Built-in Hour Axis

One of the key features of tracking platforms used for astrophotography is the setup of the hour axis.

With the Kenko SKYMEMO S, precise hour axis alignments are always possible, further supported by the illuminated polar finder.

Select Your Tracking Mode

The Kenko SKYMEMO S is equipped with a total of eight tracking modes, including a fixed star tracking mode, as well as solar and lunar tracking modes. This means it showcases its full potential in all areas of astrophotography, allowing you to capture celestial objects like the sun or moon, not just fixed stars.

By simply rotating the selector, you can easily choose the tracking mode you wish to use.

Fixed Star Tracking Mode

• This mode is particularly suited for astrophotography. By turning the selector to the ☆ symbol, the tracking system begins to operate according to the daily motion of the stars, allowing it to continue tracking the same star. In this mode, stars are captured as points of light. The fixed star tracking mode is therefore especially recommended for capturing celestial objects like faint stars and nebulae.

Solar and Lunar Tracking Modes

• Compared to fixed stars, the sun and moon have completely different movement speeds and daily variations, which require distinct tracking methods. The Kenko SKYMEMO S is therefore equipped with special tracking modes for the sun and moon, allowing you to select the one you need by simply turning the selector to the corresponding ☼ or ☾ icon.

Tracking Mode at 0.5x Speed

• The Kenko SKYMEMO S also features a 0.5x speed tracking mode, which supports landscape astrophotography by allowing you to include both the horizon and the starry sky above in the same shot. This 0.5x speed tracking mode also facilitates smooth and slow movements, enabling you to freeze and capture the starry sky right above your favorite landscapes with short exposures. All these features make the 0.5x speed tracking mode particularly suitable for capturing landscape astrophotography.

Other Tracking Speeds

• By rotating the selector to 2x, 6x, or 12x, you can speed up the way you capture the daily motion of the stars. These modes are especially handy for interval shooting.

Off Mode

• Last but not least, the off mode cuts power when you’ve finished tracking. But that’s not all. In OFF mode, you can capture still images where stars appear as arcs centered around the North Star.

Built-in Interval Timer

• Interval shooting is a technique that allows you to take pictures automatically at set intervals. The Kenko SKYMEMO S comes with an interval shooting function, so by connecting its shutter control port to your camera’s external shutter control port with an optional shutter control cable, you can automatically take pictures by setting shooting intervals. Interval shooting can also be done during tracking.
• When combining interval shooting with astrophotography, it’s essential to know in advance where the celestial object you want to capture is and how it moves. For this reason, each tracking mode of the Kenko SKYMEMO S corresponds to preset interval values based on the object or shooting speed, and you can easily check this in the following table: [https://kenkoglobal.com/product/skymemo_s_portable_tracking_platform/] (http://)

The Kenko SKYMEMO S uses four AA alkaline batteries (not included) as its power source. It can be used continuously for about 72 hours.

• Dimensions: 173.5 x 113.3 x 96 mm
• Weight: 1 kg