How to Photograph the Moon on a Smartphone: Tips for Clear Photos with Craters
Main Mistake: Misunderstanding the Moon’s Lighting
Beginners in how to photograph the moon often make the mistake of thinking the Moon is an object that glows in complete darkness of the night sky.
In reality, when you try to take a moon photo at night, the smartphone captures only the side of Earth’s satellite illuminated by the Sun. This means the Moon is in bright daylight conditions, just like any object in the sun.
The automatic settings of the smartphone camera are guided by the dark sky around it, leading to overexposure.
As a result, on moon shots on smartphone, you get only a blind white spot where all craters, shadows, and textures disappear. To avoid this, experts recommend two simple approaches:
- Photograph the Moon during the day: Against the blue sky, the camera will automatically select a shorter shutter speed, preserving the object’s details.
- Manual Exposure Adjustment: If your smartphone supports manual mode, reduce the exposure manually—this is the key to clear moon photos with details.
Why Does the Moon Look So Small in Phone Photos?
Even with ideal camera settings for moon shooting, the satellite’s shot often turns out tiny and indistinct.
The reason lies in the design of smartphone cameras. Modern models have an ultra-wide field of view—up to 90 degrees, which is perfect for panoramas but not for distant objects.
The Moon occupies only 0.5 degrees in the sky, and the camera’s short focal length makes its image about 25 pixels wide.
This is not enough to discern moon craters or lunar seas. Digital zoom is useless here: it just stretches the existing pixels without adding new details and often worsens the quality.
Ideal Solution: Combine Your Smartphone with a Telescope
According to scientists, for true masterpieces of moon astrophotography, a telescope is needed. Point the instrument at the satellite, then carefully press the smartphone camera to the eyepiece.
This “hybrid” method will capture moon details in photos: from majestic craters to dark seas and subtle shadows.
Remember that how to photograph the moon on a phone with a telescope is not only technique but also practice. Start with daytime shots, master manual settings, and your images will be gallery-worthy.
If you’re looking for more tips on photographing the moon on a smartphone, follow updates on our blog!
VIDEO. 10 Mindblowing Facts You Didn’t Know About The Moon.
