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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Motorized Mount Photo Package

BH #SKS20520 • MFR #S20520V1
 16 reviews
Sky-Watcher
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Motorized Mount Photo Package
Key Features
  • EQ Mount Only
  • 11 lb Payload Capacity
  • Ball Head Adapter Included
  • Selectable Tracking Speeds
Sky-Watcher's Star Adventurer Motorized Mount Photo Package is an easy-to-use equatorial mount that offers accurate tracking capabilities for time-lapse and long-exposure wide-field astrophotography. With a simple turn of a dial, select from Lunar, Solar, or Star tracking modes, or four speeds from 0.5x to 12x if the modes are not exactly right. An integrated polar alignment scope with an included illuminator help the alignment process in either the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, and a date dial compensates for star drift over time to extend the usability of the scope.
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Sky-Watcher S20520V1 Overview

  • 1Description
  • 2Motor and Gears
  • 3Tracking
  • 4Alignment
  • 5Power
  • 6Mount

Sky-Watcher's Star Adventurer Motorized Mount Photo Package is an easy-to-use equatorial mount that offers accurate tracking capabilities for time-lapse and long-exposure wide-field astrophotography. With a simple turn of a dial, select from Lunar, Solar, or Star tracking modes, or four speeds from 0.5x to 12x if the modes are not exactly right. An integrated polar alignment scope with an included illuminator help the alignment process in either the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, and a date dial compensates for star drift over time to extend the usability of the scope.

Included with the Star Adventurer is a ball head adapter with a 3/8"-16 screw to mount a photo ball head to adapt it for use with a DSLR camera. A 2.5mm three-segment stereo jack is integrated into the mount and gives the mount the ability to control a compatible DSLR's shutter release for long-exposure or time-lapse photography. Pre-programmed intervals, based on the tracking mode selected, optimize the exposure times for the subjects selected.

The Star Adventurer mount features a Vixen-style dovetail saddle for compatible accessories and optical tube assemblies (OTAs). It has both 3.8"-16 and 1/4"-20 tripod mounts to fit on most astronomical, photo, or video tripods and is offered here without a tripod, OTA, or counterweights.

Motor and Gears
  • DC servomotor
  • 86mm diameter, 144-tooth aluminum-alloy wheel gear
  • 13mm diameter brass worm gear
Tracking
  • Supports star-scape and time-lapse photography
  • Selectable Solar, Lunar, Star tracking speeds
  • 0.5, 2x, 6x, and 12x tracking speed options
  • Manual clutch release facilitates faster alignment and adjustment
  • Northern and Southern Hemisphere compatible
  • Left/Right control buttons enable manual control of tracking up to 12x
  • Free lifetime firmware updates
Alignment
  • Built-in polar alignment scope
  • Includes polar scope illuminator
  • Integrated RJ-12 single-axis right ascension auto-guider port supports ST-4-type guiders
Power
  • Runs on four AA batteries
  • Mini USB port for external power or for updating the firmware
  • Low energy consumption allows for up to 72 hours of continuous tracking on battery power
Mount
  • Includes a ball head adapter with a 3/8"-16 screw to mount a photo ball head to adapt it for use with a DSLR camera
  • 3/8"-16 and 1/4"-20 tripod mounts
  • Vixen-style dovetail saddle
  • 11 lb payload capacity
UPC: 050234205207

Sky-Watcher S20520V1 Specs

Mount Type
Equatorial
Load Capacity
11 lb / 5 kg
Motor
DC servo
Gear Drive
Wheel gear: 86 mm diameter, 144 teeth, aluminum alloy
Worm gear: 13 mm diameter, brass
GoTo Capability
No
Polar Axis Scope
Yes. Built-in and illuminated
Includes Tripod/Pier
No
Power Source
4 x AA batteries, up to 72 hr
Mini-USB port for external power
Operating Temperature
32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
Dimensions
6.8 x 4.5 x 3.8" / 17.4 x 11.3 x 9.6 cm
Weight
2.2 lb / 1 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
4 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.25 x 8.8 x 4.95"

Sky-Watcher S20520V1 Reviews

Awesome for easy setups

By Michael
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-28

This is awesome, just put it on a tripod and get a ball head with a 5/16ths screw on the bottom and you're good to go. Make sure your tripod is stable and this will work amazingly. I used it to shoot Andromeda at 200mm for 45s which is amazing considering you could only do a 1s exposure without it at that focal length.

Highly recommend it.

By Richard
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-08-26

Excellent product. One of the accessories wasn't working but got good support for in-warranty fix.

Product Use

By Pardeep
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2016-11-21

This product is very difficult to use. The settings are not very intuitive and quite difficult for amateur.

