Plan the photograph before darkness
Use a sky-planning tool to confirm when the galactic core will be visible and where it will move. Arrive before dark to choose a foreground, identify hazards and place the tripod where the composition works from edge to edge.
Begin with reliable night-sky settings
Open the lens near its widest useful aperture, choose a shutter speed short enough to keep stars round and raise ISO until the histogram separates from the left edge. Exact settings depend on focal length, sensor and sky brightness.
- Photograph in RAW for full color and tonal control
- Use manual focus on a bright star and confirm at high magnification
- Turn off long-exposure noise reduction when shooting a stack
- Review the corners for coma and missed focus
Make separate decisions for sky and foreground
A single exposure can work in bright conditions. In darker scenes, a tracked sky, stacked sequence or longer foreground exposure can produce a cleaner result. Capture each part with the final blend in mind and keep the tripod still.
Technique becomes useful when it responds to the scene. The goal is a decision process you can carry into changing conditions.