Astrophotography for Beginners: Start with Your Phone
You don't need a $3,000 camera to photograph the night sky. Modern smartphones have surprisingly capable night modes, and with a few accessories, you can capture the Moon, star trails, and even the Milky Way. This guide shows you how.
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01What Your Phone Can Actually Do
Let's set expectations. Your phone won't produce images that rival a dedicated camera, but it can absolutely capture:
The Moon — With a basic phone adapter and binoculars or a telescope, you can get impressive lunar shots.
Star Trails — Long-exposure apps turn a 30-minute session into swirling circles of starlight.
The Milky Way — On a Pixel, iPhone 15+, or Samsung flagship, night mode can capture the galactic core with no additional gear.
The key is understanding what your phone's camera can do in manual/pro mode and using the right accessories.
Night Mode is Your Friend
02Essential Phone Accessories
A few inexpensive add-ons transform phone photography:
A sturdy mini tripod is essential. Any shake during long exposures creates blur. The Joby GorillaPod is my recommendation—it grips anything.
A phone adapter for binoculars/telescope lets you do afocal photography. You hold your phone's camera up to the eyepiece. Sounds janky; works surprisingly well.
Joby GorillaPod Mobile Kit
“Flexible tripod that grips almost any surface.”
Why we love it
Wrap it around a tree branch, set it on uneven ground, or use it as a conventional tripod. Essential kit.
03App Recommendations
Stock camera apps are limited. These unlock your phone's potential:
ProCam (iOS) or Camera FV-5 (Android) — Full manual control: ISO, shutter speed, focus, RAW capture.
NightCap Camera — Specialized for low light. Has dedicated star trails and ISS modes.
StarStaX — For stacking star trail images on desktop after capture.
Shoot RAW
If your app supports it, shoot RAW. You'll have much more flexibility in editing.
Manual Focus
Autofocus fails on stars. Set focus manually to infinity and lock it.
Airplane Mode
Put your phone in airplane mode to prevent notifications vibrating your long exposure.
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