Google Pixel telephones had been the primary to supply an astrophotography mode, letting you’re taking hitherto unprecedented photos of the evening sky. One notable draw back is that you just couldn’t truly activate this mode manually, however that’s altering this week.

The Google Information Telegram channel noticed the power to manually activate astrophotography mode in model 9.5.118 of the Pixel Digicam app. Sadly, this replace isn’t accessible on the Google Play Retailer simply but, however you’ll be able to seize it through APKMirror as a cut up APK bundle. When you’re not skilled with sideloading then we propose ready for the up to date app to reach on the Play Retailer.

However, activating astrophotography mode within the up to date Pixel Digicam app is fairly simple:

1. Launch the digital camera app and swipe to the Night time Sight mode.
2. Faucet the length icon after which modify the ensuing slider from “auto” to the brand new “Astro” choice (to the proper of “Max”).
3. You’ll then have a five-second timer by default earlier than the astrophotography mode begins capturing exposures.

In different phrases, now you can activate astro mode through the slider usually used to regulate the seize time for Night time Sight photos.

The five-second timer might be adjusted (to 3 seconds or 10 seconds) and even disabled by visiting the Night time Sight settings web page. It’s additionally value noting that the previous methodology of activating astro mode remains to be accessible. Meaning launching the Night time Sight mode within the Pixel Digicam app, inserting your cellphone on a steady floor or tripod, and ready for the shutter button to show a star icon.

We’re glad Google now presents a strategy to manually activate astrophotography mode, even when it’s nonetheless not a discrete mode within the Pixel Digicam app. However, I’d positively prefer to see a handheld astro mode within the close to future as that is already a factor on some Chinese language flagship telephones.