Key Takeaways:

• Learn how to take pictures of stars with iPhone using built-in settings and third-party apps

• Discover the ideal iPhone camera settings for night sky photography

• Understand the importance of stability, exposure, and location when shooting stars

• Explore tips and tricks to enhance your star photos without expensive gear

• Maximize the potential of your iPhone’s Night Mode and manual controls

If you’ve ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered how to take pictures of stars with iPhone, you’re not alone. Capturing the stunning beauty of stars doesn’t require a professional DSLR or telescope—your iPhone can do an impressive job if you know the right techniques.

Why iPhone is Great for Astrophotography

Modern iPhones, especially from iPhone 11 onwards, are equipped with powerful camera systems capable of capturing low-light environments. Features like Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR make it easier than ever to photograph stars. Whether you’re using an iPhone 13 Pro Max or an iPhone 15, these devices offer advanced computational photography that helps highlight celestial beauty even in the darkest hours.

Best iPhone Models for Star Photography

Although you can try to photograph stars with older models, iPhones with Night Mode perform best. Here are a few top performers:

• iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max: Excellent Night Mode and sensor shift stabilization

• iPhone 14 and 15 Series: Enhanced image processing and longer exposure capabilities

• iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Gen): Capable but limited in low-light scenarios

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Take Pictures of Stars with iPhone

Let’s break it down into actionable steps that’ll help you make the most of your iPhone camera.

1. Find a Dark Sky Location

Light pollution is your biggest enemy when trying to capture stars. Use apps like Light Pollution Map or Dark Sky Finder to locate an area with minimal artificial light. Head out of the city to rural areas, beaches, or mountains for the best visibility.

2. Use a Tripod for Stability

Even the steadiest hands can’t match the stability of a tripod. Since star photography requires long exposure, any movement can result in blurry images. Use a compact tripod with an iPhone mount to ensure sharp, stable photos.

3. Enable Night Mode (If Available)

When Night Mode is enabled, your iPhone automatically extends the shutter time, allowing more light to hit the sensor. For best results:

• Open the Camera app

• Point at the sky

• If Night Mode activates (shown as a yellow moon icon), tap it to adjust the exposure time (usually up to 30 seconds)

If your iPhone doesn’t support Night Mode, don’t worry—you can still manually adjust exposure using third-party apps.

4. Use a Manual Camera App

If you really want control over your star photography, consider apps like:

• Halide Mark II

• ProCamera

• Slow Shutter Cam These apps allow you to manually set ISO, shutter speed, and focus, giving you much more creative freedom. For star photography, set:

• ISO: Between 800–3200 depending on darkness

• Shutter speed: 15–30 seconds

• Focus: Manually set to infinity

This level of control can make a huge difference when learning how to take pictures of stars with iPhone in various conditions.

5. Turn Off Flash and Live Photos

Flash is useless for shooting stars and will only ruin the darkness. Make sure it’s turned off. Also, disable Live Photos for sharper results.

6. Use a Remote Shutter or Timer

Avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter by using either:

• The 3-second or 10-second timer

• A Bluetooth remote

• Your Apple Watch as a remote camera shutter

Reducing vibrations is crucial for capturing clear star images.

7. Shoot During Optimal Times

You’ll have the best luck shooting stars when the sky is darkest:

• New Moon nights: No moonlight to overpower the stars

• Just after sunset or before sunrise: Known as “astronomical twilight”

• Clear nights: Fewer clouds, more visible stars

Use apps like Stellarium, Sky Guide, or Star Walk 2 to track constellations and plan your shoot.

8. Use the Grid and Lock Focus

Turn on the grid lines in your iPhone’s camera settings to help compose your shot. You can also tap and hold the screen to lock focus and exposure so it doesn’t shift during your long exposure.

9. Post-Process Your Photos

Once you’ve captured the stars, you can enhance your images using editing tools:

• Photos app (native): Adjust brightness, contrast, and shadows

• Lightroom Mobile: Apply noise reduction, increase clarity

• Snapseed: Add selective editing for more depth

Post-processing can bring out details your camera sensor captured but didn’t fully show in the raw image.

Tips for Capturing Specific Starry Scenes

Capturing the Milky Way

To photograph the Milky Way:

• Find a pitch-dark location

• Use a 30-second shutter speed

• Manually focus to infinity

• Use a high ISO and reduce noise later during editing

Shooting Star Trails

While not natively supported on iPhone, you can simulate star trails by taking multiple long-exposure shots and stacking them using apps like StarStaX (on desktop). This process creates beautiful swirling star paths.

Photographing Meteor Showers

During meteor showers like the Perseids or Geminids, use continuous shooting or video mode and pull stills from the footage. Some meteors are faint, so keep expectations realistic.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overexposing the sky: Leads to washed-out stars

• Not using a tripod: Results in blurry, unusable images

• Ignoring weather: Clouds can ruin an otherwise perfect shot

• Wrong focus: Autofocus won’t work well at night—manual focus is key

• Using digital zoom: Crops image quality—avoid zooming in

Best Apps for Star Photography with iPhone

Here are some must-have apps to elevate your experience:

How to Take Pictures of Stars with iPhone Using NightCap

One of the best tools for capturing the night sky is NightCap Camera. Here’s how to use it:

• Open the app and select the Stars Mode

• Set the exposure time manually (15 to 30 seconds)

• Adjust ISO depending on ambient light

• Set focus to infinity

• Place your iPhone on a tripod and hit the shutter

NightCap also offers noise reduction features that help clean up your final image.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to take pictures of stars with iPhone opens up a whole new world of mobile photography. With the right combination of location, equipment, and settings, you can turn your iPhone into a powerful tool for astrophotography. While you may not capture NASA-level images, the results can still be breathtaking—and all from the convenience of your pocket.

Experiment with different settings, learn from each attempt, and most importantly—have fun under the stars. Your perfect night sky photo is just a few taps away.