Our beginner’s ultimate guide to astrophotography covers everything from choosing the right equipment and locations to the best camera settings and techniques for capturing the night sky. It is a must–read astrophotography guide for anyone seeking to start creating stunning images of the night sky and stars.
Introduction
If you have ever attempted to take professional shots of the night sky or star trails with your smartphone or a digital camera, you will understand that astrophotography is no joke.
Astrophotography is one of the most fascinating and challenging fields of photography. It is an interesting and challenging hobby that requires skills, patience, and specialized equipment.
Therefore, we have taken our time to create this unique astrophotography for beginners’ guide to help you get started in photographing sharp images of the night sky either with your smartphone or a digital camera.
In this astrophotography guide for beginners, we will provide you with a comprehensive view of astrophotography, including its significance and history, the equipment you can use, the techniques to apply, how to find a suitable location, and the best creative ways you can capture the night sky.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced astrophotographer, we have specifically tailored this guide to help take your skills to the next level. So, let’s get started!
What is astrophotography?
In simple terms, astrophotography is a genre of photography that involves taking pictures of the night sky– from the radiant glow of the Milky Way to the intricate details of distant galaxies, nebulae, and planets.
Astrophotography, also called astronomical imaging, has a long, fascinating history, dating back to the mid–19th century. In 1839, a man named Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre attempted to photograph the moon, but unfortunately, the attempt failed.
The first successful photograph of the moon was captured by John William Draper on March 23, 1840, using a reflective telescope.
Note: A reflective telescope is a type of telescope that uses mirrors instead of lenses to gather and focus light and magnify an image.
Astrophotography has greatly evolved since the first successful picture was captured thanks to technological advancements.
Today, you can simply point your camera at the night sky and capture stunning images provided you use the right camera setting and techniques, which we are going to show you in this guide.
What are the types of astrophotography?
There are several types of astrophotography. But the common ones include:
- Deep-sky astrophotography – involves capturing images of distant celestial objects such as nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters.
- Planetary astrophotography – involves capturing pictures of planets within our solar system.
- Lunar astrophotography – involves photographing the moon.
- Solar astrophotography – involves taking pictures of the sun.
- Wide-field astrophotography – involves capturing large portions of the night sky, including constellations and the Milky Way, with wide-angle lenses.
- Star trail photography – involves clicking the clear movement of stars across the sky due to the earth’s rotation.
- Time-lapse astrophotography – involves capturing a series of still images of the night sky over a period of time and then assembling them into a video sequence.
Note: Each type requires its own unique set of equipment, skills, and techniques. While you can explore some with a beginner DSLR camera, you will need a high-end camera for some.
Why is astrophotography important?
Astrophotography is an important genre because it allows us to capture and study the beauty and complexity of the cosmos.
Today, without being in space, we know what the sun, stars, and galaxies look like due to the works of astrophotographers.
If you search the word “galaxy” on pexels.com, for instance, you will see thousands of free, non-Al generated images of the galaxy uploaded by several astrophotographers.
This, of course, will help expand our knowledge of the universe. Astrophotography is also important because it inspires us to appreciate the wonders of the universe and our place in it.
However, mastering astrophotography is not as easy as mastering other genres, like portrait photography. To capture stunning images of the night sky, you must possess the right tools, employ advanced shooting techniques, and have at least a basic knowledge of photography.
Therefore, if you are really serious about photographing stunning images of the night sky, continue reading to learn all you need to become an excellent astrophotographer.
Essential equipment for astrophotography
Generally, different sets of equipment are required for each type of astrophotography. But regardless of the type you’d like to explore, you will need the following tools:
1. Your smartphone or a digital camera
Obviously, you can’t capture any image without a camera. However, keep in mind that whether to use your smartphone’s camera or a DSLR or mirrorless camera will depend on the celestial subjects you would love to capture.
If you intend to photograph planetary bodies or deep-sky subjects, we recommend using a digital camera for the shot. This will help you capture better images.
But if you aim to photograph the moon or the night stars, you can use your smartphone, provided it has a larger imaging sensor, aperture, and manual camera mood capabilities.
