Pro tip: that $30 app for stacking star photos is a game changer

I used to think my phone pics of Orion were just blurry messes, but the app aligned 50 shots from my tripod in minutes. Anyone got tips for dealing with streetlight glow in a suburban backyard?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_uma4mo ago

Actually try shooting before it gets fully dark. That twilight sky has less glow pollution but still enough stars to stack. It's a weird sweet spot that really cuts down the orange haze.

hannaho524mo ago

Wait, you can still see stars before it's fully dark?

xenarobinson2mo ago

Yeah the pre-dusk trick works, I've done it myself. You don't get as many total stars but the contrast goes way up. For the orange streetlight glow, try putting a cheap light pollution filter over your phone lens, even a cut piece of an old pair of welding glasses or a red gel sheet can help a lot. And hey @hannaho52, you can see stars way before it gets fully dark if you let your eyes adjust for like 15 minutes, especially in summer when the sky stays dimmer longer.