Your Stargazing Toolkit

Astrophotography for Everyone: Capturing the Cosmos

Having the right gear and knowledge can transform a good night of stargazing into an unforgettable one. Here's a breakdown of everything you need, from taking photos to staying warm.

You don't need to be a professional photographer to capture the beauty of the Hawaiian night sky. With today's technology, both smartphones and DSLRs are capable of taking incredible images.

Smartphone Astrophotography

It's amazing what our phones can do now. To get the best results, you'll need a few things: a tripod to hold your phone perfectly still, and a way to trigger the shutter without touching the screen. The self-timer function or the volume buttons on your headphones work great. You'll also want to download an app like NightCap Pro (for iPhone) or Camera FV-5 (for Android) that gives you manual control over the camera settings.

DSLR Astrophotography

For those with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, the principles are the same, but you have more control.

The Critical Focusing Step

This is the most critical step. Switch your lens to manual focus. Turn on your camera's "Live View" mode. Find the brightest star you can, and use the digital zoom on your screen to magnify it. Now, carefully turn the focus ring on your lens back and forth until that star is as small and sharp as possible. Once you have it, don't touch it again!