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

• What equipment do you need for astrophotography? – check out our infographic for a clear overview of what equipment is needed for different types of astrophotography.
• Best camera for astrophotography – see our up-to-date recommendations on the best DSLR and mirrorless cameras for photographing the stars.
• 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 telescope for astrophotography – if you want a telescope that specializes in photographing space, then you’ll need something different than on that is mostly for viewing. See our recommendations here.
• 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.
• Best star trackers – star trackers are amazing pieces of equipment that greatly aid Milky Way and other astrophotography. They allow your camera to track with the rotation of the Earth so you can have longer exposures without star trails.
• Best tripods – a sturdy tripod is essential for astrophotography. You need to avoid any vibration ruining your long exposures.
• RMG Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020: Data Analysis – – see our analysis of what cameras, telescopes, and mounts were used in the 100+ finalist images in 2020
• What equipment was used by the winners of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2019? – see our analysis of what cameras, telescopes, and mounts were used in the 100+ finalist images in 2019
• Astro modified DSLR cameras – what are they and how to get one.
• The death of the Nikon D810A – And the specialist astrophotography DSLR?

Astrophotography case studies

• Daniel Stein – how to photograph the Milky Way in New York.
• TolgaAstro – capturing the Andromeda galaxy.
• Deep Sky West – how two friends build a remote astrophotography observatory.
• Josh Sweet – how to create an astrophotography panorama.
• Abdul Dremali – how he captured Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and the Milky Way in one picture.
• Laura Krause – shooting the stars in the Los Angeles desert
• Michael Ver Sprill – capturing the Milky Way in Washington.
• Leonardo Orazi – Milky Way and deep-sky astrophotography in Italy.
• Connor Matherne – deep sky and Milky way astrophotography in Colorado.
• Talman Madsen – photographing the Milky Way from New Zealand.
• Ken Crawford – how to photograph the Horsehead nebula.
• Ivan Slade – photographing the Milky Way from Australia.
• Marcus Cote – how to shoot a Milky Way selfie.

Astrophotography learning guides

• Astrophotography: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide – read our complete overview of everything you need to know about astrophotography.
• What’s in the sky tonight from my location? – find out the best tools to use to work out what is visible for you on any night
• How to photograph the Milky Way – 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.
• Smartphone 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 astronomy – 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.