How to Take Pictures of the Stars

Published by Color Experts International April 6, 2025

What Is Astrophotography?

Astrophotography is like capturing a moment in the night sky. A camera lets you show off the amazing things in space that sparkle above us. You can take a picture of stars, planets, and the Moon shining together.

With the right lens, distant galaxies and gas clouds appear clear. Astrophotography captures stunning views of the Milky Way and star trails, turning the cosmos into art. It differs from regular photography. Special camera settings are needed for low light.

You also need some planning. However, the results are worth it. You get beautiful images that reveal the vast beauty of the universe.

There are a few different types of astrophotography:

Star Photography: Easy images of stars at night.
Milky Way Photography: Wide-angle shots of our galaxy.
Star Trails: Long exposures show star movement.
Deep-Sky Photography: Close-ups of distant objects using telescopes.

Essential Gear You’ll Need

You don’t need a lot of costly gear to take star photos. However, the right equipment improves your shot quality. Here’s what you need to start with star photography:

Camera with Manual Mode: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture controls is essential. Manual settings allow you to manage low-light conditions fully.
Wide-Angle Lens: Use a 14-24mm lens to capture the night sky, one with a fast aperture of f/2.8 or lower.
Sturdy Tripod: Since you’ll be shooting long exposures, a stable tripod is a must. Even the slightest shake can blur your stars.
Remote Shutter or Timer: Use a remote shutter or your camera’s timer to prevent camera shake when you take the photo. It helps keep your stars sharp.
Extra Batteries and Memory Cards: Long exposures use more battery power, and shooting in RAW takes up more space. Always pack extras.
Optional – Star Tracker: Transform your photography with a star tracker that dances with Earth’s rotation. Perfect for those enchanting deep-sky treasures, it keeps fleeting stars in focus.
Optional – Light Pollution Filter: If you live in or near a city, this filter can help cut through the glow of artificial lights and make stars pop.

Camera Settings for Star Photography

Getting your camera settings right is one of the most important parts of star photography. Since you’ll be shooting in the dark, you’ll need to adjust your camera to let in as much light as possible—without making your stars blurry.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the settings to start with:

1. Switch to Manual Mode: Manual mode gives you full control over how your camera works in low light. You’ll set the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture yourself.

2. Set Your ISO: Start with ISO 1600 to 3200 Higher ISO makes your camera more sensitive to light, which is great for night shots. Just be aware that higher ISO can also add noise to your image. You can reduce this later when editing.

3. Choose a Wide Aperture: Use f/2.8 or lower (like f/1.8 if your lens allows). A wider aperture means more light reaches your camera’s sensor. This helps you capture dim stars clearly.

4. Adjust Your Shutter Speed: Try 15–25 seconds Too long, and the stars will start to trail because of the Earth’s rotation. A great way to avoid this is to use the 500 Rule:

500 ÷ focal length = max shutter speed in seconds

For example: If your lens is 20mm: 500 ÷ 20 = 25 seconds (your maximum shutter speed before stars blur)

5. Focus Manually: Autofocus doesn’t work well in the dark. Switch to manual focus and use live view on your screen. Zoom in on a bright star and adjust the focus until it looks sharp.

6. Set White Balance to Daylight or 4000K–5000K: Auto white balance can shift colors oddly in night photos. Setting it manually gives you better results, and you can always tweak it in editing.

Best Conditions for Star Photography

Great star photos don’t just come from a good camera—they come from the right conditions too. Even with the best gear, your photos won’t look amazing if the sky isn’t cooperating. Here’s what to look for when planning your shoot:

1. Find a Dark Sky Location: Light pollution from cities makes it hard to see stars. Try to find a rural or remote spot away from streetlights and buildings.

Use apps like Dark Site Finder, Light Pollution Map, or Clear Outside to find the best locations near you.

2. Shoot on a Clear Night: Clouds ruin star photos. Look for a night with a clear sky and low humidity. Check the weather forecast before heading out.