2. A fast lens
In addition to a camera, you will need a fast lens that will allow you to capture more light and create brighter, clear images. We will discuss the best camera lens for astrophotography later.
3. A star tracker
This will help you capture sharp images of the stars. Our top star trackers for astrophotography include the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer and the iOptron SkyGuider Pro.
The former offers versatility and portability, while the latter offers impressive payload capacity. In short, these two are great for both beginners and pros.
4. A sturdy tripod
This would provide support for your camera during long exposures. It would also help prevent camera shakes.
5. Extra charged batteries
For extended shooting experience on the field.
6. A remote shutter release
It would help you capture long exposures without touching your camera, thereby preventing image blur.
Aside from these, you would need warm clothes, socks, a torchlight, hand gloves, and other self and camera-protective equipment.
In short, our astrophotography gear recommendations include a camera, a fast lens, a star tracker, a sturdy tripod, extra charged batteries, a remote shutter release, and some camera and self-protective equipment.
Best equipment for astrophotography
When it comes to selecting gear for photographing the night sky, one has to be very careful because there are a lot of factors to consider.
Some of these include but are not limited to portability, affordability, sensor size (for cameras), designs, AF system, and usability.
In this section, we will explain, in detail, the best camera, lenses, and other tools for astrophotography. This is to help you make the right choices when purchasing a digital camera or lens for this purpose.
Best cameras for astrophotography
Regarding the best cameras for astrophotography, our top picks include but are not limited to the Nikon D850, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Pentax K-1 Mark II, and Sony Alpha A7R III.
These cameras are user-friendly and have excellent low-light performance capability, allowing you to capture beautiful photographs of celestial objects in challenging light conditions.
In addition, they feature large sensor sizes and excellent AF tracking systems, which makes capturing razor-shape pictures of the night sky easy and fun.
You can click on the link below to read more about these cameras and others:
What are the Best Cameras for Astrophotography?
You might also be interested in our article: How Many Megapixels Are Good For Astrophotography?
DSLR camera vs. Mirrorless camera – which is best for astrophotography?
The debate between DSLR and mirrorless cameras abounds when it comes to taking photos of the sky and stars.
While many professional astrophotographers prefer DSLR cameras because of their large sensors, others prefer mirrorless cameras because of their lightweight.
In short, both DSLR and mirrorless cameras are great for astrophotography. However, we would recommend choosing a mirrorless camera.
This is because, unlike DSLRs, mirrorless cameras lack
- Pentaprisma
- A mirror system
The absence of pentaprisms in mirrorless cameras makes them lighter than DSLRs, while the lack of a mirror system makes them more suitable for handheld shooting.
Nonetheless, we recommend you conduct further research before making a choice. You can start by going through the articles below:
Are DSLR Or Mirrorless Cameras Better For Astrophotography?
How to do astrophotography with a dslr?
How do you shoot a Milky Way with a DSLR?
Which focal length is best for astrophotography?
Focal length is a crucial factor to consider when buying a lens for astrophotography. In simple terms, the focal length is like the distance from the lens to where it gathers all the light or focuses it.
The focal length determines your image’s field of view and magnification. A shorter focal length produces a wider field of view and lower magnification, while a longer focal length produces a narrower field of view and higher magnification.
As mentioned earlier, the right focal length or lens would depend on the type of astrophotography you want to explore.
If you are just getting started in the niche and want to capture the plain beauty of the night sky and the Milky Way, we recommend a wide-angle lens with a focal length between 14mm and 35mm. These lenses have a wider field of view (FOV), which is perfect for capturing the expansive night sky.
In contrast, if you intend to capture deep sky objects, like galaxies and nebulae, we suggest a 200mm or 300mm telephoto lens. This will allow you to capture razor-sharp images of deep-sky objects and planets.
In short, we recommend wide-angle lenses with a focal length between 14mm and 35mm for Milk Way and wide-field astrophotography and telephoto lenses with a focal length between 200mm to 300 for deep-sky and planetary astrophotography.
You can go through the articles below to learn more about these lenses, including our top picks:
Is 24mm wide enough for astrophotography?
