📸 How to Photograph a Meteor Shower With a Smartphone

You don’t need a DSLR or telescope to capture a meteor shower—just a smartphone, a little prep, and the right settings. Here’s how to do it right.

📱 Step 1: Use the Right Smartphone (or Settings)

Most modern smartphones can capture meteors if they have:

• Night Mode or Pro Mode
• Manual controls for ISO, shutter speed, and focus
• A tripod mount or stability solution

Recommended phones:

• iPhone 12 and up (use Night Mode + Long Exposure apps)
• Google Pixel (Night Sight is excellent)
• Samsung Galaxy (Pro Mode + manual control)

⚠️ Avoid older phones without manual controls—they won’t gather enough light. To learn when to catch the next big shower, see our 2025 Meteor Shower Calendar.

🎯 Step 2: Get the Right Gear

• Smartphone tripod or gorillapod
• Phone clamp or mount (secure grip!)
• Remote shutter or timer (to reduce vibration)
• Power bank (long exposures drain battery)
• Lens cleaning cloth (dewy nights = foggy shots)

For a complete gear checklist, check out our Meteor Shower Camping Checklist.

🔧 Step 3: Adjust Your Settings

If your camera app allows manual settings:

• ISO: 800–1600
• Shutter speed: 10–30 seconds
• Focus: Manual or Infinity
• White balance: Daylight or Auto
• Resolution: Highest possible

🌌 Tip: Download apps like Slow Shutter Cam (iOS) or Camera FV-5 (Android) for better control. For more stargazing tips, visit our Best Time to Stargaze guide.

📍 Step 4: Choose the Right Spot

• Avoid light pollution: Find a dark sky site using LightPollutionMap.info
• Look east or overhead: Most meteors appear along the radiant and burn out fast
• Frame a wide shot: Capture foreground (trees, tents, etc.) for scale

For top US stargazing locations, see Best Places to Watch Meteor Showers in the US.

🧭 Arrive early and let your eyes adjust for 30 minutes before shooting. For camping tips, check our camping checklist.

📸 Step 5: Shoot and Experiment

• Take multiple long exposures—meteors are unpredictable
• Use burst mode or interval shooting if your app allows
• Watch for fireballs (bright meteors)—they’re camera-friendly
• If cloudy, shoot time-lapse of stars for creative backup footage

Want to know if meteor showers are safe? Read Are Meteor Showers Dangerous or Just Beautiful?

✨ Bonus: Edit Your Shots

Use apps like:

• Snapseed (clean up noise, adjust contrast)
• Lightroom Mobile (boost shadows, reduce grain)
• Photoshop Express (selective lighting tweaks)

Keep it natural—brightening too much can create fake-looking stars. For more cosmic events, see our Ultimate Meteor Shower Calendar.

🪐 Final Tips for Meteor Shower Photography with a Phone

• Stay patient—you may wait 30+ minutes before a good meteor
• Dress warmly and bring hot drinks
• Track the moon phase—darker skies = better images
• Pair with meteor apps for forecasted peak hours

⭐ Want printable settings cards or beginner-friendly cheat sheets? Let us know and we’ll beam them your way! For all 2025 events, see our 2025 Space Events Calendar.