Cameras at the ready: "Light the Night"

From #Supermoons to #solareclipses – #sony brings you the ultimate guide to immortalising the starry skies… 

• Don’t miss the Top 5 astronomical moments of 2019 from the next supermoon on the 21st March to the Geminid Meteor Shower in December

• Wherever you #travel this year, ensure you’re camera-ready to photograph the magic of the night sky

• Guide includes a stunning photography series shot by Europe’s leading #astrophotographers using Sony’s 24mm F1.4 GM lens

With International Dark Sky Week approaching on the 31st March, #sony has partnered with leading astro photographers to highlight the astronomical delights on display this year and give insider tips on when, where and how to capture the perfect shot.

From the #milkyway to incredible star trails, astro photographers from across Europe #albertdros, #andrewwhyte, Alexander Heinrichs and #leonardoorazi show us how it’s done capturing this stunning photo series using Sony’s #24mmf14gmlens. The perfect lens for capturing incredibly detailed astro-images due to its ability to take clear and crisp shots of the night skies while preventing any unwanted light reflections from the glass.

 Top 5 astronomical moments to be ‘camera ready’ for in 2019

• The Supermoon (March 21st) The final supermoon for 2019 as it reaches its closest point to the Earth for the year; head to a beautiful location to capture it in all its glory

• Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower (May 6-7th) – Likely to be the best chance of enjoying a meteor shower of the year, as the thin crescent moon leaves an inky black sky; the perfect canvas for the spectacular shooting star show

• Total Solar Eclipse (July 2nd) – This eclipse will not be visible from Europe but travellers to South Americas & Pacific regions will appreciate the spectacular sight. Remember, it is important you never look directly at the Sun, even during an eclipse

• Partial Lunar Eclipse (July 16th) A small part of the Moon's surface will be covered by the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow. You’ll be able to see it through most of Europe as well as Africa, central Asia and the Indian Ocean

• Geminid Meteor Shower (Dec 14th) - The sky will be illuminated with shooting stars for around a week, but is expected to reach its peak on the 14th when you could see up to 100 meteors per hour

Best destinations to catch the night sky in Europe

According to Bettymaya Foott from the International Dark-Sky Association, summer is the prime time to capture the #milkyway galactic centre, but winter has its benefits too. There are multiple locations around Europe where you’ll want to look up when visiting –

• Exmoor National Park, UK - Like many of the UK’s National Parks, Exmoor holds some of the UK’s best night sky views. Established as an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2011, you’ll find minimal light pollution across the Park. Many of its scenic spots are comfortably accessible at night and it’s far enough south to offer a view of the #milkyway core from March to Sept

• La Palma, Canary Isles - Situated in the Atlantic some distance from continental Europe and with a mild & stable climate, #lapalma offers a year-round chance of clear night sky views. Climb to the top of the island to clear any clouds and enjoy a spectacular view of the Milky Way

• The Dolomites, Italy - With beautiful mountainous terrain and a climate that supports skiing in winter and sunbathing in summer, clear skies in #thedolomites will give you a range of photographic opportunities throughout the year

• Bükk National Park, Hungary - Mountainous Bükk is Hungary’s largest national park, situated among the country’s tallest peaks, surrounded by mesmerising waterfalls and caves. It was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2017

• Cévennes National Park, France. A recent addition to the list of International Dark Sky sites, Cévennes sits in an area popular for tourism and camping, making summer nights beneath the stars a real possibility

The story behind the imagery: #milkyway (Netherlands Albert Dros)

Popular for its stunning, mystic appearance, the #milkyway is an all-time favourite amongst night-sky enthusiasts. Award-winning photographer #albertdros from The Netherlands recently captured this in all its glory from a canyon in Kyrgyzstan on the south of the Issyk-Kul lake. As Albert highlights, “The night sky is infinitely beautiful and #people go to great lengths to capture its awe-inspiring beauty. Fortunately, the new 24mm F1.4m GM lens captures great detail and supresses saggital flare, doing a lot of the work for you so you can capture the beautiful scenes with ease.”

The story behind the imagery: Star Trails (Italy Leonardo Orazi)

Italian Astro photographer #leonardoorazi captured mesmerising star trail images near Sestriere in The Alps using the #24mmf14gmlens, as he highlights, “I tend to shoot my best photos in The Alps; I like the peace and quiet, but mainly the clear dark skies which allow me to get the perfect shot. Having lightweight equipment is crucial for me as I walk along the mountainside. At only 400g, the new #sony lens is the ultimate companion.”

The story behind the imagery: Supermoon (UK’s Andrew Whyte)

With the next supermoon happening on the 21st March, photographer #andrewwhyte gives his top tips for capturing the moon at its closest point to earth in all glory. He says: “Capturing the supermoon can be done in many ways – the classic close up shot with something in view or one from a distance to encapsulate the night sky. The best pictures have been taken with careful attention to the kit I use. Sony’s #24mmf14gmlens captures the detail, avoids the sagittal flare and allows me to get on with doing what I do best.”