3. Avoid the Moon: A bright moon can light up the sky and wash out the stars. Plan your shoot around the new moon phase or when the moon is below the horizon.

4. Time It Right: The best time to shoot stars is between midnight and 4 AM, when the sky is darkest. If you’re aiming for the Milky Way, plan your session during the Milky Way season (typically March to September in the Northern Hemisphere).

5. Check the Sky’s Visibility: Use apps like Stellarium, Sky Guide, or PhotoPills to see what celestial objects will be visible and where they’ll be in the sky.

6. Stable Weather and Minimal Wind: Wind can shake your tripod and blur your shots. Try to shoot on calm nights for the sharpest results.

Planning Your Shot

Planning your star photo ahead of time can make a big difference between a good shot and a stunning one. You don’t want to be guessing once you’re out in the dark. Here’s how to prepare like a pro:

1. Use a Sky Map or Stargazing App

Apps like PhotoPills, Stellarium, Sky Guide, or Star Walk 2 help you track stars, planets, constellations, and the Milky Way in real time. You can see exactly where and when the Milky Way or specific stars will appear in the sky.

2. Scout Your Location Before Dark

Visit your shooting location during the day if possible. Find interesting foreground elements, like trees, rocks, mountains, or buildings. They can make your star photos more dramatic.

3. Think About Composition

Use the rule of thirds to place stars or the Milky Way off-center for a more balanced image. Frame your shot with both sky and foreground to tell a story and give a sense of scale. Avoid clutter or bright lights that could ruin your shot.

4. Consider Including a Subject

Adding a person, tent, or silhouette in your shot can make the photo feel more personal and engaging.

5. Double-Check the Weather and Moon Phase

You don’t want to show up ready to shoot and be met with clouds or a full moon. Always confirm clear skies and minimal moonlight the day of your shoot.

6. Plan Your Exposure Time

Decide if you want a still starscape or a star trail shot. For still stars: Use short exposures (10–25 seconds). For star trails: Use long exposures or shoot multiple images to stack later.

How To Take Shoot

Now that you’ve planned your location, checked the sky, and set up your gear—it’s time to take the shot! This is where everything comes together. Follow these simple steps to capture clear, beautiful pictures of the stars:

1. Set Up Your Tripod and Frame the Shot

Make sure your tripod is stable and level.
Frame your shot using live view on your camera screen.
Include an interesting foreground if possible (trees, mountains, silhouettes).

2. Switch to Manual Focus

Autofocus struggles in the dark, so switch to manual. Use live view, zoom in on a bright star, and adjust the focus ring until the star looks sharp and small.

3. Set Your Exposure

Use the settings we covered earlier:
- ISO: 1600–3200
- Aperture: f/2.8 or wider
- Shutter speed: 15–25 seconds (or use the 500 rule)

Take a test shot, then adjust based on how the image looks.

4. Use a Remote or Timer

Pressing the shutter can cause vibrations, which may blur your image. Use a remote shutter release, or set a 2-second timer to keep your camera steady.

5. Review Your Photo

Zoom in and check if the stars are sharp and not streaked. If they’re blurry, tweak your focus or shorten your shutter speed. If the image is too dark or too bright, adjust ISO or shutter speed accordingly.

6. Experiment and Shoot More

Don’t stop at one shot. Try different angles, settings, or compositions. Take multiple photos so you have options—and possibly stack them later to reduce noise or create star trails.

How to Edit Your Star Photos

Editing is where the magic happens. Even if your raw photo looks a little dull or noisy, some simple adjustments can bring out the stars, boost the colors, and make your night sky image pop.

Here’s how to edit your star photos the easy way:

1. Use the Right Software

Lightroom and Photoshop are the most popular tools for astrophotography.
For free alternatives, try Darktable, RawTherapee, or GIMP.
If you’re into stacking multiple shots (especially for reducing noise), check out Sequator (Windows) or Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac).