What focal length is best for astrophotography?
Best lens for Milky Way photography
As mentioned earlier, you can use a wide-angle lens with a focal length of 14mm to 24mm and an aperture of max f/2.8 or wider to photograph the Milky Way.
Apart from this, you can also photograph the spiral galaxy with a prime or normal lens. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length and fast maximum aperture, allowing you to capture sharp and less distorted images of the Milky Way.
You can learn more about prime lenses and the best lens for Milky Way astrophotography in the articles below:
Can I Use 50mm Lens For Astrophotography?
What lens do I need to photograph the Milky Way?
Camera settings for astrophotography
There are no specific or best camera settings for astrophotography. The ideal settings are usually dependent on the subjects, environment, and desired results.
However, assuming you are shooting in manual mode (which is the best shooting mode for astrophotography), in this section, we are going to discuss the most important settings to consider when shooting the night sky. These include ISO, exposure length, white balance, aperture, and image format.
ISO
ISO refers to the sensitivity of a camera’s imaging sensor to light. The higher the ISO setting, the more sensitive your camera is to light. In contrast, the lower your ISO value, the less sensitive your imaging sensor will be to light.
Regarding what ISO you can use for astrophotography, we recommend something between ISO100 to ISO800. It’s best to keep your ISO value low when photographing the night sky because a higher value can introduce noise into your shots.
White Balance
Generally, the daylight (5200K) WB setting is the most suitable for astrophotography. But it is usually too warm for night sky images.
Therefore, cooler white balance settings within the range of 3200-4800 are typically used by astrophotographers.
But we suggest experimenting with different WB settings to find the most suitable for the objects you want to capture.
You can learn about WB and color temperature for astrophotography in the articles below:
What white balance should I use for astrophotography?
What color temperature is good for astrophotography?
Exposure length
Exposure length is the duration of time your camera’s shutter will stay open to allow light to pass through the lens onto the sensor.
This implies that the duration of your exposure will determine how bright or detailed your celestial object images will be.
In general, shorter exposures are best for capturing brighter objects like the Moon or planets. In contrast, longer exposures are best for capturing fainter deep-sky objects like galaxies or nebulae and for star trail photography.
Regardless, we suggest using the 500 rule to determine the right exposure length for your shots. For a more detailed explanation of exposure length for astrophotography, check the article: How long should my exposure be for astrophotography?
Aperture
It is actually difficult to recommend a specific f-number for astrophotography. This is because the aperture determines the amount of light that would reach your camera’s sensor through the lens.
Therefore, whether to opt for a higher or lower f-number would depend on the subjects to be photographed and also on the light situation in your shooting location.
For instance, if you want to photograph faint sky objects like the Milky Way in a poorly lit environment, you can set your aperture to a lower f-number (e.g., f/2.8). This will let more into your camera, resulting in clear pictures.
In contrast, if you are in an overly lit environment, it’s best to set your aperture to a high f-number (e.g., f/11). This will let less light into your camera, preventing overexposed images. Ultimately, the best way to determine the perfect aperture for you is to experiment with different options and adjust the setting accordingly.
RAW vs JPEG
Whether to record the images in RAW or JPEG format will depend on the capacity of your SD card. Both image formats are excellent, but RAW is the most recommended format when capturing professional images.
Shooting your astrophotographs in RAW format offer several advantages, including better color accuracy, non-destructive editing, and greater detail and dynamic range.
While shooting your night sky images in RAW format will require more memory space when compared to JPEG images, it remains the most recommended format for astrophotography.
You can learn more about the benefits of shooting RAW in the article below:
Should I shoot in RAW for astrophotography?
In brief, there are no universally defined ‘best’ camera settings for astrophotography. Weather conditions and celestial events vary across continents and even within specific regions. Therefore, feel free to experiment with various options.
Composition techniques in astrophotography
Composition is a fundamental aspect of every genre of photography, including astrophotography. Composition holds significant importance in astrophotography owing to the intricate arrangements and inherent nature of celestial subjects.
