Milky Way and night sky settings for iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy

By Lumenridge Media · Updated November 6, 2026

Short answer: put the phone on a tripod, go somewhere dark on a moonless night, and use the phone's built-in night mode at its longest setting. On iPhone that's Night mode slid to Max (up to 30 seconds on a tripod). On Pixel it's Night Sight, which switches to Astrophotography when the phone is still. On Galaxy, use Astrophoto in the free Expert RAW app, or Pro mode at about 30 seconds and ISO 400–1600.

Before you go (any phone)

Before you go · Night sky checklist

1. Go 45–90 minutes after sunset, away from city lights.
2. Bring a phone tripod or something solid to rest the phone on.
3. Wipe the lens. Pocket lint blurs every star.
4. Turn screen brightness down so your eyes adjust.
5. Use the self-timer so your tap doesn't shake the shot.

Tip: A moonless night shows far more stars. Check the moon phase before you drive out.

iPhone (iPhone 18 Pro · 17 Pro)

Stars & Milky Way · Night mode

1. Turn on RAW: Settings › Camera › Formats › Apple ProRAW, then tap RAW in the viewfinder.
2. Put the phone on a tripod. Night mode turns on by itself when it's dark (yellow moon icon).
3. Tap a bright star to focus.
4. Slide Night mode to Max. On a tripod it offers up to 30 seconds.
5. Set the 3-second timer and press the shutter.

Tip: If Max only shows 10s, the phone doesn't think it's still. Steady the tripod and wait a second.

Northern lights · Night mode

1. Tripod on. Flash off. RAW on.
2. Tap the sky to focus. Don't zoom in.
3. Slide Night mode all the way up.
4. Frame a tree, roof or person in the foreground.

Tip: Keep Live Photo on. You can pick the best frame later.

Google Pixel (Pixel 11 Pro · 10 Pro)

Stars & Milky Way · Night Sight › Astrophotography

1. Optional: Settings › Pro tab › turn on RAW.
2. Open Night Sight and set the phone on a tripod or something solid.
3. Wait for the shutter button to show the star icon.
4. Tap the shutter and don't touch the phone until it finishes.

Tip: No star icon? Tap Controls, slide Night Sight to Astro, then tap. You get a 5s timer to set it down.

Northern lights · Night Sight › Astro

1. Tripod on, Night Sight open.
2. Wait for Astrophotography to switch on, or slide it to Astro in Controls.
3. Frame some ground in the shot and tap the shutter.

Tip: Turn off the time-lapse that Astro saves: Settings › More settings › Advanced.

Samsung Galaxy (Galaxy S26 Ultra · S25)

Stars & Milky Way · Expert RAW › Astrophoto

1. Install Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store if you don't have it.
2. Camera › More › Expert RAW. Put the phone on a tripod.
3. Tap the astro icon and choose Astrophoto.
4. Pick a capture time and tap the shutter.

Tip: Turn on Sky Guide to see constellations on screen while you frame.

Stars, manual · Pro mode

1. Camera › More › Pro. Turn on RAW in settings.
2. Set the shutter first. ISO can't stay on Auto when shutter is manual.
3. Drag the focus slider to the mountain (infinity) end.
4. Set a 5–10s timer and shoot from a tripod.

Tip: Starting point, not gospel: darker skies take lower ISO.

Northern lights · Pro mode

1. Tripod on, Pro mode open.
2. Set shutter 5–10s and ISO 800–1600.
3. Focus to infinity and fire with the 2s timer.

Tip: Fast-moving aurora looks sharper at 5s; faint aurora needs 10s.

Settings are starting points based on Apple, Google and Samsung documentation; camera apps change with software updates, and darker skies need less ISO.

Questions