The Milky Way is one of the most stunning and fascinating sights in the night sky. It is a spiral galaxy made up of billions of stars, gas, and dust. You can even see it from Earth with your naked eye on clear, dark nights. But is it possible to capture this spiral galaxy with a smartphone?
Similar Articles you may like to read –
How do you shoot a Milky Way with a DSLR?
How do you blend The Milky Way with foreground?
Can you see The Milky Way with the naked eye for photography?
Yes, it is possible. We can capture good images of the Milky Way with a phone, but you will need to bring along several pieces of equipment. These will include:
- A sturdy tripod with a smartphone mount
- Microfiber cloth
- Headlamp or LED flashlight
- Remote shutter
- Powerbank or spare battery
Generally, photographing the Milky Way with a smartphone is more difficult than doing it with a digital camera. So, the quality of the photos will depend on several factors.
One of the most important factors is the type of phone camera you want to use. Modern smartphones have high-quality cameras capable of taking great photos even in low-light conditions.
However, all smartphone cameras are not equal. Some have higher sensor size, aperture, and excellent low-light capabilities than others.
Generally, you can use any smartphone with a larger sensor and wider aperture to photograph the Milky Way on a moonless and clear night when the stars are brightest and more visible.
For example, smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Google Pixel 6 Pro, have larger sensors, which allow them to perform incredibly well under dark night skies.
You might find it difficult or even impossible to capture the Milky Way with a low-grade smartphone or any with a small sensor size. This is because photographing the Milky Way requires a dark location away from the city.
City lights can cause light pollution and significantly reduce the visibility of the stars, making it difficult for anyone to capture a clear image. Thus, you will need a smartphone capable of thriving in low light.
Furthermore, to capture clear images of the Milky Way with a larger sensor smartphone, you must consider the moon phases in your region. The spiral galaxy is more difficult to shoot during a full moon. Therefore, we suggest shooting the night sky when the moonlight is less bright or invisible.
What is the best time to capture the Milky Way with the phone?
Generally, the best time to capture the Milky Way with a phone is at midnight when the sky is darkest. Typically, this can be anytime between 11 pm to 3 am, depending on your location.
How to capture the Milky Way with a smartphone?
Firstly, use an app to find the Milky Way in the night sky, then look for a suitable location to capture it from. Some popular apps you may use include:
- Skyview lite
- Sky guide
- Stellarium Plus
- Star Walk 2.
- Star Rover.
- Starlight.
- Skye, etc.
Once you have found a dark location, mount your phone on a sturdy tripod to steady your smartphone camera. Using the manual controls on your phone camera, adjust the ISO to about 1600 or 3200, choose a shutter speed between 30 to 60 seconds, and click multiple images of the galaxy.
Although it is possible to capture the Milky Way with a smartphone, you must note it can be challenging and may require you to engage in steady practices in order to achieve optimal results.
Can you photograph the Milky Way with an iPhone?
Yes, it is possible to photograph the Milky Way with an iPhone. However, the quality of the image will depend on the iPhone model, your shooting location, and the amount of light pollution in the area.
Newer iPhone models, such as the iPhone 12 and 13, have improved camera sensors and lenses capable of excelling in low light. These models have larger sensors, wider apertures, and improved image processing capabilities, which can help astrophotographers capture more detail in the Milky Way.
To capture the Milky Way with your iPhone, find a dark location away from city lights and adjust your settings accordingly. Do not forget to post-process the images later.
More articles you may like to read –
Can I Use 50mm Lens For Astrophotography?
Should I shoot in RAW for astrophotography?
What white balance should I use for astrophotography?
What is the best phone to use for Milky Way photography?
There are several high-tech smartphones in the market. But the best ones for astrophotography and capturing the Milky Way are those that give you manual control over the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings.
Simply put, the best phone for capturing the Milky Way and night stars are those that have manual camera mode capabilities.
Unfortunately, most high-grade phones do not feature such specs. But luckily, you can download and use any third-party camera app (with manual control mode) on your smartphone.
In conclusion, you can capture images of the Milky Way using a smartphone with a larger image sensor and aperture. But you may need to invest in good gear, such as a sturdy and remote shutter tripod if you want to produce extraordinary results.