Astrophotography 101: Capturing the Milky Way

Come curious and leave ready to photograph our galaxy! Have you ever seen a photo of the Milky Way arching across a dark sky above mountains or the ocean and wondered how it was made? That glowing band is the light of billions of stars in our own galaxy, and with the right techniques you can capture it with a camera you may already own. Whether you’re completely new to night photography or already shooting and stuck on a specific part of your process, this hands-on workshop gives you a thorough introduction to Milky Way astrophotography, the art of photographing our galaxy and the wide-open night sky. What you’ll learn We’ll take you through the whole journey, from gear to finished image: Choosing your equipment: You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get started. We’ll walk through budget-friendly options, from a basic camera, lens, and tripod to all the settings needed that let you capture more detail. Knowing when and where to shoot: Learn when the Milky Way is visible, how to find its brightest regions, and why dark skies make all the difference. Setting up and shooting: Get hands-on experience with camera settings, focusing on stars, and composing images that pair the night sky with the landscape below. Processing your images: See how raw shots become a stunning final photo using free software, with live demonstrations of several capture and processing techniques. How it Works The workshop opens with an introductory presentation, followed by live demonstrations of capturing and processing Milky Way images. When the skies cooperate, we’ll head outside to photograph the night sky together. The workshop is designed to deliver the full experience regardless of weather, so a cloudy night won’t cut your learning short. By the end, you’ll have the skills to plan and shoot your own Milky Way photos, and you’ll be ready to use gear available through the East Bay Astronomical Society’s Loaner Scope Program. The Details No experience needed.…