Photo target: Luna

Perhaps the initial thing in the night sky people look at with their first telescope is the Moon. After all, it’s the brightest object in the sky, and doesn’t require any special equipment in order to see detail. In fact, no optical aid at all is necessary to see the dark lunar maria. The Moon can be seen from virtually any location on Earth and is completely impervious to light pollution. As such, our satellite is possibly the most tempting target for many amateurs to begin their journey into astrophotography. Whether you’re just starting out shooting the Moon or are considering some high-resolution close-ups, here are some tips to help you come away with pleasing shots.

Without a scope

The Moon is one of the most accessible objects you can shoot in the night sky. Due to its proximity, pretty much any camera can record it as more than just a point of light. And you probably have a suitable camera in your pocket. Today’s smartphones have incredibly powerful cameras. My Samsung Galaxy 9+ has enough resolution to record the Moon well enough to show the maria even in handheld photographs.

To capture the Moon with your phone, first look at its camera settings to see ifof a second. If your phone doesn’t include manual exposure control, try shooting it in the evening before the sky gets completely dark, so that the Moon isn’t that much brighter than the background sky and your camera’s auto-exposure won’t overexpose the disk. Focusing is also straightforward if you shoot a gibbous phase; partially shadowed craters make excellent reference points for your device’s autofocus.