Putting the Skywatcher Star Adventurer through the paces

Tested the EF 400/5.6 and the Sigma Art 135/1.8 on the Adventurer during one clear sky night this week. With some prolonged Polaris alignment I managed to make some shots with the 400mm until the camera ran out of juice unfortunately after about only 10 shots without me noticing.

After swapping to a fresh battery I also tested using the 135mm.

The target was Arcturus,  the brightest star in the constellation of Boötes, the fourth-brightest in the night sky, and the brightest in the northern celestial hemisphere. Arcturus is part of the Spring Triangle asterism together with Spica and Denebola.

With short exposure ie less than 10secs you can get away with a more or less Polar alignment which is what I've been doing thus far. With proper alignment even the 400 managed to get to 45 secs. The 135 managed to take it all the way to 83 seconds.

EF 400/5.6 shots above, max exposure reached this time was 45secs (above shot was 30secs and 45secs). 

Art 135/1.8 max exposure achieved was  83 secs (shots above vary from 30 secs to 83 secs).

Arcturus, is associated with the arrival of spring , and in the southern hemisphere heralds the start of autumn, here a stack of 135mm shots only lights, cropped.

Since the objective of the Star Adventurer was only to make longer exposures of the Milkyway and possibly also of the M42 Orion Nebula, I think the Adventurer has now proven more than fulfilled the tasks it's supposed to be doing.

Incidentally now that I have gained better experience with Polar alignment, there's less reason to leave the Adventurer at home and limit my exposure time. More tracked shots of clear sky undoubtedly. Here's to more clear skies!