Photograph the Night Sky
With Your Phone
A beginner-friendly guide for photographing the stars and the Moon. Written for real people in the dark.
Best Results Start Here
Keep it still. Use a tripod or a rock.
Go dark. Move away from city lights.
Clean the lens. Wipe off fingerprints first.
iPhone • Stars
Open Camera -> Photo mode.
Tap the arrow (^) and set Night Mode to MAX.
Tap a star and hold for AE/AF LOCK. Use a 10s timer.
iPhone • Moon
Method A: Standard Photo
Zoom to 2x or 3x. Tap the Moon.
Drag the sun icon down until craters appear.
Method B: 4K Video Shutter
Switch to Video. Set to 4K.
Zoom in all the way. Hold Moon for AE/AF LOCK.
Lower brightness, hit Record, and tap the White Shutter to snap photos.
Google Pixel • Stars
Swipe to Night Sight.
Set phone on a tripod. Wait for the button to change to Stars (✨).
Google Pixel • Moon
Method A: Standard Photo
Use Photo mode. Zoom in to 10x–15x.
Tap the Moon. Lower the brightness slider until it's sharp.
Method B: 4K Video Shutter
Switch to Video. Set to 4K.
Zoom in as far as it goes. Hold Moon to lock focus.
Lower exposure, start filming, and tap the Camera Icon to snap photos.
Samsung • Stars
Use Expert RAW app. Tap the Astro icon.
Samsung • Moon
Method A: Pro Mode
Open Pro Mode. ISO 50, Speed 1/250s.
Method B: 4K Video Shutter
Switch to Video (UHD/4K). Zoom in to the max.
Tap Moon, drag brightness bar down, and Record.
Tap White Shutter (Video Snap) for detailed Moon photos.
Other Android Phones
Use Video Mode and zoom in on the Moon.
Lower brightness and tap the camera icon while recording.
Pro Tips
Don't tap black sky; the phone needs a bright point to focus.
Shine a light on a tree for 1 second during a long star photo.