Friday, January 18, 2013

Take Star Photos and Make Star Trails Using iPhone 5

Finally, a way to take star photos and make cool star trail images using your iPhone. This will take true iPhone astronomy and astrophotography to the next level! I learned about a new app called "Night Modes" from Steve Owens' Dark Sky Diary blog. The app takes advantage of the iPhone 5's improvements in low-light, and includes up to 1 second true exposure time (not just simulated exposures). The app promises "15 times more light gathering capability compared to the Camera app!" Night Modes ().

Update: Take even longer iPhone star trails using Night Cap with infinite interval photos

star trails on iphone
Proof of concept: 29 stacked images, each at 1 sec, ISO 3200, only using iPhone for photos, stacked photos using StarStaX software
stars and jupiter photo on iphone
Single exposure with iPhone 5 using Night Modes app

You have to keep the camera very still while using the app, because the autofocus is delayed by the long shutter. I recommend using a tripod and the headphone volume shutter button, but you can also set the phone on the ground and walk away because the app includes a timer up to 10 seconds.

iphone star circles
66 stacked images over a 20 minute period using unmodified iPhone as the camera

I'm not usually the type to make excuses, but the severe wind advisory could be a reason why my star trail lines aren't smooth.

starstax screenshot
Screen shot of the images loaded into free StarStaX software

Here is a look at my set up:

iphone tripod
Using the headphone shutter (+) volume remote, I manually took 29 shots

iphone shutter release
iPhone headphone (+) volume button works as a shutter release

tripod mount for iphone
Simple binder clip holds the iPhone in position

tripod mount for iphone
Bent binder clip with a little athletic tape to prevent scratches

11 comments:

  1. Love your binder clip hack - great idea.

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  2. Thanks John! The idea came from http://youtu.be/IDNUeWje7Uw but it was a great solution until I eventually bought the Glif tripod mount ($20) that is much more stable in the wind.

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  3. Wow. But can it capture the milky way using the app?

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  4. The iPhone camera has a maximum shutter time of 1 second, and max ISO of 3200. I think the Milky Way is just too faint to show up. The ISO is high enough but you would need maybe a 5-10 second exposure. I haven't seen anyone successfully do it but that doesn't mean it's impossible!

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  5. Well that's unfortunate. If there's an app for that settings is it possible? Or am I left to buy a DSLR camera to capture the Milky Way?
    BTW, I saw your Milky Way photos, I must admit, I'm jealous! They're stunning. I hope someday I get to capture photos of the Milky Way myself. :)
    -BrokeStudentProblem

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  6. Hi again! I just want to share my Milky Way photo using my iPhone! I've managed to capture it with "Long Expo" app. It's kind of blurry but I guess it's better than nothing. Heheh.

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  7. Taken at Santa Ignacia, Tarlac, PH. June 29, 2014. 10:27 PM.

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  8. That's amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  9. Actually, that is not true. With NightCaps app and an iPhone 5, you can open and close the shutter manually. So, yes, you can indeed capture the Milky Way.

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  10. I know you can adjust a lot of the settings in NightCap, but the manual control over the physical shutter is limited to a range of 1/15 second to 1 second (at the bottom). Is there something I'm missing? Can you explain how to make it longer than 1 second?

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