[0] https://garyseronik.com/build-a-hinge-tracker-for-astrophoto...
[1] https://www.astropix.com/bgda/sample2/sample2.html
[2] https://sites.google.com/view/emvilza/proyectos/star-tracker...
https://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/hands-on/diy-exoplanet-d...
Must. Not. Enter!
This wiki start page actually manages to explain what the thing does:
OpenAstroTracker is an equatorial mount which "compensates for Earth's rotation by having one rotational axis parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation". You can mount a camera (mostly a DLSR or DSLM) on top of it and it rotates with the same speed as our earth rotation in order to remove stars movement relatively to the camera and allow longer exposures this way. The mount is being controlled by an Arduino. The Arduino is controlling multiple stepper motors which in turn rotate the camera mount.
The mount provides multiple options for control: LCD Keypad, USB Serial connection, WiFi. Latter two enable remote control with special astrophotography software based either on the LX200 protocol, ASCOM or INDI platforms.
It’s very stylish but I just can’t see it.
Found this video linked from the github page you linked: https://youtu.be/9MNLAIyqGoA
Now that I can see it its clear that this is a very impressive mechanism!
I felt the same way though. Some of the shots, they used a background simulating a blurred out star field which was a tremendous improvement over the solid black, but still very difficult to see. I did like the red highlight, but still that background.
The astrotracker appears to be a bit bigger than what i'm looking for: A DIY alternative to the Omegon Mini Track LX2/LX3.
For example, the EQ6R Pro mount is a very popular and decent goto mount and it will set you back $1600. You will struggle to find any decent mounts for less than $1000.
$200 is EXTREMELY cheap.
However, this is not a fair comparison. In astrophotography, a primary consideration for the price point of a mount is its instrument weight capacity. The EQ6-R has a weight capacity of 44 lbs. This astrotracker has a capacity of 5.5lbs. The difference is, well, massive.
The EQ6-R also has other features, like a built-in polar scope and a periodic error correction. Mounts are also a lot like cars, in that some consumers purchase them for the level of support offered by the manufacturer, and perception of reliability.
With that said, I know I'm burying the lead and focusing on the wrong subject. $200 is very reasonable to get something that will probably provide very good initial results, and get that astrophotography addiction started. And I'm really happy this exists, at this price point.
I don't want to suggest the parent poster is really reinforcing this attitude, but in this hobby (and let me stress, it's a hobby), there is an occasional subtext that expensive gear is the only way to get great results. I don't think that's the case. You can spend as much as you want, of course, and money will let you do more things, but at the end of the day, we're just making sciencey art.
If you have a 3D printer and live in a country with decent hardware suppliers (not the case for me in Australia), then sure go ahead, DIY and save money. But for people who want an almost ready to go solution it's very well priced, considering commercial alternatives are well into 500+ for the feature set that this mount offers (GoTo, optional guiding down to 1" accuracy).
Not saying that's bad, just that my question is what makes this cost what it does. If it weren't justified, there'd be competitors doing it way cheaper (the field is accessible and large enough for that), so it's just a question out of curiosity.
You have to source all the parts, make sure they work together properly and assemble the kit.
I mean $200 isn't a lot of money for something you'd potentially get years and years of use out off.
So if I understand your comment correctly, it's the R&D (making sure all parts work together correctly) that decides the majority of the price here, not one of the actual components?
- Equatorial: follows star in one direction. Works best on lower stars since the move E-to-W mostly. Cheapest models start at $200 USD (MSM)
- Altazimuth (azimuth+altitude): follows the star in two directions. Can be used for stars higher in the sky. Models start at $400+
- Computer guided and GOTO: Use a secondary telescope to lock onto stars and counter small integration errors. GOTO means you can type a star by name into a computer and the mount will move to its location in the sky (based on a database of where the star is at that moment). These start at $1000+ and can easily be a lot more.
These systems are so expensive because they need to swing a typically very heavy telescope with a lot of precision. My mount (on the smaller end) is rated for 11lbs. Being off by 1 arcsecond (1/3600 degrees) at the distance of Alpha Centauri is an error of 200,000,000 km.
If this tracker can provide all these features + precision at $200, that’s a steal.
I’m always on the lookout for neat things to 3D print. The current title is deceiving in that you cannot fully 3D print the whole thing. It looks cool though!
[1]: https://wiki.openastrotech.com/OpenAstroTracker/ShoppingList
I say this as someone who uses "computerized" and EQ mounts, but I also assumed from the title that this was a completely 3D printable project (sans mirrors, I can print my own washers and bolts), which is way more exciting a prospect than having to buy or put together a fairly complex kit, just not all of it if you have a 3D printer.
I just 3D printed a custom IR CCD mount for my CST, but I'm very interested in adapting this to some of my designs, so thank you for sharing!
