Wondering what there is in the night sky to photograph? Look no further, this guide gives you a full year’s worth of ideas!
The projects are perfect for nightscape photography, where your night-sky subject is near, or even right above the horizon. That’s different than other guides meant for telescope or binocular observations, where the observing targets sit high in the sky and far above the horizon with its layers of atmospheric haze.
Constellations
Constellations are wonderful night photography subjects. They are rich in culture and human history. There are 88 recognized constellations in the entire night sky; but why not make up one or two of your own?
Asterisms are like constellations, but different. An asterism is a well-recognized set of stars that is part of a larger constellation. Good examples are the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, Orion’s Belt, or the Keystone in Hercules.
Moon
Ah, the moon. One of my favorites; watching the full moon rise or the crescent moon set in the evening never, ever gets old. And did you know – full moon photography is one of the most challenging night photography projects! Pro tip: plan to shoot the moon on the evening of the day before the actual full moon, when the moon often rises right after sunset. This is when the moon and the sky match most closely in brightness.
Planets
I’ll be honest – after the dazzling display of planets in 2020, 2021 is looking a little….meager. You only have Mars for the first few months, and then Jupiter and Saturn in the fall. Nonetheless, with careful planning, you can successfully capture a planet just as it rises or sets!
Meteor Showers
Good news – the Perseid meteor shower should be a winner in 2021! The waxing crescent moon will set before the meteor shower kicks into gear on the night of August 12, so the skies will be nice and dark.
On the other hand, the Orionids in October, Leonids in November and the Geminids in December will all be washed out by bright moonlight.
Milky Way
Always a favorite, the bright core of the Milky Way returns in the early morning hours of February and March, rises higher in the sky throughout the summer and finishes its annual visibility in October and early November.
Star Trails
There are two great thing about star trails:
1) They’re gorgeous
2) They can be done any clear night of the year, regardless of the phase of the moon. If you’ve never tried your hand at making a star trail image, definitely put it at the top of your list for 2021!
City Skylines
Just like star trails, city skylines can be photographed throughout the year, regardless of the phase of the moon. And even better, the weather doesn’t need to be clear, you can capture a great city skyline at night even under cloudy or even rainy conditions!
International Space Station
Watching the International Space Station (ISS) silently glide across the sky overhead gives me chills. It just seems impossible that inside that little bright dot of light, a crew of astronauts are hard at work.
You can look up the times when the ISS will be visible for any locations at the website HeavensAbove.com.
Aurora
Truly a bucket list experience, the Aurora Borealis/Australis is a must-see. And an upcoming display easier to predict than you might expect! You can find out more by joining any of the Aurora-themed groups on social media; or by exploring the NOAA’s websites dedicated to space weather.