2. Basic Adjustments to Start With

Exposure: Brighten up the image just enough to reveal the stars.
Contrast: Boost contrast to make the stars stand out from the background.
Highlights/Shadows: Lower highlights and bring up shadows to balance the image.
Whites/Blacks: Adjust for more depth in the stars and sky.

3. Color Correction

Adjust the white balance to remove unwanted color casts. A cooler tone (blue/purple) usually looks more natural for star photos.
Add a slight color boost or vibrance to enhance the Milky Way and other elements without oversaturating.

4. Clarity and Texture

Increase clarity or dehaze to bring out the details in the sky.
Add a little texture to sharpen the stars and foreground elements.

5. Noise Reduction

High ISO can create noise, especially in dark areas.
Use the noise reduction sliders carefully—don’t overdo it or you’ll lose star detail.
Alternatively, stack multiple photos (advanced tip) to naturally reduce noise while keeping stars sharp.

6. Crop and Straighten

Crop to improve composition if needed.
Straighten the horizon if it’s tilted, especially in landscape shots.

7. Final Touches

Use a graduated filter to darken the sky or lighten the foreground.
Add a subtle vignette to draw focus to the center of the image.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When you’re just starting with star photography, it’s easy to make a few mistakes. Don’t worry—everyone does! Knowing what to avoid can save you time, frustration, and help you get better results faster.

Here are some of the most common mistakes beginners make—and how to fix them:

1. Using Too Long of a Shutter Speed

If your exposure is too long, the stars will turn into streaks instead of staying sharp.

Fix: Use the 500 Rule to find the maximum shutter speed for your lens.

2. Not Focusing Properly

Autofocus doesn’t work well in the dark, and blurry stars are hard to fix in editing.

Fix: Use manual focus and zoom in on a bright star using live view.

3. Shooting in Light-Polluted Areas

City lights wash out the stars and reduce contrast.

Fix: Travel to a dark sky location or use a light pollution filter.

4. Leaving Noise Reduction On

In-camera long exposure noise reduction can slow down your shooting by doubling exposure time.

Fix: Turn it off and reduce noise later in post-processing or by stacking.

5. Forgetting Extra Batteries and Memory Cards

Long exposures and cold weather drain batteries fast.

Fix: Always bring spares, and use large memory cards if shooting in RAW.

6. Not Shooting in RAW Format

JPEGs limit your editing flexibility and often lose detail.

Fix: Set your camera to shoot in RAW for the best results.

7. Overediting

It’s tempting to crank up contrast and saturation, but it can make the photo look fake.

Fix: Keep your edits natural and balanced to highlight the real beauty of the stars.

8. Ignoring Foreground Composition

A plain sky with no foreground can feel flat or boring.

Fix: Add interest with trees, mountains, silhouettes, or buildings to tell a story.

Final Tips for Stunning Results

Now that you know the basics of shooting stars, here are some final tips to take your astrophotog raphy to the next level. These little things can make a big difference in how your night sky photos turn out.

Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t get discouraged if your first few shots aren’t amazing. Night photography has a learning curve, but it gets easier every time you shoot.

Arrive Early and Be Prepared: Get to your location before dark so you can set up safely and plan your shots without rushing. Bring a headlamp with a red light to see in the dark without affecting your night vision.

Take Multiple Shots: Experiment with different settings, angles, and compositions. The more photos you take, the better your chances of capturing something great.

Keep an Eye on the Weather: Clear skies are key. Always double-check the forecast before heading out.

Use a Star Tracker (Optional for Advanced Shots): If you want to go further, a star tracker helps you take longer photos without star trails. This is great for capturing deep-sky images.

Have Fun and Be Patient: One of the best parts of star photography is the calm feeling of being under the night sky. Enjoy the experience, not just the picture.

To Conclude

Capture the magic of the universe with star photography. You don’t need to be a pro to take stunning photos of the night sky.

Just get your camera settings right, use a decent tripod, and plan ahead. Head to a spot with minimal light pollution, be patient and enjoy capturing the stars.