Astro Photography Guide

Capture stunning night sky photography with optimal camera settings, location scouting, image stacking, and post-processing techniques.

Usage

Describe what celestial subjects you want to photograph and receive camera settings, equipment recommendations, and processing workflow.

Examples

• "What settings should I use to photograph the Milky Way with a 24mm lens"
• "How do I create star trail images from multiple long exposures"
• "Plan a Milky Way shoot for next new moon with minimal light pollution"

Guidelines

• Use the 500 rule (500 divided by focal length) for maximum exposure without star trails
• Shoot during new moon phases and check dark sky maps for minimal light pollution
• Use manual focus set to infinity and verify on the brightest star in live view
• Stack multiple exposures for cleaner results with less noise than single long exposures
• Shoot in RAW for maximum dynamic range recovery of faint stars and nebulae