Nightscapes

Recording at night

Sep 22, 2026 397 views

How long it takes to create a nightscape frame — at 30 frames per second and 20 seconds per frame

#001: First nightscape Milky Way barely visible early on. Moonless nights make for clearer Milky Way scenery. #001: First nightscape #002: 8 hour setting moon The setting moon, 8 hour sequence #002: 8 hour setting moon #003: In the moonlight In the moonlight #003: In the moonlight

See Nightscapes collection

Common night video types

  1. Milky Way timelapse — stars and Milky Way moving across the sky
  2. Star-field timelapse — general stars moving, even when the Milky Way core is not prominent.
  3. Star trails — long-exposure frames blended or accumulated so stars form arcs around the celestial pole.
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Camera Support

Stability

  • Cameras need to be supported while recording
  • GoPro Mission 1 Pro mounted on top of the roof
  • GoPro 11 and GoPro 13 on the front bumper

Power

  • Wired for continuous USB-C power supplied to the GoPros
  • A single camera battery might last 3 hours
  • A nightscape shoot needs 6–10 hours
Xterra used as a stable camera tripod for nightscapes
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Finding the Milky Way

  • 270 degrees is West direction
  • 225 degrees is South West direction
Milky Way location in the night sky
Tags nightscapes milky way gopro timelapse stars
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