiding software, or can you just use it for manual alignment by looking through it with your eye? I apologize for my non-technical definitions. I'm wanting to use something l to help me align my camera towards the correct spot in the sky. When I'm zoomed in, it's difficult at times to lock in on a distant object, but I'm hoping a manual guide scope can give me a little wider field of view with some type of crosshair to align properly.

[@AstroEscape]

You can use a red dot finder to achieve what you are looking for. There are some that can mount in the shoe of your DSLR, or in the rail of the mounting rings I was using. The guide scope I use has to be plugged into a laptop or the ASI AIR.

[@bikes_camera_more]

A helpful video, thank you. I'm on the verge of taking the plunge into astrophotography and this might just tip the balance (excuse the pun).

[@AstroEscape]

Pun not excused, they make me laugh! Hehehe. Thanks for watching!

[@critshot4694]

This was very informative, just bought one of these off marketplace online and it didnt come with the instruction manual lol what is the name of the app you used for polarizing? :o

[@AstroEscape]

I use the SynScanInit app, which I know is available on Android. Not sure about iOS though.

[@lidarman2]

Thanks for this great tutorial. It is the best I found on KZbin the fundamentals I just got a 2i and am trying to get up to speed for the Annular eclipse this weekend in Albuquerque for a dry run to later attack the 2023 eclipse. At first I was not sure it was working since the thing moves so slow. But this thing is terrific and now it has sparked my interest in perhaps some more astro photography. I am still trying to hone down the best way to get a polar alignment for sun tracking since I can't really set up the think the night before. But I think a compass and declination correction and a angle meter might be just enough.

[@AstroEscape]

Sounds about right. How did your eclipse pics turn out? Are you planning for the next one?

[@lidarman2]

@@AstroEscape They came out great. Going to be in West Texas in two weeks.

[@bigbaddms]

@@lidarman2how did it turn out for the solar eclipse? There were a lot of clouds in Fredericksburg! I never got to see the full eclipse

[@lidarman2]

@@bigbaddms I canned my west Texas plan last minute and went to Arkansas and it was perfect. The funny thing is that will a year worth of planning, it came down to changing everything a few days before. In the end i could have waited to do anything the week of the eclipse. I found ample camping in Arkansas last minute with minimal traffic. I'll take luck over skill any day.

[@bigbaddms]

@@lidarman2 we saw the lousy weather report a week before flying to Austin. Of course kept hoping for a better forecast but it got worse. At least it didn’t rain. We had 4 people reserved at a winery at high cost so I couldn’t change it up. It was decent the first half but at the exact moment of full eclipse heavy clouds rolled in, totally obscuring, then only parting again briefly after the total. Grrrr. Overall still awesome. Great darkness covered the area, almost complete. Would love to see your eclipse shots. Thx for the response!

[@RyykerHendrix-hg8wm]

I just got the star tracker 2i. My only question is when you’re ready to start taking photographs, do you release the clutch or leave it locked?. Thanks, clear nights

[@AstroEscape]

Apologies as I have been away, leave it locked.

[@GenXMCraft]

Once I’m polar aligned can I loosen the clutch on the mount for free rotation as well as the telescope/camera clutch for “left to right”? So that I can slew myself to a target manually. I can’t figure out what I can and cannot move to maintain polar alignment. I assume the tripod and EQ mount angle shouldn’t be touched but the other two above are OK? Thanks for the walkthrough.

[@AstroEscape]

Yes, once you are polar aligned, you can unlock the clutches to move the camera where you need it. Make sure you have some weight holding down your tripod so polar alignment stays, if you are not using a super stable tripod.

[@ralphemerson_deperalta]

My SWSA just arrived last week and I just wanna know when framing and tracking for milky way with a foreground only, using a Nikon D850 and a Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 wide angle lens, is it okay if I can just use the ballhead adapter and ballhead configuration only and no need for the bracket with counterweight? The camera and lens weighs a total of almost 2kg (4.4lbs). I will be shooting milky way with a foreground using a wide angle lens and not a deepsky object.

[@xoticone1766]

if i want to put on the mount the maskutov 127 with a manfrotto tripod (classic tripod with the ballhead) ? would give in?

[@AstroEscape]

It shouldn't. Manfrotto tripods are beefy. My concern is the ballhead. I wouldn't mount the wedge to that.

[@keithj8437]

I am very new and have a SA GTI with a Redcat 51, ASIAIR PLUS, EAF etc. When I get it polar aligned and I say "goto Home" the mount slews to a totally different location and not Up Right where Home should be. Im probably messing something up. Any Suggestions? TIA

[@AstroEscape]

It should work. How are you connecting the AIR with the mount?

[@keithj8437]

@@AstroEscape I ended up getting it working! Thanks for the reply

[@dimesdede]

I think it is better to put a ballhead on the L-mount, because you have a vertical/full alignement of the camera then...

[@AstroEscape]

It's purely dependent on what lens you are using. Heavier lenses may be better on the L bracket without the ballhead.

[@jibino7]

Please do find a backpack that can store all these.... I know you can do this😂

[@jibino7]

Hi ...did you find any backpack?

[@AstroEscape]

Not yet =/ Been working on other projects! I did reconfigure my camera bag to hold the DSLR and the 135 in the rings with a guide camera and ASI AIR, but no room for the Star Adventurer, sadly. It would need to be a larger bag to fit both.

[@woody5109]

I bought a surveyors tripod from Home Depot, $100.

[@AstroEscape]

I've hear those were a good option too!

[@mikehardy8247]

The dedicated tripod, minus pillar is $95. Pillar $30. Just get tripod.

[@woody5109]

The wedge is the weak link in this system, you’ll find out how bad it is when you PA.

[@AstroEscape]

Oh, I know. I've had the SWSA for quite some time now. But, I do want to help those that would rather fix the problems with the wedge instead of spending on the William Optics one, which I know is FANTASTIC. I've seen it in action.

[@mikehardy8247]

The single altitude tightening knob pulls it away from your latitude. SA GTI has a knob on both sides. One pulls up, while other pulls down, balancing it out so stays true. If a guy's handy, they could mod the single bolt wedge. I'm going to on my original one.