When it comes to shooting the Milky Way, the most important item in your kitbag will be a sensitive DSLR or mirrorless camera that enables you to open the shutter for at least 30 seconds. Long exposures of two minutes or more are necessary to capture sufficient light, colour, and detail to properly reveal the Milky Way, as well as faint celestial sights such as star fields, galaxies, nebulae, and even gas clouds.
A full-frame camera’s sensor has larger individual photosites than that of a crop-sensor model, which are able to capture more light and therefore enable better low-light performance, and less image noise at high ISO settings. Another essential item is a good-quality tripod to keep your camera steady, while a programmable cable release is also handy, should you…