There are a variety of composition techniques that can help you capture stunning images of stars and galaxies. However, the most recommended ones include:
1. Rule of space
This rule suggests that if your subject (e.g., a meteor) is moving across the frame, you should leave space in the direction of movement. This will help create an impression of motion and provide your viewers with more detail about the object’s trajectory.
2. Rule of thirds
This is one of the most popular techniques in photography. It suggests dividing your frame into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines, then placing your subjects on or along the four intersections to create a well-composed night sky image.
For more details about the rule of thirds, check the article: Rule Of Thirds In Photography.
3. Framing
Framing in astrophotography refers to the technique used to direct your viewers’ eyes to a specific area or object in an image by placing the key night sky subject within a natural or man-made frame, such as trees or buildings.
You can learn more about this technique in the articles below:
What Is Framing In Photography? How To Use It?
A Guide To Framing In Photography. How To? Tips And Ideas
4. Leading lines
This technique is similar to framing. But it deals with using lines, like a path, river, or road, to guide the viewer’s eyes toward your main subject. The leading lines composition techniques can be particularly effective when photographing star trails.
You can click on the link below to learn more about this technique:
How To Use Leading Lines In Your Photography?
Note: These are just a few of the many composition techniques that can help enhance your astrophotography.
General techniques in Astrophotography you must know
Aside from the composition techniques, here are some professional, advanced astrophotography techniques you must know:
1. Using dark frames
This involves clicking images of the night sky and stars while covering your lens with its cap or a piece of black cloth, fabric, or any material that can block out light and prevent any external light from reaching your camera’s sensor.
The essence of this technique is to capture well-detailed images with little to no noise. If you want to learn more about the importance of dark frames in astrophotography and how you can practicalize it, check the article below:
Do you need dark frames for astrophotography?
2. Using red light for night sky and star photography
Just as the heading says, this technique entails using red light instead of Speedlite or bright white light for astrophotography.
According to research, red lights do not spoil night vision, making them suitable for all forms of astrophotography and outdoor night photoshoots. You can click on the article below to learn more:
Why is red light used in astrophotography?
3. Spectroscopy and narrowband imaging
These are advanced techniques used by both professionals and enthusiasts to analyze the composition and properties of stars and other celestial objects, revealing even their intricate details.
Spectroscopy involves the separation of light into its spectral components, revealing information about chemical composition and temperature.
Narrowband imaging, on the other hand, deals with isolating and capturing specific wavelengths of light (using filters) emitted by nebulae.
The purpose of employing these techniques is to uncover intricate details that might remain obscured in broad-spectrum images. You might be interested in the article below:
Are the colors in astrophotography real?
4. Photometric and exoplanet transit imaging
Photometric imaging can be incredibly rewarding if you are interested in finding exoplanets – planets outside our solar system.
This technique involves capturing changes in the brightness of stars over time to detect potential transits. Keep in mind that, unlike the previous techniques, this particular one requires precise timing and equipment.
5. Time-lapse technique
Time-lapse is a common photography technique. It involves capturing a series of images over an extended period and then combining them into a video sequence.
Most astrophotographers find this technique interesting because it allows them to showcase the mesmerizing motion of stars, planets, and changes across the night sky.
If you are interested in learning more about time-lapse photography, check the article below:
How To Make Time-Lapse Photography Videos? Short And Long Video
6. High Dynamic Range (HDR) astrophotography technique
The high Dynamic Range (HDR) astrophotography technique is particularly useful for scenes featuring several photo-worthy elements. It involves capturing multiple images of the scene using different settings and exposures.
These images are then combined into a single photograph that reveals a broader range of details in both the shadows and highlights of the scene you captured.
Planning and preparation tips for astrophotography
Now that we’ve covered the necessary equipment, composition techniques, and camera settings for astrophotography, how should you begin capturing images of the night sky?
First and foremost, plan and prepare for the shots. Starting astrophotography can be a thrilling and challenging experience.
Thus, having a comprehensive plan in place before venturing out for your shots is of paramount importance. An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing, says Dale Carnegie.
Capturing these celestial wonders requires more than just pointing your camera upwards. It requires meticulous planning and thoughtful preparation.
The universe operates on its own timeline, and capturing specific celestial events demands meticulous planning and precise timing.
