There’s nothing quite like standing under a clear night sky as meteors streak across the sky. Whether you’re a seasoned astrophotographer or just looking to try something new, photographing a meteor shower is one of the most rewarding night shoots you can do.
Shooting a meteor shower takes more than just pointing your camera at the sky. It’s about preparation, patience, and a little bit of technical know-how. Whether you're heading to your favorite stargazing spot or venturing out for your first astrophotography session, this guide will help you get set for success.
We’ll walk through settings, gear, location planning, and shooting technique so you’re ready to capture those meteors.
Before you pack your gear, consider the most important lighting condition of the night sky: the moon. A full or nearly full moon will brighten the sky and wash out faint meteors, so check the lunar phase and aim for a night when the moon sets early or is a slim crescent. A darker sky allows the meteors to stand out.
Use a dark sky map or an app like Dark Sky Finder or Light Pollution Map to find a location far from city lights. The lower the ambient light, the more meteors you’ll see, and capture. Desert areas, mountain overlooks, and remote valleys often offer the best views.
Consider scouting during the day. It helps you avoid stumbling around in the dark later, especially if you’ll be hiking in or moving around rugged terrain. Pay attention to which direction you’ll be facing in relation to your foreground subject and the sky. Planning this ahead of time not only keeps things running smoothly but also increases your chances of capturing a great meteor shot.
You may also want to consider checking the expected weather conditions as you’re planning your shoot. Partial cloud cover could create depth and texture, but full cloud cover will end your astro adventure before it even starts.
Astrophotography doesn’t require a studio's worth of equipment, but a few reliable tools make a big difference.
Meteors are fast, and unpredictable, so your goal is to capture as much of the sky as possible while keeping stars sharp and clear. That means letting in a lot of light, quickly.
Meteor photography isn’t just about the sky—it’s about context. Including a foreground subject will help anchor your images: a jagged mountain, a lone tree, an old barn, or even a silhouetted person. These elements give your photo depth and storytelling power.
You may be asking yourself: How do you get both the foreground and the stars to be tack-sharp in a single frame? That’s where focus stacking comes in. This technique will help you create a final image that’s sharp all the way through without compromising exposure or clarity.
After you’ve set up your composition, take one or more exposures focused on the foreground. It can be helpful to do this before it gets too dark and you can still see your scene. Keep in mind the 500 Rule only applies to star exposures, so feel free to use longer exposures or even a flashlight to illuminate elements in the foreground.
Once you’ve captured the foreground, adjust your settings for your star exposures as you had planned. Later, in post-processing, you can blend the focused foreground with the sky exposures to create a seamless, sharp image.
Compose your shot using a wide-angle lens to cover more of the sky and increase your chances of catching meteors. Position your camera where the meteor activity is expected to be strongest (the "radiant")—but don’t focus directly on the radiant point. Meteors closer to the horizon can create longer trails and more dynamic lines.
Set your intervalometer or external shutter to capture continuous long exposures. The more frames you shoot, the better your chance of catching multiple meteors strikes, and later, you can composite them for a more dramatic final image.
If you're heading out to photograph the next meteor shower, here’s what to remember:
We'll be out shooting too and updating this post with edited images after the event. Until then, we’d love to see where you're planning to photograph the meteor shower. Share your tips, gear lists, or photos in the comments, or tag us on Instagram and Facebook so we can feature your work!