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How to Photograph the Milky Way

The Milky Way galaxy stretches across the night sky like a faint river of stars. Our sun orbits far from the center of the Milky Way, on one of its spiral arms. When you look at the night sky, you can glimpse the faint glow of the galactic center near the constellation Sagittarius and see the Milky Way̵7;s long spiral arms reaching from horizon to horizon. Visible in summer and winter, the Milky Way truly stands out under dark skies. Taking a long-exposure photograph of the Milky Way reveals details unseen by the naked eye.

Things You'll Need

Camera mount
DSLR camera
Tripod

Instructions

- 1
  Find a dark viewing site away from city lights. Light pollution washes out the Milky Way and makes it difficult to photograph. The more remote the area the better, but make sure you are not trespassing on private property. State parks offer dark skies and free access to the public.
- 2
  Configure your DSLR camera for night photography. Set the aperture below F/5 for maximum light gathering and a wide-field view. Increase the camera̵7;s light sensitivity by setting the ISO level above 400. According to AstroPix.com, you should ̶0;use the highest ISO that your camera is capable of.̶1; Switch the camera to manual focus and disable the flash.
- 3
  Lengthen the exposure time by setting the shutter speed between 10 and 30 seconds. A longer shutter speed allows more light in, which results in a brighter picture and higher detail. Longer than thirty seconds, however, and stars begin to resemble elongated comets because of the Earth̵7;s rotation.
- 4
  Mount the camera on a tripod. Aim the camera towards the Milky Way and frame the picture with your viewfinder. Take the picture when ready.
- 5
  Review the image by switching your camera to playback mode. Tweak the aperture, ISO level and shutter speed if the photo appears too washed out or too dark. Take multiple pictures to ensure you get a clear photo of the Milky Way.

Astronomy