Google may be poised to upgrade its camera app's astrophotography mode, which could enhance the Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a, and Google Pixel 4's ability to snap stars.

9to5Google examined the latest Google Pixel Tips app update prior to the June Pixel Feature Drop and found several interesting lines of code that suggest a possible "Astrotimelapse" feature. Such an upgrade could bring time-lapse photography to those who want to snap the night sky.

Of course, this line of code does not indicate a feature that is certain to appear. Also, there is not much detail in the code beyond the text "CameraAstrotimelapseSettingController." However, it remains a reasonably good sign that an upgraded astrophotography feature may be coming to the Google Camera app.

Prior to this information, the Pixel Tips app checks to see which version of the Google Camera app is being used; according to 9to5Google, this app will not allow users to use the current 8.2.2 version of Google Camera, but the It is searching to see if version 8.2.3 is being used, which further suggests that an upgrade of the Camera app is forthcoming.

Astrophotography mode debuted on the Pixel 4 and offered a niche but interesting feature for taking pictures of the night sky. Google improved low-light night sights with the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, but quietly removed the ability to use the astrophotography feature with the smartphone's ultra-wide lens for reasons that are not yet clear.

This anticipated upgrade could bring back the astrophotography feature to the ultra-wide-angle camera on the latest Pixel phones. However, there is no strong evidence that this will be the case.

With the Google Pixel 5a coming soon and the Google Pixel 6 said to follow, expect the astrophotography mode feature to increase rather than decrease as the year progresses.