Hey there, smartphone photographers! You know how we all use our phones to chat with friends and snap pics for social media? Well, get ready for something cool – your smartphone can also capture amazing astronomical images!
-M.jpeg "Milkyway over Be'erot Night camping, Ramon Crater, Israel")
In this post, we'll explore how you can use almost any recent smartphone to photograph the night sky. It's easier than you might think!
Night sky photography is a bit trickier than daytime shots, mainly because there's less light to work with. To get the best results, you'll want to find a dark spot away from city lights. Here are three key things to focus on:
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Increase exposure time
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Boost sensor sensitivity
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Stabilize your phone
Increasing Exposure Time and Sensor Sensitivity: Most default camera apps have a "PRO" mode that lets you control exposure time and sensitivity. Many phones allow at least 15 seconds of exposure, with some going up to 30 seconds. Sensor sensitivity is measured in ISO units – look for settings that go up to ISO 3200 or even 6400.
Pro Tip: Many recent smartphones have a built-in "Night" mode that automatically adjusts these settings for you. Some phones (like Samsung and Xiaomi) even have a special "Astrophotography" mode that allows exposures of several minutes!
Stabilizing Your Phone: Since Earth is constantly rotating (and let's face it, our hands aren't perfectly steady), you need to keep your phone still during long exposures. You can:
One More Trick: Use the timer function in your camera app. This gives your phone a few seconds to settle after you tap the shutter button, ensuring a super steady shot.
Fun Fact: All the photos in this post were taken with Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and Samsung S23 Ultra smartphones!
So, are you ready to capture some stellar shots? Grab your phone, find a dark spot, and let's see what cosmic wonders you can photograph!