Skip to main content

This amazing Milky Way image was taken on an iPhone

Astronomer and author Tom Kerss recently pointed his iPhone 12 Pro Max skyward to nail a wonderful shot (below) of the Milky Way. It’s the latest example of just how far smartphone camera technology has come in recent years.

“We need to talk about the astrographic potential of modern smartphone cameras,” the London-based stargazer said in a message tweeted with the eye-catching photo. “This image was made from data captured using an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Sensor pixels are just 1.7 microns! It’s ridiculously capable for its size and provides usable data courtesy of 12-bit DNG — ‘ProRAW.’”

Apple’s ProRAW format for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max combines the information of a standard, uncompressed RAW image with iPhone image processing, giving you greater flexibility when editing the exposure, color, and white balance in the photo.

We need to talk about the astrographic potential of modern smartphone cameras. This image was made from data captured using an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Sensor pixels are just 1.7 microns! It’s ridiculously capable for its size and provides usable data courtesy of 12-bit DNG – ‘ProRAW’ pic.twitter.com/ODndP7vBv9

— Tom Kerss FRAS 🪐 (@tomkerss) July 21, 2021

In additional comments, Kerss says the image shows the Summer Triangle “with a bright region of the Milky Way (star clouds in the spiral arm we inhabit) as well as a (possibly early Perseid) meteor — yes, that’s in the data.”

Kerrs, whose recently published debut book You Can Explore The Universe aims to get kids excited about space and all of its magical wonders, concedes that the image is far from perfect, with “the usual astro-related aberrations” present. However, he adds that these can be corrected using in-phone editing tools.

The astronomer notes that Google’s Pixel camera, also known for its ability to capture amazing shots of the night sky, takes a different approach to astrophotography “and produces impressive images entirely on-device, but it offers considerably less flexibility than ProRAW. It also suffers from the same field issues (which could also be fixed by leveraging onboard power!).”

Kerrs said he spoke to Google last year and offered suggestions about possible improvements to the Pixel’s astrophotography mode, but “unfortunately it didn’t go anywhere.”

If you’re into the night sky and want to learn more about what’s out there, do check out this carefully curated list of astronomy apps for iOS and Android.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Which iPhone 16 has the best battery life? This test found out
iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium.

The iPhone 16 series has been on the market for about 10 days. Third parties have been conducting tests, including benchmarks, on the phones during this time. Recently, Tom’s Guide published its list of the best smartphones in terms of battery life, and it’s no surprise that two of the new iPhone models made the list.

According to the report, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro tops the list and offers a fantastic 18 hours and 48 minutes of battery life between charges. This was followed by the OnePlus 12R, which had 18 hours and 42 minutes. The iPhone 16 Pro Max took the third position, with 18 hours and six minutes between charges.

Read more
How Halide Process Zero changed my iPhone camera forever
Using Halide Process Zero Camera on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

How much AI is too much AI in pictures? Would you rather have your photos have some grain or have everything look sharpened with bright colors? Do you like what your eyes actually saw or the color-boosted eye-pleasing material appearing on your phone’s screen?

Here is an example. Take a look at the color of the sky. Now look at how the iPhone’s camera perceives it, with all the computation algorithms and signature color tone applied. It’s brazen how vastly different the real versus iPhone color chemistry is. If you go to Reddit and Apple’s Discussions forum, you will run into more contrarian views about the right approach to smartphone photography than there are theories about alien life.

Read more
I found the perfect accessory for carrying my iPhone 16 Pro Max
Waterfield Designs Shinjuku Sling in black being worn by a person.

With Apple wrapping up 2024’s flagship smartphone releases, it’s time to peek into the world of mobile accessories for the iPhone 16 and other smartphones. I’m not talking about another iPhone 16 case or a MagSafe phone grip. No, today, I'm taking a look at a stylish little sling to carry your everyday essentials, even an iPhone 16 Pro Max, around town. Say hello to the Shinjuku Sling from Waterfield Designs.

I’ve been a fan of Waterfield Designs for over a decade now, as I’ve used several of its products, including backpacks, messenger bags, and laptop sleeves. As someone who often carries more than one phone around these days, I’m always looking for gear to help make that a bit easier.

Read more