iOptron SkyGuider Pro SGP Single Axis Equatorial Mount Star Tracker Portable Deep Sky Photography Accessory

SkyGuider Pro SGP Single Axis Equatorial Mount Star Tracker Portable Deep Sky Photography Accessory

Description:
- The SkyGuider Pro portable single axis equatorial instrument is a precision tracking astronomical instrument developed specifically for astronomical photography.
- SkyGuider Pro is an upgraded version of SkyGuider. Compared to SkyGuider, it has a smaller size, better portability (the body only weighs 1000g with a battery; note: battery is not included), higher accuracy, and a maximum effective load capacity of 5kg. It is equipped with an AccuAligning dimmable dark field illumination polar mirror and a rechargeable lithium battery, providing a long battery life (up to 20 hours). The SkyGuider Pro comes with a standard ST-4 star guide interface, a SLR camera shutter control interface, and can also be equipped with an 8408 control handle. The separate independent fine-tuning base is more flexible to use and is suitable for various DSLR cameras to take long-term exposure shots of landscapes such as starry sky, Milky Way, wide area deep space, etc.

Features:
- The base of the main body is dovetail for Vixen and 3/8-inch screw holes (convertible to 1/4-inch screw holes), suitable for international standard tripods
- The maximum effective load capacity can reach 5kg
- All metal structural components
- Split independent azimuth pitch fine adjustment base (base 3/8-inch screw hole)
- Camera carrier with 3/8 screws
- Standard configuration: Eaton AccuAligning dark field illumination polar telescope, with adjustable lighting brightness
- Built in rechargeable lithium battery, with a battery life of up to 20 hours, and Micro USB port for charging
- Four tracking speeds (solar time, lunar time, 1/2 stellar time, stellar time), Southern/Northern Hemisphere
- Double directional electronic control fine adjustment of the right ascension axis (maximum speed 144x)
- ST4 Guide Star Interface
- SLR camera shutter control interface

Working State Settings:
- The SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument remains in tracking state when the power is turned on. The tracking rate is indicated by the working state indicator light. Short press the ● key to select different tracking rates (solar time, moon time, 1/2x stellar time, and stellar time). Long press the ● key to display the working state indicator light S flashing, then short press the ● key to select the southern/northern hemisphere. When the S light is on, it indicates the southern hemisphere, and when the S light is off, it indicates the northern hemisphere. Long press the ● key to adjust the brightness of the polar mirror illumination by pressing the direction keys < or >. Long press the ● key to display the tracking rate indicator light, and the setting is complete. When it is necessary to fine tune the right ascension axis, you can press the < or > key, and the right ascension axis will run at a speed of 144X.

Control Port Function:
- The SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument is equipped with a standard ST-4 guide star interface, which can perform single axis guide star operation, with a default guide star speed of 0.5x. The USB interface is both a charging interface and a firmware upgrade interface. HBX is the 8408 control handle interface for IOPTRON, which can be paired with an 8408 handle to achieve more functions such as star speed adjustment, timed shutter control, etc. The shutter interface of a DSLR camera can be equipped with corresponding shutter cables (not included).

Instruction:
- Release the directional locking knobs on both sides, adjust the directional adjustment knobs on both sides to adjust the orientation of the equatorial instrument's polar axis. After adjustment, tighten the directional locking knobs. Release the latitude (pitch) locking wrench, rotate the latitude (pitch) adjustment knob to adjust the latitude (pitch) of the equatorial instrument's polar axis. After adjustment, tighten the latitude (pitch) locking wrench. The latitude (pitch) locking wrench can be pulled out and rotated to any suitable position. The SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument can be inserted into the azimuth and pitch adjustment base from two directions, and the appropriate side can be selected according to needs. The principle is to keep the camera's center of gravity as close as possible to the center of the base.

- Before formal use, check the battery status first. Turn on the power switch of the SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument and check the battery status indicator light. When it stays on for a long time, it indicates normal operation. When the battery status indicator light is not on or blinks slowly (with a flashing frequency of about 0.5Hz), it indicates that the battery level is low and needs to be charged. Use the included USB cable, with one end plugged into the USB jack on the side of the equatorial instrument body and the other end plugged into the USB port of the PC or the USB port of the phone charger (you can also use a power bank to charge). When the battery status indicator light flashes rapidly (with a flashing frequency of about 5Hz), it indicates that the battery is fully charged. The charging time is 5 hours, and the battery level can reach over 80%. Regardless of whether the power switch of the SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument is turned on or not, the battery can be charged. When the power switch is turned off, the battery status indicator light does not work.

- The SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument needs to be installed on a stable photography tripod (not included) or a dedicated astronomical tripod (not included), with a 3/8" screw hole in the center of the azimuth and pitch adjustment base, which can be directly fixed to the photography tripod or dedicated astronomical tripod.

Camera Installation: There are multiple methods for connecting a DSLR camera to the SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial instrument. Below are two commonly used methods.
- Photography gimbal: For SLR cameras that are not very heavy (less than 1.5kg, including lenses), they can be directly fixed to the SkyGuider Pro single axis equatorial camera carrier disc through the photography gimbal. Loosen the mounting plate fastening knob, remove the camera mounting plate, tighten the photography gimbal and camera mounting plate, then reinstall the single axis equatorial instrument and tighten the mounting plate fastening knob. Fix the dovetail plate on the photography stage to the bottom of the camera using 1/4" screws, and finally fix the SLR camera to the photography gimbal using the dovetail plate.

- Balance kit accessories: For SLR cameras that are relatively heavy (greater than 1.5kg), a balance kit accessory must be used. Loosen the fastening knob of the bearing plate, remove the camera gimbal bearing plate, connect the balance kit connection seat to the balance bar, then connect the declination bearing plate to the SLR camera, and finally fix the declination bearing plate to the declination base. Tighten the fixing knob. If you need to attach a telescope with a dovetail for Vixen, you can fix the dovetail for Vixen in the attachment to the declination carrier disk.

Package Included:
- 1 x Set of SkyGuider Pro