Astrophotography

How-to guides, case studies, and equipment recommendations to help you take amazing photos of the stars, planets and other objects in space.

Astrophotography Equipment Guides

• Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Equipment Analysis 2018-2022 – See our analysis of what equipment has been used in nearly 700 images shortlisted for the world’s leading astrophotography competition in the past five years.
• Best Cameras for Astrophotography – See our up-to-date recommendations on the best DSLR and mirrorless cameras for photographing the stars.
  • Astro Modified Cameras – What are they and how to get one.
  • Best Canon Cameras for Astrophotography – Find the best Canon models for shooting the night sky
  • Best Nikon Camera for Astrophotography – What is the best model from Nikon?
  • Best Fujifilm Camera for Astrophotography – Are Fuji cameras any good for astrophotography and, if so, what models are best?
  • Best Pentax Camera for Astrophotography – What are the best options from Pentax?
  • The Nikon D810A – Read about this specialist astrophotography DSLR.
  • Canon vs Nikon vs Sony Astrophotography: What’s Best? – Comparing the leading DSLR and mirrorless makers.
  • Full Frame vs APS-C: What’s Best for Astrophotography? – What are the advantages and disadvantages of different sensor sizes?
  • How Many Megapixels Do You Need for Astrophotography? – See why we recommend cameras with 20MP to 30MP.
• Best Mirrorless Cameras for Astrophotography – Find the best Sony, Canon and Nikon mirrorless models for astrophotography based on our findings.
  • DSLR vs Mirrorless Cameras for Astrophotography – What is best for astrophotography between these two camera types?
• Best CCD and CMOS Cameras for Astrophotography – We analyzed all images in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition to find the best dedicated astronomy cameras for deep sky and planetary imaging.
  • Best ZWO Planetary and DSO Cameras – Find the best ZWO planetary and deep-sky cameras.
  • Best Planetary, Lunar & Solar Cameras – Looking specifically at planetary cameras, we look at the data to find the right model for you.
• Best Lens for Astrophotography – If you want to photograph the Milky Way, you’ll want a good quality wide-angle lens like those featured in this article.
  • Best 14mm Lenses – 14mm lenses are some of the best for landscape photography and astrophotography. Find the best options for different camera brands – Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, Fujifilm and Olympus.
• Best Telescopes for Astrophotography – If you want a telescope that specializes in photographing space, then you’ll need something different than one that is mostly for viewing. See our recommendations here.
  • Best Telescopes for Deep Space Astrophotography – We analyzed hundreds of deep sky images to find the best telescopes to use
  • Best Telescope for Planetary Imaging – We analyzed hundreds of amazing planetary images to find the best telescopes for taking photos of planets
  • Best Apochromatic Refractor Telescopes – Apochromatic refractors are one of the best telescope types for astrophotography. See our pick of the best models by buy today.
  • Best Smart Telescopes (Stellina vs eVscope 2 vs eQuinox vs Vespera) – Check out our overview of these smart telescopes that have cameras built-in.
  • What is an Astrograph? – If you’ve come across this category of telescope and wanted to understand more then check out this article.
• Best Astrophotography Mount – Vitally important to accompany a telescope is a good quality mount that will allow you to find and track objects in the night sky.
  • Different Types of Telescope Mount – Learn about all the different mount types and what’s best for astrophotography, from Alt-Az, EQ, Harmonic, to Direct Drive.
  • Alt-Az vs Equatorial Mounts – Learn the pros and cons of the two most common mount types
  • What is a Harmonic Drive Telescope Mount? – These mounts are small and light, but are they right for you?
  • What Are Telescope Mount Encoders (and Which Models Have Them)? – What does it mean when a mount says it has encoders?
• Best Star Tracker for Astrophotography – Star trackers are amazing pieces of equipment that greatly aid Milky Way and other astrophotography. They allow your camera to track the rotation of the Earth so you can have longer exposures without star trails.
• Best Tripod for Astrophotography – A sturdy tripod is essential for astrophotography. You need to avoid any vibration ruining your long exposures.
• What Equipment Do You Need for Astrophotography? – Check out our comprehensive guide to what astrophotography equipment you need in your setup.
• Astrophotography on a Budget – How to save money whilst building an astrophotography setup for landscape or deep-sky imaging.
• Best Intervalometer (For Canon, Nikon & Sony Cameras) – An intervalometer can be a great and cheap way to give you the extra control of your camera that you need for astrophotography.
• Best Phones for Astrophotography – find the best phones for taking great night sky images.

Learn Astrophotography (Guides & Tutorials)

• Astrophotography for Beginners (2023 Guide) – Read our overview of everything you need to know to get started in astrophotography
• Introduction to Landscape Astrophotography – Learn all about photographing the night sky above the earth, including tips on gear, planning and composition.
• Astrophotography in the City – Find out nine tactics to overcome city light pollution and take great astro images
• How to Take Pictures of Stars – Beginners’ Step-by-Step Guide to Star & Night Sky Photography
• What’s in the Sky Tonight From My Location? – find out the best tools to use to work out what is visible to you on any night
• Night Vision Astrophotography & Astronomy – Read our beginners’ guide to using a night vision device to aid your stargazing and imaging
• How to Photograph the Milky Way – A step-by-step guide to planning and capturing your image.
• Light Pollution and Astrophotography – Understand how light pollution affects astrophotography and how you can get around the problem.
• Best Astrophotography Apps – Find the best smartphone apps to help your astrophotography.
• How to do iPhone Astrophotography – See our guide to capturing the stars and planets with your phone’s camera.
• Best Astrophotography Books – increase your knowledge with these books.
• Instagram Astrophotography – Find the best astrophotographers to follow on Instagram.
• Best Astrophotography YouTube channels – Check our list of the best channels to follow with great free learning resources.
• 13 Great Places To Share Astrophotography Images – See our guide to building an online astrophotography portfolio and promoting your images.
• Astrophotography Competitions & Contests For You To Enter – See our list of astrophotography competitions from all over the world so that you can find the right ones to enter and win prizes.
• How to Make Money with Astrophotography – 21 ways to make money doing what you love
• Best Astrophotographer Case Studies – Here we present 11 case studies from some of the best astrophotographers in the world, including Ken Crawford and Michael Ver Sprill.
• Deep Sky West Profile – How two friends build a remote astrophotography observatory.

Astrophotography Tools

• NPF Rule Calculator – Work out your best exposure time for sharp stars with our free calculator
• 500 Rule Calculator – Use our free calculator for the 500 Rule for exposure time