MilkyCam - Astrophotography 3.3

Demo using handhold at this link.

Demo using tripod at this link.

Milky Way and M31 captured by Daniel Mendell. The Milky Way photo has an 8-minute exposure using an iPhone 12 Max. M42 captured by Mike Weasner. Rich Field shot by John Cekala.

Many enthusiasts often wonder if they can photograph the Milky Way using their phone, and this astrophotography app allows you to do just that. Developed and tested in Singapore, one of the most light-polluted countries globally, this app proves that capturing the Milky Way is possible even in challenging environments.

What you will need:

• A tripod (optional) - You can choose to handhold your phone or utilize a makeshift stand using a cup. The front camera offers lower resolution but captures infrared light. The back camera provides higher resolution and produces better images. Using a tripod yields sharper and quicker results, while handheld shooting is more convenient for those without a tripod.
• Another app to pinpoint the Milky Way's location, enabling you to align your phone accurately to capture this celestial wonder.

Conditions:

• The Milky Way is typically not visible to the naked eye in most urban areas, requiring specific conditions for successful photography:
  1. Timing is crucial, with the Milky Way reaching its highest point in the sky at distinct times. For instance, capturing the Milky Way in the screenshots required staying up until 6 am for a nearly 60-degree altitude.
  2. Clear skies are optimal for astrophotography, though partially cloudy conditions can be managed using the Pause and Continue feature within the app. Adequate star visibility aids in tracking field rotation, with entirely cloudy skies necessitating postponing photography attempts.
  3. Choosing a location shielded from artificial light sources like streetlights or windows is essential. Urban settings can also be used if obstructive light sources are minimized by trees or tall buildings.

Step-by-Step Operation:

1. Select an exposure time using the slider; longer exposures, such as 1 minute, are ideal for subtle Milky Way images. The Time slider ranges from live viewing to 16 minutes of exposure.
2. The app automatically selects alignment stars after 15 seconds, but manual adjustment is possible by tapping the Pause button and selecting preferred bright stars for tracking.
3. Enjoy the live image stacking process as the app works its magic.
4. After completing the exposure time, adjust brightness and contrast settings to enhance the Milky Way image.
5. Save your masterpiece to your photo album by tapping 'Save.'

Setup and operational demonstration available at this video link.

Note: This app is designed specifically for capturing the faint Milky Way and functions effectively when pointed toward the night sky to avoid live view washout.

Specifications:

• Long exposure range from 1 minute to 30 minutes.
• Compatible with tripods or handheld shooting methods.
• Supports both front and back cameras on various phone models.
• Alignment stars can be selected automatically or manually by user interaction.

Sliders:

• Focus: Adjusts camera focus settings.
• Rate: Sets camera frame rate; higher values are preferable for handheld use and produce brighter images.
• ISO: Higher values enhance brightness; adjust lower values if graininess occurs.
• Threshold: Lower values detect more stars within the frame.
• Time: Determines total exposure time.
• Period: Sets duration for each stack; app sums rather than averages images during this process.
• Bin: Binning at 1 provides maximum resolution at a slower stacking pace.

Edit sliders:

• Bright: Adjusts image brightness level.
• Contrast: Enhances image clarity through contrast adjustments.
• Paint: Allows users to refine stacked images by painting over blurred landscape features, such as buildings or trees affected by Earth's rotation effects.

Capture your personal Milky Way shots and relish the experience of astrophotography!

Note: Refer to Terms of Use.