July 11: Moon and Pleiades<\/p>\n If you can get up an hour before sunrise and you have a clear east-northeastern horizon, look for a 15%-illuminated waning crescent moon curled around the Pleiades open cluster (M45), with Mars and orangey red supergiant star Aldebaran below.<\/p>\n Latest Videos From Read: When to photograph the moon<\/a><\/p>\n July 11-12: Manhattanhenge<\/p>\n \n Manhattanhenge takes place on July 11-12 this year (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n July\u2019s best celestial photography opportunities are not confined to dark skies. Twice each year, three weeks before and after the summer solstice, Manhattanhenge occurs in New York City. On both evenings this weekend, the setting sun will align perfectly with Manhattan\u2019s grid of streets and be framed by the borough\u2019s skyscrapers. On 11 July, the entire disk of the sun will appear on the horizon between the skyscrapers, while on 12 July, it will be possible to capture the \u201ckiss the grid\u201d effect, with half the sun appearing below the horizon line as it sets directly within Manhattan\u2019s grid. For photographers, this is about geometry and timing. Use a long lens (200mm or more) to compress the scene and position yourself along major streets such as 42nd or 34th. Arrive early, as crowds gather quickly. Bracket your shots to retain detail in both the sunlit sky and the shadowed foreground. The definitive source for details about Manhattanhenge is New York\u2019s American Museum of Natural History<\/a>.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Read How to photograph Manhattanhenge<\/a><\/p>\n July 17-18: Dark sky window<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n Night is short enough in July without having to contend with a bright moon. So keep your attempts to image the Milky Way and anything in the deep sky to a few nights before and after the new moon on Tuesday, July 14. In mid-northern latitudes, the brightest part of the Milky Way becomes visible low in the southeast after dusk and climbs higher through the night. Use a wide-angle lens (14-24mm), a fast aperture (f\/2.8 or thereabouts), ISO 800-3200 and exposures of 10-20 seconds to capture it, then use post-processing software to draw out detail. A star tracker will allow longer exposures and finer detail, revealing dust lanes and star clouds.<\/p>\n Read: How to photograph the Milky Way<\/a><\/p>\n July 17-18: Crescent moon returns<\/p>\n The nights after the new moon offer a chance to capture an ultra-thin crescent moon in the western twilight sky. On July 17, you can catch a 16%-illuminated waxing crescent moon close to Venus, with it slightly brighter and farther away from the planet on 18 July. You\u2019ll need a clear horizon, precise timing and a tripod. Use a short telephoto lens (100\u2013300mm) and expose for the crescent itself \u2014 Earthshine may be visible as a faint glow across the rest of the lunar disk.<\/p>\n Read: The best star tracker camera mounts<\/a><\/p>\n What to read next<\/p>\n July 29: Full \u2018Buck Moon\u2019 rises<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n The time to image July\u2019s full moon \u2014 known as the Buck Moon \u2014 is at moonrise where you are<\/a> as its light passes through more of Earth\u2019s atmosphere and takes on a warm orange hue. Scout a clear southeastern horizon and use apps like The Photographer’s Ephemeris<\/a> and PhotoPills<\/a> to align the rising moon with foreground elements such as buildings, hills or coastlines. A telephoto lens in the 200-600mm range will exaggerate the moon\u2019s size relative to the landscape.<\/p>\n Read: How to photograph the full moon<\/a><\/p>\n July 30-31: Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks<\/p>\n \n Delta Aquariid meteor is appearing over the Buddha statue in Kantale, Sri Lanka (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n The Delta Aquariids peak overnight, though this year the bright moon will significantly reduce visibility. Even so, it\u2019s worth attempting wide-field imaging, being sure to orient the camera away from the bright moon\u2019s glare. Meteor photography relies on persistence and volume. With a camera and a wide-angle lens on a sturdy tripod, aim away from the moon and start with ISO 800-3200, f\/2.8, 20-25 seconds. Then, when you\u2019re happy the finished image is balanced and sharp, switch to continuous shooting for a few hours.<\/p>\n Read: The best lenses for astrophotography<\/a><\/p>\n Astrophotography shot of the month: The Milky Way in H-alpha<\/p>\n \n Milky Way over Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Canon EOS Ra with RF 15-35mm f\/2.8<\/a>. and H-Alpha filter. 4mins at f\/2.8, ISO800 (Image credit: Alan Dyer\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n July is arguably the best month of the year to photograph the Milky Way\u2019s brightest section visible from the Northern Hemisphere. Rising high on warm, moonless nights, the galaxy\u2019s central regions in Sagittarius and Scorpius become prime targets for wide-field astrophotography. However, shooting the Milky Way in Hydrogen-alpha \u2014 or H-alpha \u2014 reveals a new view.<\/p>\n Most standard DSLR and mirrorless cameras block up to 90% of H-alpha light, which is why many astrophotographers increasingly use astro-modified cameras or narrowband H-alpha filters combined with star trackers<\/a> for long exposures. Think of it as switching from ordinary night vision to an X-ray view of the galaxy\u2019s hidden structure \u2014 suddenly the Milky Way appears alive with stellar nurseries and glowing interstellar clouds.<\/p>\n H-alpha filters isolate a deep-red wavelength of light emitted by glowing hydrogen gas at star-forming regions across the galaxy. The result is striking: crimson nebulae and intricate gas clouds emerge from within the Milky Way\u2019s star fields, particularly around Sagittarius, Cygnus and Scorpius. Love it or loathe it, H-alpha images of the night sky are here to stay.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n \u2022 Astrophotography tools: the best camera, lenses and gear<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digitalcameraworld.com\/media\/img\/digitalcameraworld_logo.svg\"){kind=logo}
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