How to find the Milky Way with a Smartphone… right here in Qatar.

As an architectural and fine art photographer based in Doha, I know the challenge all too well: our city's dazzling skyline comes at a cost. Light pollution swallows the stars. But within a 90-minute drive from West Bay, toward the Zekreet Peninsula or the remote expanse of Khor Al Adaid, the sky transforms into something ancient and profound. In this tutorial, I will use PhotoPills to show you exactly how to locate the Milky Way's galactic core, no matter where you are. But since you are reading this in Qatar, I will also tell you exactly which desert coordinates to punch in.

Milky Way App - PhotoPills (iOS| Android)

I have suggested PhotoPills numerous times to fellow photographers and my students in the past. And even though, this app is pretty advanced and feature-rich and comes at a steep price of $9.99, it is THE ONE app you need on your smartphone. You will not regret buying it once you learn how to use it. I have included the links for iOS and Android versions in the title above.

Step 1: The Planner

PhotoPills home page

Open the app and you should see the following home page. Tap on the "Planner" option.

Step 2: Galactic Center

Photopills Planner

Tap on the little image of the Milky Way

Tap + Swipe left on the highlighted area (see the below picture) till you see the "Galactic Center" option. You will also notice a small image of the Milky Way inside a circle all the way to the left.

Once you are there tap on the little image of the Milky Way as shown below.

As soon as you tap the Milky Way image, the app will take you to the next best date for Milky Way. The visibility indicator graph next to the Milky Way image should show all bars in cyan. Make note of the date which is shown at the bottom right. Check out the video below to see the whole process.

Notice the dots along a circle that appears when you tap + slide the timeline at the bottom. Those dots represent the farthest visible edges of the Milky Way. The slightly bigger dot, which is at the center indicates the galactic core. Now based on this visual information, you can easily locate the direction of the Milky Way from your geographic location. In addition, accurate times for the rising of the Milky Way, its elevation, etc. are accessible from other tabs that are located at the top. Just swipe left or right to get to the desired information tab. 

PhotoPills Official User Guide

If you have downloaded PhotoPills already, I would strongly suggest that you spend some time going through its features. For a detailed guide on all its features, check out the link below.http://www.photopills.com/user-guide

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Find Your Milky Way

The Milky Way is no doubt an intriguing subject. It has captured the imagination of artists, scientists, and dreamers around the world. But unfortunately, it is fading from our skies, thanks to increasing light pollution in and around major cities. Here in Qatar, your best window is between March and October, when the core rises high enough above the southern horizon. My personal recommendation? Head to the desert tracks past Al Shahaniya, away from the Doha glow, and set up between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM during a new moon. Get it while you still can. And if you capture something remarkable, tag me; I would love to see Qatar's night sky through your lens. I hope this article helps you find the Milky Way, wherever you are on the planet, but especially if you are right here in the desert with me.