iOptron SkyTracker User manual

SkyTracker™ Camera Mount
Instruction Manual
Product #3300B, #3300W and #3301
®

2
Table of Content
Table of Content ...................................................................................................................... 2
1. SkyTrackerTM Camera Mount Overview .............................................................................. 3
2. SkyTrackerTM Camera Mount Assembly.............................................................................. 3
2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Parts List ....................................................................................................................... 3
2.3. Assembly Terms ........................................................................................................... 5
2.4. SkyTrackerTM Camera Mount Assembly ....................................................................... 6
3. Maintenance and Servicing ............................................................................................... 12
3.1. Maintenance ............................................................................................................... 12
3.2. iOptron Customer Service........................................................................................... 12
3.3. Product End of Life Disposal Instructions.................................................................... 12
3.4. Battery Replacement and Disposal Instructions.......................................................... 12
Appendix A. Technical Specifications.................................................................................... 13
IOPTRON ONE YEAR TELESCOPE, MOUNT, AND CONTROLLER WARRANTY............ 14
WARNING!
NEVER USE A TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN WITHOUT A PROPER FILTER!
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye.
Children should always have adult supervision while observing.
Rev.1.1
iOptron reserves the rights to revise this instruction without notice. Actual color/contents/design may differ from those described in this
instruction.

3
1. SkyTrackerTM Camera Mount Overview
Thank you for choosing the new iOptron SkyTrackerTM camera mount for astrophotography.
This portable mount makes it easy to take long exposures of the night sky without streaking or star
trailing.
The SkyTrackerTM mount is simple to set up. Just attach the unit to a camera tripod with 3/8”
thread. Then slide and lock your digital camera into the saddle. Align SkyTrackerTM to Polaris, the
North Star, through the polar sight hole on the mount, or using a iOptron AccuAligningTM dark field
illuminated polar scope. Then turn on the motor and it keeps your camera tracking at the same speed
the earth rotates! The unique DC servo motor keeps your camera in motion to avoid star trails and
allows you to take long exposures for beautiful images of the night sky.
Features:
yAttaches to a camera tripod with 3/8” thread
yAccepts cameras weighing up to 6.6 lbs (3 kg)
yAuto-tracking for smooth camera motion perfect for long-term exposures
yCast aluminum body with plastic spray finish
yBuilt in compass and latitude adjustment for easy polar alignment
yIncludes iOptron AccuAligningTM dark-field illuminated polar scope (#3300B and #3300W
only)
yUp to 24 hours of operation on 4 AA batteries
yPadded carry bag included
yOptional ball heads available separately
yOptional AC/DC adapter
2. SkyTrackerTM Camera Mount Assembly
2.1. Introduction
You have just purchased a tracking camera mount that is capable of taking you to a new level
of astrophotography. When aligned the polar axis of the SkyTrackerTM camera mount with the celestial
North Pole (CNP), or celestial South Pole (CSP), the mount will provide rotation matching the celestial
sphere rotation around the Earth. Since all celestial objects appear to rotate around the CNP, or CSP,
the polar axis allows the mount to rotate with the celestial sphere and provide accurate tracking for
visual observations and astrophotography.
The AccuAligningTM polar scope, along with the Quick Polar Alignment procedure, will provide
an easy and accurate polar alignment for the mount.
The SkyTracker mount is a totally new camera mount for astrophotography. The following
sections of this manual provide the detailed steps required to successfully set up and operate the
SkyTrackerTM mount.
2.2. Parts List
PARTS INCLUDED:
The SkyTrackerTM camera mount shipping box contains:
•SkyTrackerTM camera mount
•Padded carry bag
•AccuAligningTM dark field illuminated polar scope (for models #3300B and #3300W only)

4
Figure 1. Parts in a SkyTrackerTM #3300 package
PARTS NEEDED:
The following parts are needed to take astrophotography but are not included in the package:
•A sturdy tripod with 3/8” thread. If your tripod only has a 1/4” thread, you need get a 1/4” to
3/8” tripod adapter screw
•Fresh 4 AA batteries
•Ball head adapter
•DLSR camera
YOU MAY NEED IT FOR POLAR ALIGNMENT:
•iPhone/iPad app for accurate polar alignment (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ioptron-
polar-scope/id564078961?mt=8)
ONLINE CONTENTS (click under “Support” menu) www.iOptron.com
•This manual
•Tips for set up
•Reviews and feedback from other customers

5
2.3. Assembly Terms
Polar scope lock screw
Polar scope mounting hole
Polar sight hole
Lat. Adjust. screw
Lat. adjust. lock
Camera mounting block
SkyTracker body
Figure 2. Front view of a SkyTracker
Compass
Figure 3. Top view of a SkyTracker
Battery compartment cover
Power switch
Power indicator/
Polar scope illuminator
Tracking speed switch
N/S switch
DC power in
Figure 4. Part of back view of a SkyTracker

6
2.4. SkyTrackerTM Camera Mount Assembly
NOTE: The SkyTrackerTM mount is a precision astronomical instrument. It is highly
recommended that you read the entire manual and become familiar with the nomenclature and
functions of all components before starting the assembly.
STEP 1. Install batteries
The battery compartment is located at the back of the SkyTrackerTM mount (Figure 4). Lift the battery
compartment cover and gently pull out the battery holder from the compartment. Insert 4 fresh AA
batteries (not included) into the holder (Figure 5a). Since it is a tight fit, you may find that you cannot
put the battery cover back due to the wires. Straighten the battery holder wires, slide the battery
holder back into the battery compartment and leave the wires outside, as shown in Figure 5b. Then
push the battery holder wires down into the battery compartment, as shown in Figure 5c. Place the
battery cover back onto the battery compartment and push the cover hook up to secure the battery
cover (Figure 5d)
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 5. Install batteries
Battery wires
Leave wires
outside battery
compartment
Push wires down
into battery
compartment
Lock battery cover

