RESOURCES · ASTRO CALCULATOR

astrophotography
calculator

Sharp stars have a time limit — expose too long and they trail. Set your gear below and get your maximum shutter speed plus a complete Milky Way starting recipe.

Your gear
SENSOR
RESOLUTION 24 MP
FOCAL LENGTH 16 mm
8mm ultra-wide50mm
WIDEST APERTURE
500 RULE
31.3s

The classic quick rule — fine for social & small prints.

NPF RULE ✳ USE THIS
17.4s

Accounts for your pixel density — pin-sharp stars at any print size.

Milky Way starting recipe
dial in, shoot, adjust
SHUTTER
15s
APERTURE
f/2.8
ISO
6.4k
Focus manually on a bright star using live view at 10× zoom.
Shoot RAW, white balance ~3900K, 2-second timer or remote release.
Check the histogram — the peak should sit about ⅓ from the left.
Plan the night with the moon calendar — or shoot it with us at Cotopaxi.
Astro tours →