Here’s how you can plan and prepare for astrophotography:
1. Identify specific celestial events or objects to photograph
The first stage in the planning process involves identifying or outlining specific celestial events or objects you intend to photograph.
The night sky is filled with numerous objects; knowing what to focus on beforehand can streamline your work and make the process faster and more straightforward.
If your goal is to capture rare events such as meteor showers, eclipses, and planetary alignments, we recommend conducting thorough research to determine the best approach for capturing these shots.
2. Find a suitable location
The choice of location ultimately depends on the specific night sky event or objects you intend to photograph.
But naturally, dark locations with minimal light pollution and clear skies are the best for astrophotography.
However, as mentioned earlier, the universe operates on its own timeline. This implies that certain events and night key objects might be limited to specific geographical locations.
Therefore, finding a location that offers your desired objects is of great importance. Fortunately, numerous excellent locations for astrophotography can be found in the US and around the world.
Among them, our top recommendations are:
- Deserts – e.g., Death Valley
- Parks – e.g., Arches National Park (Utah, United States)
- Coastlines – e.g., Coast of Maine
If your intention is to capture the Milky Way, you can click the article below to discover the best location for Milky Way photography:
Where is the best place to photograph the Milky Way?
You can find locations with minimal light pollution in your areas with the aid of the websites below:
Tip: If you’re a beginner, a great place to begin your night sky photography journey is right in your backyard. As you gain experience in this field, you can gradually venture into darker locations beyond your immediate neighborhood and even consider exploring areas outside your state or country.
3. Keep a close eye on the weather
Despite meticulous planning, nature remains unpredictable. The sky could become cloudy at any moment without showing any signs.
Therefore, it’s essential to closely monitor weather forecasts in the days leading up to your outdoor shoot.
You can achieve this using smartphone apps such as Carrot Weather and websites like AccuWeather or other websites dedicated to astronomy forecasts.
4. Assemble your gear prior to the scheduled time
Before your scheduled session, make sure to gather all the essential equipment in a backpack or a compact, portable toolkit.
You can do this a few hours before your chosen time for astrophotography. This way, you can be sure of not forgetting any tool.
Ensure your camera, lenses, and other accessories are clean and in working condition. Do not forget to pack extra batteries and memory cards because cold temperatures and long exposures can drain power swiftly.
Likewise, remember to bring along a lens or camera cleaning kit.
5. Consider visiting your chosen location during daylight
Consider visiting your chosen location during daylight to scout potential compositions. Try to identify landmarks, foreground elements, or interesting features that can help enhance your shots.
Framing your shot during the day reduces fumbling in the dark and helps you visualize the final image before nightfall.
6. Cultivate patience and develop a contemplative mindset
Astrophotography poses various challenges. From enduring cold outdoor temperatures to exposing yourself to nocturnal wildlife, capturing the night sky during unconventional hours might seem less enjoyable without patience and a contemplative mindset.
Therefore, cultivating patience and adopting a contemplative mindset is essential if you aspire to become a skilled astrophotographer. The night sky is a fickle subject.
So, you must be ready to spend hours outdoors, waiting for the right combination of factors to align. Without patience, you might find it difficult to overcome the challenges associated with taking pictures at night.
Likewise, lacking a contemplative mindset can lead to the capturing and printing of uninspiring or thoughtless images. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to invest hours in capturing photographs that ultimately go to waste.
To prevent this, we advise spending some time at your chosen location (to absorb the surroundings, listen to the sounds of the night, and let the vastness of the cosmos resonate with you) before shooting. Your connection with the environment and sky subjects will be evident in the final photographs, infusing your images with creative meanings.
How to photograph the Milky Way – professional tips
The Milky Way is a cosmic wonder. It is a spiral galaxy containing billions of stars and other celestial bodies. According to NASA, the distance between our planet (Earth) and the center of the Milky Way is around 28,000 light-years – about 2.646 x 10^20 meters.
