Like every summer, the Perseids illuminate the night sky of their luminous streaks. The peak of activity of this rain of shooting stars is expected on the night of Tuesday August 13 to Wednesday, August 13, 2025, offering observers the chance to see several dozen stars split the sky every hour, provided that the latter is cleared. The phenomenon is also visible on previous and following days with a little less intensity.
Long reserved for professional equipment holders, the photograph of this celestial show is today accessible to everyone thanks to the advances in sensors and on -board software in smartphones.
In general, photography of the night sky gives birth to disappointing results, because these devices are not designed by default for this type of shot. But by following some simple rules, it is possible to obtain satisfactory shots. Especially if you are equipped with one of the most recent models, such as the iPhone Pro, the Samsung galaxy S or the high -end Xiaomi, which today integrate dedicated settings which make it possible to capture all the magic of a star sky if they are well used.
Move away from light pollution
To capture the stars, the most important is not first the smartphone but the sky. The quality of the shots depends essentially on the conditions of observation. It is necessary to be in a dark place, free from any light pollution. Artificial lights are the worst enemies of astronomical observation. Lamps, roads, buildings, windows … Flee the cities and meet in a rural place. Also favor a clear and cloudless night. If the moon is absent, it is also a plus. This year, the full moon of August 9 could indeed disturb the observation of the stars, significantly illuminating the sky and overshadowing the weakest meteors.
Call the smartphone on a tripod and activate the delayer
To photograph the sky, the smartphone must remain perfectly motionless for several seconds. Even slight vibrations are enough to make the photo blurred. It is therefore necessary to wedge it so that it does not move a millimeter during the shooting. The easiest way is to use a tripod, which will guarantee optimal stability while leaving the freedom to choose the framing and access the smartphone screen to trigger the photo.
Then, it is recommended to activate a delay in order to trigger the shooting without risking moving the device. On iPhone, this setting is accessible to the right of the list of options by sliding your finger up from the camera screen. On Android, you must go to the top left of the screen, in the settings to select the duration of the timer.
Activate RAW mode rather than zoom in the image
It may seem like a good idea at first, but then be careful not to zoom in on a star or a constellation. Most devices embark on a digital zoom, which implies a loss of quality by growing the image. Better to take a photo without zooming and then crop it posteriori. Especially since it is possible to optimize the information contained in each photo to facilitate retouching.
If you are on iPhone, activate Proraw mode, a less compressed gross format which offers more editing possibility than ordinary shots. This option is offered to all models from the iPhone 12. Most Android brands also offer this option, like the RAW expert application at Samsung, by activating RAW capture in the Google Pixel parameters and via Pro mode on Xiaomi, Oppo or OnePlus. Sony offers a photography pro application on its high -end Xperia models.
Extend the exposure time to absorb more light
Then comes an essential setting: the exposure time. To succeed in capturing the stars in the darkness of the night sky, it is necessary to configure the lens of the camera of the smartphone in long installation so that it can absorb as much light as possible.
On iPhone, this goes through the “night” mode, which automatically appears on the models prior to the iPhone 11 under low light conditions. By default, it is possible to adjust the exposure time up to 3 or even 10 seconds. But if your iPhone is perfectly motionless, on a tripod, you can go up to 30 seconds. It is this exposure time that allows you to capture the light of the stars at night, as shown by this tweet of the Xploraspace specialized media. Be sure to cut the flash well.
On Android, you usually go through the pro (or manual mode) mode accessible in the camera application settings. It is possible to adjust the exposure time to values between 10 and 30 seconds. It is also advisable to refine the settings of ISO value, the sensitivity of the sensor in light. Samsung advises for example to locate the value between 800 and 3,200 and do several tests with different levels to see which one offers the best results.
Some models, such as the latest Google Pixel, have a mode dedicated to astrographic photos and will automatically activate the delayer and long installation. Conversely, some brands limit the shutter speed to 1 to 2 seconds, it can then be useful to go through a third -party application like Pro Shot (paid) or Open Camera.
And above all, do not hesitate to play on these different settings to lighten the image, darken it, reduce the grain or change the framing according to the results obtained.