7
STEP 2. Attach the SkyTrackerTM Mount
Carefully thread the SkyTrackerTM mount onto your tripod and make sure it is securely tightened. The
mount base has a 3/8” threaded socket. If your tripod only has a 1/4” threaded post, a 1/4” to 3/8”
tripod adapter screw (not included) is needed, as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6. Install SkyTracker onto a tripod
STEP 3. Set the SkyTrackerTM mount
Release Latitude lock a half turn. Set the latitude at zero mark (Figure 7) by turning the Latitude
adjustment screw and retighten the Latitude lock. Rotate the tripod to make the SkyTrackerTM mount
face north by making the compass N-S perpendicular to the mount front edge (Figure 8). If the
compass does not move freely, adjust the tripod leg to make it as level as possible.
Figure 7. Set latitude to zero mark
Figure 8. Face the mount north
STEP 4. Set the latitude and find the Polaris
Release Latitude lock a half turn. Set the latitude at your current latitude by turn the Latitude
adjustment screw and retighten the Latitude lock, as indicated in Figure 9. You may find your current
1/4” to 3/8” tri
p
od ada
p
te
r
N

8
latitude from your smart phone or internet using your current address. If the north pointing and the
latitude set are correct, you should be able to find the Polaris through the Polar Sight Hole. Center the
Polaris inside the Polar Sight Hole as good as possible for the polar alignment. Retighten all the
screws and locks.
For those located in the southern hemisphere, use Sigma Octantis in Octans as the pole star.
Figure 9. Set current latitude
STEP 5. Easy Polar Alignment
This STEP will discuss how to use iOptron’s AccuAligningTM dark field illuminated polar scope (Figure
10) for easy and accurate polar alignment. You may skip this part and directly go to STEP 6, if your
model does not equipped with a polar scope (Model #3301). In order for the SkyTrackerTM mount
tracking properly, it has to be accurately polar aligned. This is achieved by making the polar axis of
the mount parallel to that of the Earth’s axis of rotation.
Objective lens
Lock ring Eyepiece
Reticle illumination inlet
Figure 10. AccuAligningTM dark field illuminated polar scope
Before installing the polar scope onto the mount, face the polar scope to a bright source, such as the
sky (but not the SUN) or a lamp from distant. Adjust the eyepiece to focus the reticle pattern. Then
face the polar scope to a distant object and look through the eyepiece. If you can not see the distant
object clearly, the polar scope is not focused for your eyesight. Release a few turns of the Lock ring.
Turn the Objective lens until the image is focused. Retighten the Lock ring.

9
Turn the Polar Scope Lock Screw until it does not intrude into the Polar Scope Mounting Hole. The flat
surface inside the mounting hole is for polar scope alignment and the LED acts as both the power
indicator and the illuminating light for the polar scope reticle, as shown in Figure 11. Gently insert the
polar scope into the Polar Scope Mounting Hole with the flat platoon on the polar scope face down.
Push the polar scope all the way in so the flat surfaces inside the hole will align to the flat platoon on
the polar scope and the LED will sit right to the little opening on the flat platoon. Finger tighten (not too
tight) the Polar Scope Lock Screw (Figure 12).
Figure 11. Release polar scope lock screw Figure 12. Installed polar scope
Press the power switch on the mount to turn the SkyTrackerTM
mount on. Look
through the polar
scope eyepiece.
Adjust the eyepiece to
bring the reticle dial in
focus. As indicated in
Figure 13, the Polar
Scope Dial has been
divided into 12 hours
along the angular
direction with half-
hour tics. There are 2
groups, 6 concentric
circles marked from
36’ to 44’ and 60’ to
70’, respectively. The 36’ to 44’ concentric circles are used
for polar alignment in the northern hemisphere using Polaris.
While the 60’ to 70’ circles are used for polar alignment in
the southern hemisphere using Sigma Octantis.
To maximize the benefits of the iOptron polar scope for
polar alignment, you need to know where the Polaris is in
the northern hemisphere. You may find this information via
an iPhone/iPad app (iOptron Polar Scope in Apple iTune
store). Shown in Figure 14 is a screen shot of an iPhone
Figure 14. Polar scope chart
on an iPhone
Figure 13. Polar scope dial

10
chart. For example, on December 3, 2012, 12:48:36 in Boston, USA (Lat N42º30’28” and Long
W71º08’49”), the Polaris Position is 10hr 24.1m and r = 40.8min (the green dot on the chart).
Adjust the mount in latitude (using Latitude Adjustment Screw) and azimuth (heading, adjusting tripod)
direction to place Polaris in the same position on the Polar Scope Dial as indicated on your
iPhone/iPad screen. In this case, the Polaris will be located at a radius of 40.8’ and an angle of 10
hour 24.1 minute.
If you don’t have this application, you still can get a better polar alignment by placing Polaris at the
center of the polar scope dial.
STEP 6. Install ball head
Take off the camera mounting block from the SkyTracker by releasing two thumb screws that hold the
camera mounting block in place, as indicated in Figure 15. Mount the ball head (available as
accessory) onto the camera mounting block by threading it onto the brass central mounting screw
(Figure 16). Make sure they are tightened enough that there is no relative movement between the
mounting block and ball head. Reinstall the mounting block with ball head back to the SkyTracker.
Tighten the thumb screws to make sure that the mounting block will not slip.
Figure 15. Remove camera mounting block
Figure 16. Install ball head