Tech Desk 
Oct 08, 2024
The Milky Way is one of the stunning phenomena that happens in the sky, and through a lens, it looks just heavenly. Stretching over hundreds of light-years across gas and dust with its patchwork of stars, it becomes a photographer's dream.
Capturing the grandeur of the Milky Way does call for a bit of planning and some technique, but you do not require the most expensive equipment; your smartphone can do the trick.
Gadinsider has put together this step-by-step guide by which you will be able to capture stunning images of the Milky Way using your phone in just simple steps.
How to capture Milky Way by phone
- Check the weather forecast for clear skies.
- Download a sky mapping app (e.g., Sky Map, Star Walk) to locate the Milky Way.
- Ensure your phone has a good camera and sufficient storage.
- Switch to Manual or Pro mode (if available) in camera settings.
- Set the camera ISO to 800-1600 and shutter speed: to 20-30 seconds.
- Set the camera aperture to the widest available (lowest f-stop number) and Focus on manual or infinity.
- Enable RAW image capture (if supported).
Tips for capturing a Milky Way shot
- Find a comfortable shooting position.
- Use a tripod or stabiliser to minimise camera shake.
- Open your camera app and frame the shot.
- Focus on a bright star or the moon.
- Take multiple shots, adjusting exposure compensation as needed.
Read more: Unlock your phone in critical situations — A step-by-step guide
Post-processing
- Transfer images to a computer or editing app.
- Adjust brightness, contrast, and noise reduction.
- Crop or straighten the image.
- Save as JPEG or share.