Excellent performance, easy to use, high quality

By Landscaper
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2016-07-11

The only thing I have to compare this to is an Opteron with this one costing a little more. This one has more features, and it's got a more precise alignment scope than the other brand. Overall I like the design better. It's also great to be able to go up to 12 times normal speed for time lapse effects. I wish there were a tracker that allowed checking the alignment of Polaris WHILE THE CAMERA IS MOUNTED. The Opteron allowed that but the scope was loose. This one requires removal of the camera. You'll want to use a strong tripod and balance the camera and tracker as best you can so they don't strain the tripod. The assembly can get pretty heavy. I am able to consistently get good results with up to 10 minute exposure times with a 14mm lens. Even with long lenses you can sometimes track very accurately for several minutes. All in all this is a well built and very useful sky tracker and also a time lapse panner/tilter.

Good product

By Anonymous
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2016-07-11

it's easier to set up than I expected once you get it figured out. Suggest getting a phone app to determine polar alignment position.

For what it is....it is great

By Zach Williams
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2016-06-09

I agree with most of the reviews here...200mm and you can get 1 min subs easily, sometimes you'll get a lucky 2 min in. Polar aligning is quite simple once you get the hang of it. I would say that the wedge and bracket are required....my kit didn't come with them and I don't see how you could skip them. Would I prefer an AstroTrac? Of course, but it's 3x the cost of this, and if you're not sure about astrophotography this is a great start. I'll be using it for years.

Great star tracker for value!

By Sean
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-11-04

With alot functions to use

close, but no cigar

By Bradley
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2017-10-02

This really seemed like it should have been great. Nice, heavy duty machining and parts. Nice fit and finish. But unfortunately for me, after having it a month, and trying it on 4 different outings, I still have zero images. Ultimately, this might be fine with lightweight cameras and lenses. But I've had a very difficult time getting it to hold solidly without drift or play with a DSLR (Canon 5d mk iv) with a zoom (100-400 and 70-200). Polar alignment would be easy, except there is play in the accessory wedge. Using the elevation dial is inconsistent as it jumps in az because of the loose slop inherent in the mount, so it is a pain to get precise dialing in of the scope. The scope optics are very good. The scope light is a good idea, but super cheaply made and clunky to use. There's a cheapo adapter if you have the DEC accessory, but it won't stay in place so you won't two hands to dial in the polar alignment, since one is needed to hold the scope light. As a result, it seems you can only have a shot at polar alignment w/o the dec mount accessory mounted. Installing it after a polar alignment seems likely to knock the thing out of alignment. The few shots I've tried with a zoom at 400 did yield slight tar trails. I suspect my alignment technique was likely the culprit. I bought this largely to do moon tracking and shooting, but set up is so difficult to get a solid mount and track going that I'll probably only use this as a cheap servo for time lapse motion control and forget about it for actual astro photography.

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YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS

question

Will the shutter release for timelapse work with a Sony a7RII? If so, what cable would I need?
Asked by: David
Yes it will work with the A7 series cameras but you need this cable: http://bhpho.to/2c1plYq
Answered by: Alex S.
Date published: 2018-08-26

question

There is a red version of this sold in Canada and Europe. Will you be selling the red version anytime soon?
Asked by: Steven C.
As of now we are not selling the Red Version. My apologies.
Answered by: Alex S.
Date published: 2018-08-25

question

in the box information...-Star Adventurer Ball Head Adapter-Star Adventurer Dec Bracket-Polar Scope Illuminatorthree accessories all include ?
Asked by: Anonymous
In the box this model comes with the Star Adventurer Ball Head Adapter, and the Polar Scope Illuminator. As well as a 2 Year Limited Warranty.
Answered by: Alex S.
Date published: 2018-08-25

How can you capture multi-row Is it possible to ...

How can you capture multi-row Is it possible to capture multi-row panos with the Sky-Watcher? Is it possible to use it with a Nodal Ninja 6 with Nadir Adapter?
Asked by: Herbert
Pretty sure it's not. Check out some how-to YouTube videos on the product to learn more.
Answered by: Jeremy
Date published: 2021-06-30

If i get a ball head, what does its load capacity ...

If i get a ball head, what does its load capacity need to be at least? thank you all
Asked by: jewels
This product only weighs 2.2 pounds.
Answered by: Joseph
Date published: 2019-10-03

Can this be programmed to track satellites?

Can this be programmed to track satellites?
Asked by: ron
This cannot be programmed to track satellites.
Answered by: Alex S
Date published: 2021-03-25

question

Is the additional latitude base required for astro-photography? Can I just use a tripod that has a tilt head instead?
Asked by: Bill
Yes you can, its just a little sturdier with the base.Terry
Answered by: Terrill P.
Date published: 2018-08-25

question

Is it possible to solar align ? Would this work for the upcoming solar eclipse?
Asked by: Jad L.
In theory yes, sort of. However, you would aim the thing at the North Star (more or less - there is some tweaking) rather than at the sun. Unfortunately, the North Star isn't going to be visible in the daylight at the start of the eclipse. You could try to wing it with a star-tracking app and compass (keeping in mind the deviation between magnetic and true north). Or, because the next solar eclipse in the US won't be for a long time, you may want to line it up with Polaris the night before (earlier, if the night will be cloudy). Good seeing!
Answered by: John G.
Date published: 2018-08-26
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