Milky Way Time-Lapse Settings Calculator
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Milky Way Time-Lapse Calculator
The Bortle scale measures night sky brightness. 1 is darkest, 9 is brightest.
The size of a single pixel on your sensor. This is needed for the more precise NPF Rule.
Recommended Settings
Note: This is a starting point. Adjust ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for your specific conditions.
For optimal results, take a test image and check the histogram to verify your chosen ISO. If the histogram data is too far to the left (dark), increase your ISO to bring the data closer to the center, avoiding clipping on the right (bright) side.
The interval is calculated as the recommended shutter speed plus a 3-second buffer for camera processing.
The intervalometer settings are for a camera with a built-in intervalometer or a separate accessory.
About Carly Stocks & Dark Sky Utah
Carly Stocks is an award-winning photographer who is passionate about teaching others how to capture the Milky Way. Carly spent seven years teaching high school physics and now brings her expertise to her courses and content. She’s spent years photographing the Milky Way and honing her skills. From presenting at the NightScaper Conference, being published in USA Today, and winning international photography competitions, she’s learned what works. Carly has developed workflows and techniques that remove the guesswork, so you can easily capture night sky images you’re proud of.
