Get the Perfect Meteor Shower Picture in Utah With Your Phone

The earth is about to come in contact with the Perseid meteor shower and it isn't that hard to get a great photo of it with your cell phone. Here's some basics to taking a great photo to show off to your friends and followers.

Understanding the Night Sky: Find Perseus and Enhance Your Shots

The show goes on every night in the night sky in the direction of the Perseus Constellation. This sits in the sky above Tuarus and Aries. There are several free apps that will show you where the constellation is when you point the phone at the sky.

Getting the perfect meteor photo. Ethan Miller

The darker the sky, the better the picture. There will be no moon on Aug 12th and would be the best time for a photo. Getting one in the morning just before the sun comes up, or at twilight when the sun is going down will make it feel otherworldly.

Stability Matters: Tips for a Steady Camera

You will need to hold your phone completely still for 30 seconds at a time, so get a tripod or something to hold the phone steady. Opening it up for more than half a minute will make the stars blur weirdly.

If you can find a cool silhouette in the foreground it will add even more. This could be a steep roof top, unique tree, or a rock formation. Take as many shots as you can before the sky lightens to review later.

Use the pro or expert mode setting on your phone. You want a shutter speed of 15 to 25 seconds and make sure it is on night mode. You do not want the flash or light to be on. Open it up and take as many shots as you can.

You will get some great pictures to share on social media. Even better, record your whole journey of selecting the perfect spot and what it took to get it. This way you can turn it into its own story.