Tips to photograph the Milky Way.

Taking photos of the Milky Way is easier than you’d think. All you need is some basic equipment or a smartphone and a clear night. Here’s how.

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful, clear night where the sky is filled with millions of stars, and the Milky Way is visible. If you’ve ever wanted to capture that beauty with a camera or even a smartphone, there’s good news: getting started is easier than you’d think. With a few pieces of equipment, the right lighting, and good weather, you’ll be creating stunning images in no time.

Before getting started, there are a couple of things to consider. The first is making sure you have the right equipment. A camera capable of shooting in manual mode is a must, as you’ll need to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO — also known as the exposure triangle. (No manual camera? Not to worry; check out our smartphone section below.) A lens with the widest aperture possible is also important so you can capture as much starlight as possible with a shorter shutter speed.

You’ll also need a tripod to eliminate any movement since that will create blur during the long-exposure time needed to capture stars. Lastly, we recommend a remote shutter to minimize any shaking caused by shutter presses.

The next consideration is where to shoot. To get a clear shot of the Milky Way, you need to be as far away from cities and towns as possible. These locations create light pollution that makes the stars harder to see and photograph. This is the time to take a drive into the mountains or hike to a clearing in the woods. If you’re not sure where to go, do a Google search for “dark sites near me” and you’ll likely find popular spots to shoot.

How to photograph the Milky Way with a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Once you’ve picked your location and gathered the right equipment, it’s time to shoot.

First check the weather beforehand and dress appropriately. Layers are important!

Once you’re ready to begin, check the following:

1. Turn off autofocus and manually set your focus to infinity.
2. Determine and set the length of exposure. Too short and there won’t be many stars. Too long and you’ll end up with star trails. To get an idea of the correct exposure length, use the 500 rule: 500/(crop factor x focal length) = maximum exposure time.
3. For example, if you’re shooting with a 20mm lens on a full-frame camera, 500/(1x20) = 25-second maximum exposure time. Crop factors for other common sensor sizes are 1.5x for ASP-C and 2x for Micro Four Thirds.
4. Set aperture to maximum (usually around f/1.4).
5. Turn off auto ISO and set it to 1600 as a base.
6. Take a test shot. If the Milky Way isn’t clear, increase the ISO. If the stars look more like lines than dots, decrease the exposure time by a few seconds.

Can I photograph the Milky Way with a smartphone?

Absolutely! Mobile phones and smartphones have come a long way in the past few years, and many have cameras capable of shooting in manual mode using a third-party app. However, keep in mind that because of the camera sensor on a smartphone, night-sky photos will likely have more noise than an image shot with a DSLR. But the steps for shooting the Milky Way on a smartphone are the same as above.

1. Open your chosen camera app and set it to manual mode.
2. Adjust the settings. You may need a longer exposure time to capture as much light as possible, but be aware that this will create star trails in your photo (the night sky moves 15 degrees every hour!). Start with 60 seconds, f/1.4, and ISO 1600.
3. Set the phone on a tripod or stable surface and start shooting! To reduce motion even more, use a remote shutter — or use headphones to trigger the camera’s shutter by pressing the volume button.
4. After you’re done, you can upload your photos to a computer for editing or use an app and edit right from your phone.

Editing your photos.

A big part of creating brilliant images of the Milky Way is editing the photos. The image your camera captures will likely be low contrast and missing the gorgeous blues and violets seen in most photos. A program like Photoshop or Lightroom will allow you to adjust the white balance and contrast to bring out all the details.

That’s it! You now have the basics of astrophotography. Whether you’re taking photos with a DSLR or a smartphone, we hope you’re inspired to capture your own images of the Milky Way.

Have you ever tried photographing the Milky Way before? What other tips would you share with photographers who are interested in trying? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.