Ever looked up in absolute awe at the starry sky above? That's exactly the kind of feeling that astrophotography tries to capture. If you want to learn how to photograph stars and take stunning photos of the night sky, you're not alone. It's a challenging skill, but with a little practice, you'll be able to photograph the Milky Way, the moon, stars and planets like a pro.
Whether you want to get to know the sky above you in greater detail, or you want to document important astronomical events, such as Aurora Australis, having the right kit and the skills to use it are essential.
To help you get there, here is our beginner's guide to astrophotography, including our top astrophotography tips for beginners and the best astrophotography cameras.
Our top astrophotography tips and techniques
With astrophotography, a lot of the work happens before and after your night shoot. Here's how to photograph stars and how to take night sky photos from start to finish.
Before your shoot
Head outside the city
For the best photos, you need dark, clear skies - and those are hard to come by in urban areas. The light emitted from all the streetlights and buildings creates "light pollution", and that makes it much harder to see the stars and other celestial objects. So, try to travel to remote or rural areas for the clearest skies.
Shoot on a clear day
Think about postponing your night sky shoot if you've experienced wet weather that day. After rain or wild weather, the air is often full of moisture and dust, which can affect the transparency of your photos.
Visit your shoot location during the day
That way, you can look for any interesting subjects to include in the foreground of your photos, like buildings or trees. These features not only draw in the viewer, but help them to appreciate the vastness of the sky.
During your shoot
Use the Rule of Thirds
This will help you to compose balanced photos. To do it, divide your image into nine equal squares, and place your points of interest where those lines intersect. Your viewer's eye will naturally be drawn to those points.
Follow the 600 rule
Stars are beautiful - but unwanted star trails in your astrophotography can be distracting. To minimise star trails, divide 600 by your focal length to get the maximum shutter speed in seconds before stars begin to trail. Since astrophotography requires long exposures in very dark conditions, you'll also need to push your ISO high — understanding how ISO affects your night shots is essential before heading out for your first shoot.