This is an incredible distance. Yet, you can still capture the beauty of the spiral galaxy (Milky Way) with even a smartphone. Here are some professional tips to help you get started with Milky Way photography:
1. Locate the Milky Way in the night sky
First and foremost, attempt to locate the Milky Way. You can achieve this using a telescope or simply by using your eyes – yes, it’s possible to observe the spiral galaxy with the naked eye.
For more details on how to locate the spiral galaxy with the naked eye, check the article below:
Can you see The Milky Way with the naked eye for photography?
2. Find a suitable spot for your shot
After identifying your subject, seek out a suitable spot or area where you can set up your tripod and compose your shot. You can try different angles.
3. Set your camera and take the shot
Next, adjust your camera settings accordingly and take multiple shots from different angles. Remember to try out some of the composition techniques mentioned earlier.
4. Consider blending the Milky Way with foreground elements
Blending the Milky Way with foreground elements in your photograph can create a stunning and captivating image. You can go through the article below to learn how to do it:
How do you blend The Milky Way with foreground?
How to capture the night sky and star trails
Capturing the vast night sky and star trails is not as difficult as you may think. Here are some professional tips to help you get started:
Best night sky photography tips
- Find a dark location with low light pollution
- Experiment with different shutter speeds
- Use a tripod
- Use a wide-angle lens to capture a larger portion of the sky
- Focus manually
- Shoot in RAW
You can learn more in the article below:
Night Sky And Star Photography Tips For Beginners
Best star trail photography tips
- Switch on the “mirror lock-up” feature if you are shooting with a DSLR camera
- Turn on the “Long Exposure Noise Reduction” feature if it’s available in your camera
- Avoid overexposure
- Use the bulb mode to control the length of your exposure manually
You can learn more in the articles below:
How Can You Do Star Photography In A Dense Urban Area?
How do you get sharp stars in astrophotography? Tips and Ideas
How To shoot Star Trails photos?
Best tips for photographing the sun and moon
Here are the best tips for sun and moon photography:
Tips for sun photography
- Do not look directly at the sun through your camera’s viewfinder or with your naked eye
- Use graduated neutral density (GND) filters
- Experiment with different aperture settings
For more tips, check the article: How To Photograph The Sun And Make It Look Large In Photos?
Tips for moon photography
- Wait till the moon rises
- Use a moon filter
- Understand the phases of the moon
- Incorporate interesting foreground elements
You can click on the article below to learn more about moon photography, including the best camera settings and ideas.
Moonlight Photography, How To Capture The Best Shots? Setting And Ideas
Common issues in astrophotography and their solutions
As you embark on this adventure, you will encounter various problems that can test your patience and technical know-how.
In this section, we will briefly explore some possible challenges you might face and offer guidance on how to prevent or overcome them.
Possible problems | Solutions |
Getting unwanted star trails or blurry images | 1. Use the 500 rule 2. Invest in a sturdy tripod You can learn more in the article: Why are my astrophotography photos blurry? How do you fix it? |
Difficulty getting sharp focus in low light | 1. Consider using bahtinov masks or specialized focusing aids for pinpoint accuracy 2. Use live view with maximum zoom to fine-tune focus You might be interested in the articles below:How To Focus In Dark? A Guide To Click Sharp Photos Camera Won’t Focus – Common Problems And How To Fix It? |
Getting underexposed or overexposed images | 1. Consider using the HDR techniques 2. Post-process the photos |
Problems with light pollution and unwanted glare | 1. Consider using light pollution filters or narrowband filters to isolate specific wavelengths of light and reduce the impact of pollution 2. Use a lens hood 3. Ultimately, consider changing location |
Problems associated with shooting during a full moon | 1. Shoot only brighter objects 2. Stack your images You can learn more in the article below:Can you do astrophotography during a full moon? |
In conclusion,
Astrophotography is an interesting and challenging niche. It requires having advanced tools, understanding your camera settings and composition techniques, cultivating patience, and adopting a contemplative mindset.
However, meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee that your first shot will align perfectly with your long-envisioned result. Just like every other genre of photography, getting beautiful pictures of the night sky, the Milky Way, the sun, the moon, and stars demands some practice.
So don’t stop stepping into the night and framing the heavens if your first shots appear disappointing – keep shooting.