Night-sky photography looks hard, but it comes down to three things: a dark location, a tripod and the right settings. The rest is patience and planning.
Find a dark sky
The biggest enemy of stars is city light. Get away from buildings, check a light-pollution map and choose a night near the new moon — a full moon lights the sky like a floodlight.
Put the camera on a tripod
Without a stable tripod a long exposure will not work. Trigger the shutter with the self-timer or a remote so you do not shake the camera.
Dial in the settings
Start with a fast aperture (f/2.8 or wider), ISO 1600–3200 and a shutter time from the "500 rule" (500 divided by the focal length is the longest time in seconds before stars start to trail). Set focus manually to infinity.
Compose a foreground
The sky alone can be dull — a tree, a peak, a tent or a silhouette gives scale and a story. It is the same depth principle as in daylight.
Go further: aurora and planning
The same techniques work when chasing the northern lights. For more on light, see our guide to the golden hour. Add your night frames to a story in TRAMFI.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get this shot with a phone?
Newer phones with night and astro modes can manage on a tripod, though a fast camera with an interchangeable lens gives more detail.
When is the Milky Way visible?
In the northern hemisphere it is best from spring to autumn, on moonless, cloudless nights, far from cities.