What is a Star Tracker — and Why Use One with Your DSLR?

If you’ve ever tried to take a long-exposure photo of the night sky and ended up with blurry stars or streaks, you’ve discovered one of the biggest challenges in night photography: the Earth’s rotation. As our planet turns, the stars appear to drift across the sky — and that drift shows up in your photos. A star tracker is the tool that solves this.

Meet the Star Tracker

A star tracker is a small, motorized mount that rotates in sync with the Earth. It allows your camera to follow the motion of the stars, enabling much longer exposures without star trails. The result? Sharper, more detailed images of the night sky.

Unlike a telescope mount, star trackers are designed specifically for photographers. You don’t need an observatory or years of astronomy experience — just a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a tripod, and a clear night.

SkyGuider Pro vs SkyTracker — What’s the Difference?

At Astronz, we stock two of the most popular star trackers from iOptron: the SkyGuider Pro and the SkyTracker. Both are excellent choices, depending on your setup and goals.

  • SkyTracker
    A great entry-level option for wide-field shots of the Milky Way, constellations, or even bright deep-sky objects. It’s lightweight, simple to use, and perfect for backpacking trips or remote locations.

  • SkyGuider Pro
    A step up in versatility. It supports heavier gear — including telephoto lenses and even small refractor telescopes — and includes a counterweight system for better balance and tracking. It’s ideal if you’re ready to get serious about astrophotography.

Why Use One?

Because it unlocks the real night sky. With a tracker, you can:

  • Capture detailed photos of nebulae and galaxies

  • Get long exposures without star trails

  • Push your ISO down and bring your noise level with it

  • Shoot with longer focal lengths without sacrificing sharpness

Whether you're shooting the Milky Way from your backyard or heading to a dark sky site for a deep-sky session, a star tracker is one of the best upgrades you can make.

Get Started

Both the SkyTracker (back order) and SkyGuider Pro are available at Astronz. If you’re not sure which one is right for your setup, get in touch — we’re always happy to help.

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