Actual Step

Taking Pictures of the Milky Way

Updated: 2023-08-02

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Equipment SetUp


Equipment for Milky Way Photography

  • First, you need a very clear sky with extremely little ambient light (e.g. mountain, desert or island).
  • Images of the Milky Way are particularly impressive when you include the horizon and objects on the ground (trees, rocks, buildings, etc.) in addition to the Milky Way and illuminate them briefly with a flashlight.
  • A DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens or a fisheye lens (8 to 12 mm, depending on the sensor size) and a good tripod is all you need.
  • Typical camera settings are:
    • ISO: 6400 or higher
    • Aperture: widest possible aperture, e.g. 2.0 or better)
    • Exposure time: no longer than 20s

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