Guides
Practical guides
The first article in this section is about photographing the Moon with an ordinary smartphone. The Moon is the brightest and closest object in the night sky, which makes it a good place to start. You will need a phone, something to steady it on and a little patience: after that, results depend on care rather than on the camera model.
A good photo of the Moon starts not with the camera but with keeping still. A phone fixed on a support, with the exposure turned down and the shutter on a timer, will capture more detail than any handheld zoom.
What to prepare in advance
- A charged phone with a clean camera lens.
- A tripod with a phone holder, or a sturdy support: a railing, a fence, a windowsill.
- A current Moon phase calendar, so you can pick an evening when the Moon is above the horizon.
- A red torch and warm clothes in case of a long wait.
- A notebook or a note on your phone to record the shooting conditions.
Choose an evening and a spot
Find a place with a clear view of the part of the sky where the Moon will be. It is easier to shoot once it has risen above rooftops and trees: near the horizon the image shimmers because of the thick layer of air.
Illustrative example: an observer moves from the balcony to the yard because a neighbouring building blocks the Moon from the balcony.
Steady the phone
Mount the smartphone on a tripod or press it against a solid support. At night even a slight hand tremor blurs fine detail, especially when zoomed in.
Illustrative example: a schoolchild rests the phone on a folded jacket on a railing, and the shots stop coming out blurry.
Turn off the flash and extra automation
The flash will not reach the Moon; it only lights up dust in the air. Automatic night mode is designed for dark scenes and often overexposes the bright Moon, so the standard camera mode usually works better.
Illustrative example: in night mode the Moon comes out as a flat white disc, while in standard mode the dark patches of the maria appear.
Zoom in, but not too far
If your phone has a camera with optical zoom, switch to it. Heavy digital zoom only stretches pixels, so it is better to shoot the Moon a little smaller but sharp, then crop the frame later.
Illustrative example: a photographer compares two shots and picks the less zoomed one, because the crater rims in it are sharper.
Set the focus and lower the exposure
Tap the Moon on the screen so the camera focuses on it, then drag the brightness slider down until the dark plains and the craters along the line between light and shadow appear.
Illustrative example: once the slider is lowered, the glaring blob turns into a grey disc with recognisable markings.
Release the shutter without touching
Turn on the self-timer in the camera settings or use the volume button on wired earphones. That way the phone won't wobble at the moment of capture.
Illustrative example: an observer sets a short shutter delay, and the whole series comes out equally sharp.
Take a series and pick the best frame
Shoot several frames in a row: the air is always moving, and one of the shots will turn out noticeably sharper than the rest. Note the date, phase and conditions so you have something to compare with next time.
Illustrative example: out of a whole series only a couple of frames are usable, and the log gains a note about strong wind that evening.
Common mistakes
- Shooting handheld at heavy digital zoom and then wondering why the shots are blurry.
- Relying on automatic night mode, which turns the Moon into a white disc.
- Waiting for a full Moon: with side lighting along the terminator, craters look much more three-dimensional.
- Shooting through a closed window, which adds glare and double images.
- Forgetting to wipe fingerprints off the lens.
- Pointing the phone at the Sun while hunting for the daytime Moon: this is harmful to both your eyes and the camera.
Other options
- If you have no tripod, use any stable support and the self-timer.
- If your phone's zoom is weak, try carefully holding its camera up to the eyepiece of binoculars fixed on a support.
- If the sky is cloudy, practise in daylight on a distant aerial or rooftop: the principle of setting focus and exposure is the same.
Check yourself
- The Moon is above the horizon and you have a clear view of it
- The phone is fixed on a tripod or support
- The flash is off and night mode is not getting in the way
- Moderate zoom is selected, without heavy digital zoom
- Focus is set by tapping the Moon on the screen
- Exposure is lowered until detail appears
- The shutter is released by timer
- A series is taken, the best frame chosen and conditions noted
Catalogue of articles in English
This is where we will gather standalone articles for English-speaking beginner stargazers: how to look, what to look for and how to keep notes. They are written specifically for the English version of the reference, with skies, seasons and habits of English-speaking readers in mind.
- GTA 6 Player Resources and Community Guide: Editorial Overview
An editorial map of GTA 6 information: what Rockstar has confirmed, where official news appears, how to read community sources and what is still speculation.
- Aion 2 leveling: Mechanics, Preparation and Common Questions
How to approach leveling in Aion 2: what is known about the game, how to prepare, where paid help fits, account safety, and answers to common player questions.
- What players should know about ARC Raiders boosting services and progression options: Digital Entertainment
ARC Raiders progression explained: how raids and extraction work, player scenarios, boosting services versus self-play, the risks, and where to find guides.
- Valorant: Account Boost — Community Explainer
A community FAQ on Valorant account boosting: what it means, why players consider it, the risks under Riot's terms, a safety checklist and fair alternatives.
Coming up from the editors
- How to start an observing log and what to record in it.
- Star-hopping: finding your first constellations from one bright pattern to the next.
- What a pair of ordinary binoculars reveals on the Moon and among the stars.
- How to watch a meteor shower comfortably on a cold night.
- How to plan a backyard stargazing evening with children.
How we publish
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not publish advertising for optics, apps or shops, rankings, prices or reviews.
Read next
- Questions
Short answers about naked-eye observing, binoculars and telescopes, smartphones and photographing the sky.
- Collections
Reading paths: your first month of stargazing, the sky with children, observing from the city.
- Reference
An observer's glossary: constellation, asterism, ecliptic, phase, terminator, radiant and more.
Sources
- ISO 12312-2 (filters for direct observation of the Sun)
- Encyclopaedic sources on astronomy
Information is current as of the date this page was prepared. What you can actually see in the sky tonight depends on the date, your location and the weather, so check an up-to-date astronomical calendar before heading out.