Get flawless star trail images

It’s all about a bit of mix and match when shooting stars as the Earth turns

You’ll need: DSLR camera Telescope camera adaptor ✔ ✔ Tracking mount A small telescope ✔ ✔

1Get a sturdy set-up

A sturdy tripod will keep it as steady as possible. Be sure to carefully check that nothing on your tripod will move or slip during your long exposures.

2 Tweak your settings

Open a 50mm lens to its widest aperture, ideally under f/3. Set your camera to Manual, ISO to 400 and exposure time to 30 seconds. Set a time delay.

3Choose a familiar target

Direct your camera at a constellation that you know and then focus it sharply on either a bright star or a distant light on the horizon.

4 Take your first shot

Press the cable release to take your first image. You will see that the stars will have trailed. If you find the image is too dark, increase the ISO.

5Get creative

To be more artistic, point your camera in a direction in which there are stars or a bright planet shining above features in your local landscape.

6 Combine your shots

You can use software to combine your star trail images to make one very striking image showing very long star trails with the foreground in focus.