How to Photograph the Milky Way: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Amateurs

Welcome to Astrophotography-Telescope.com! If you’re an amateur astronomer or astrophotography enthusiast, capturing the Milky Way is one of the most magical sights in the night sky. This spiral galaxy, visible to the naked eye under optimal conditions, can be immortalized with relatively simple equipment. In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll guide you to get stunning photos, whether you’re using a dedicated camera or even a smartphone. We’ll also cover the best smartphones for this practice, with affiliate links to Amazon so you can gear up easily.

This guide is designed for beginners as well as more experienced users. Ready to dive into the stars? Let’s go!

Timing is crucial for photographing the Milky Way. It’s visible from March to October in the Northern Hemisphere, peaking in summer (July-August) when it’s high in the sky. Aim for moonless nights (new moon) to minimize light pollution.

• Find a dark spot: Get away from cities. Use apps like Light Pollution Map to locate areas with Bortle class 1-3 skies (very dark). Examples: national parks, mountains, or deserts.

My favorite website to find dark spots is this one : https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/

• Check the weather: Clear skies, no clouds or wind. Tools like Clear Dark Sky can help predict conditions.

You don’t need pro-level gear to start. Here’s the basics:

• Camera: A DSLR or mirrorless with manual mode :

Best on budget choice for Astrophotography

Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 is STM Lens Kit, 24.1 Megapixel

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• Stellar Image Quality: Canon EOS R100 4K digital camera with 24.1 megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor for superb image clarity and detail can capture images with natural bokeh
• Compact Design: Compact, lightweight EOS R series 4K camera with an affordable price; smallest and lightest camera body in the EOS R series built for excellent mobility
• Powerful Image Processor: DIGIC 8 image processor allows for improved shooting functionality and 4K video capability; EOS R100 is a great starting point for users looking for mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses
• High-Speed Shooting: Capture HD video at up to 120 frames per second, Full HD video at 60 fps, and 4K video at up to 24 fps — an excellent entry-level choice of 4K camera for video recording
• Advanced Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF covers a wide area up to 143 zones with human face and eye detect AF; modern AF for stills and video with animal and vehicle detect AF; continuous capture of up to 6.5 shots per second when set to One-Shot AF

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• Lens: Wide-angle with low aperture (f/2.8 or lower) for capturing more light. A 14-24mm lens is ideal.

58MM 0.43x Altura Photo Professional HD Wide Angle Lens (w/Macro Portion) for Canon EOS

• LENS ATTACHMENT: Easily screws on to the front of your lens, and instantly expands the field of view for breathtaking wide-angle photography. Features a detachable macro lens for extremely high-resolution close-ups of small objects.
• LENS COMPATIBILITIES: Popular 58MM Lens models including Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R, Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II, Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II
• CAMERA MODELS: Canon EOS Rebel T7 T7i T6i T6 T6s T5i T5 T4i T3i T100 SL3 SL2 SL1 90D 80D 77D 70D 1100D 700D 650D 600D 550D 7D Mark II 6D Mark II 5DS 5D Mark II 1D Mark II M3 M5 M6 M10 M50 M100 M200 R RP

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• Tripod: Essential for stability during long exposures. Sturdy models like Manfrotto are great.

• Other: Remote shutter release to avoid camera shake, and a headlamp with red light to preserve night vision.

Once on location:

• Mount your device: Secure it on the tripod and point toward the Milky Way (use apps like Stellarium to locate it).

• Settings for Camera:

  • ISO: 1600-3200 (adjust based on light pollution).

  • Aperture: Widest possible (f/2.8 or lower).

  • Shutter Speed: 15-30 seconds (use the “500 rule” to avoid star trails: 500 / focal length = max shutter speed).

  • Focus: Manual to infinity (use live view to focus on a bright star).

• Settings for Smartphone:

  • Switch to night/pro mode.

  • ISO: 800-1600.

  • Exposure: 10-30 seconds (if supported).

  • Stabilize and use burst mode for stacking later.

Take multiple shots (10-20) for stacking in post-processing to reduce noise.

• Start shooting! Frame the Milky Way with foreground elements like trees or rocks for composition.

• Experiment: Try different exposures or add light painting for creative effects.

• Common pitfalls: Avoid overexposing; if it’s too bright, lower ISO or shorten shutter.

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Raw files are best. Use free software like:

• GIMP or Darktable: Adjust exposure, contrast, and reduce noise.

• For Smartphone: Built-in editors or apps like Lightroom Mobile.

• Stacking: Tools like DeepSkyStacker combine multiple images for clearer results.