You don't need a telescope to photograph the galaxy. You need a dark sky, a tripod and three numbers.

The starting recipe

  1. Aperture as wide as your lens allows (f/1.8–f/2.8).
  2. Shutter 15–20 seconds on a wide lens.
  3. ISO 3200, then adjust.

Darkness is the most important piece of gear you own.

Where to go

Pick a spot at Bortle 3 or lower. Our directory lets you filter by exactly that.