Polar Scope Align Pro is a complete toolkit for amateur astronomers: accurate polar alignment, deep-sky observing, astro weather, push-to/manual GoTo, iOptron mount WiFi control, widgets and more. All features and updates are free forever. Optional in-app purchases are just tips to support development.
POLAR ALIGNMENT
• Calculates Polaris or σ Octantis position for 30+ reticle types: iOptron, Astro-Physics, Takahashi, Skywatcher, Vixen, Celestron, Orion, Astrotrac and others*
• Atmospheric refraction correction for accuracy at any latitude
• Works with or without a polar scope
ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE
• Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment: works day and night with just your phone's gyro
• Camera Azimuth Calibration: use sun/moon/stars to calibrate gyro and align accurately without a compass, immune to magnetic interference
• Laser / Hop Align: nighttime alignment for maximum accuracy with a laser or a scope with no view of Polaris
• Live sky map guides you to the celestial pole in real time
• Sun Finder helps you point your filtered telescope/telephoto to the Sun
PUSH TO (MANUAL GOTO)
• Attach your phone to any scope and convert it to manual/push GoTo
• Select from a large database and use direct push or more accurate hop-to mode
DEEP SKY OBJECT DATABASE
• 22,000+ objects with altitude graphs, rise/set times and more info
• Save and manage curated observing lists
• Filter, search, sort and push to any target
XASTERIA ASTRO WEATHER
• Hourly astronomy forecasts from 7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway and Apple Weather, plus a configurable Multi-source forecast
• Animated satellite Cloud Map with recent EUMETSAT and NASA infrared imagery
• Aurora forecasts
• ISS and bright satellite passes with an All Sky night chart, individual sky charts, live map tracking, and Tiangong and Hubble views
• Solar eclipse tool with past and future eclipses, live mode with audio cues
• Experimental eclipse camera for automated photoshoots of partial phase, diamond ring, Baily's beads, totality bracketing
• Interactive light pollution map using World Atlas and recent VIIRS data
CALCULATORS & TOOLS
• 30+ calculators for observing and astrophotography
• Moon phase calendar with altitude graphs
• Solar eclipse calculator and simulator
• Bubble level & Compass
IOPTRON WIFI MOUNT CONTROL
• Connect to WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts (HAE, HAZ, HEM, CEM, GEM and more)
• Automatic date/time/location setup
• Switch between Equatorial and Alt-Az on mounts that support both
• Move & Sync: directional control with a live sky map
• Point GoTo: aim your phone at a patch of sky and send the mount there
• Current Point Query: find out what the mount is pointing at
• GoTo any object from the DSO Database
NIGHT-FRIENDLY
• Red, green or white night mode with dimmer
WIDGETS
• Configurable Tonight and Multi astronomy weather forecasts
• Upcoming bright satellite passes
• Aurora probability, activity forecast and NOAA aurora map
APPLE WATCH COMPANION APP
• Graphic & text display of polar alignment
• Weather view
• Bubble level
• Day alignment & push/hop-to assist
• Moon/Sun rise/set/twilight/phase
• Weather Tonight widget/complication
* Full list of supported reticles:
Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, iOptron, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser / MSM, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen PF-L/Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users.
I’ve been using this app for about a year now and it has become indispensable in aligning my scope when I bring it out for photo sessions. I have arranged my scope so that my phone will rest on it, aligned with the optical axis. I then use the Daytime/No Polarscope Alignment feature to line up on the North Celestial Pole. I do my final polar alignment when it gets dark using the alignment feature in scope control software (EKOS) and Polar Scope Align Pro has gotten me so close already it has saved me quite a bit of time each evening.The leveling feature of the app has been much more accurate than the bubble balance built into my mount as well. I know I haven’t scratched the surface yet but these features alone make it well worth the small investment.
Awesome App
Av8forfun
I use this every single time I take my telescope out. There are too many features that I use to list them all. Read the apps description for that list. However, I start with the daytime polar scope alignment app to get my mount roughly aligned. Then, I use the reticle display for precise alignment once the stars are visible. I love this app. I have purchased several others related to astronomy that have various purposes. Of all of them, this is the most functional, and the one that I most often use.
Helpful and accurate Astrophotography setup
bakkenken
Been in the application for less than 15 minutes while using “Sky View”. They are both great tools on their own and fantastic together. Thank you for helping in my Astrophotography adventure.
Very useful for its purpose
Skydweller76
This is a well made app that can really help with setting up your astrophotography equipment while it’s still daylight. Works well and makes it easy to simply fine tune once Polaris is visible.
• Mount WiFi Control now supports Pegasus NYX alongside iOptron mounts, with experimental ZWO and OnStep support.
• Major DSO Database update:
◦ Redesigned object details show distance from the Moon and stay up to date as time passes.
◦ Altitude charts can show the Moon and the time an object spends at a useful altitude in darkness. Tap or drag to inspect another time.
◦ Mark objects as observed, add notes, copy details and share charts. Notes can be printed, exported or backed up for import.
◦ Sort by rise, set or transit time, or by time above a useful altitude, directly from the object list.
◦ Added Ceres, Pallas, Vesta and Juno, plus brightness or opacity classes for Sharpless and Barnard objects.
◦ Show objects on a sky map even when they are below the horizon, and switch between horizon and equatorial charts.
• Sky maps gain optional coordinate grids, constellation lines and full names, adjustable labels and natural star colours.
• Camera Azimuth Calibration now switches to Night View after dusk, with a Brighten slider and manual or automatic focus.
• Daytime Alignment shows clearer coordinates, corrections and direction arrows.
• Location dropdown now places favourites before recent locations and recognises nearby saved favourites.
• Xasteria weather improvements:
◦ Rain and snow icons can show precipitation amounts.
◦ Satellite All Sky Map gains Full Night and Remaining Tonight views.
◦ Weather Multi widget can show a second location and start its forecast now or tonight.
◦ Fixed widget appearance with tinted icons.
• Apple Watch improvements:
◦ Redesigned weather forecast with direct updates, the Multi forecast source, configurable fields and hourly details.
◦ Choose your phone’s location, the Watch’s current location, or a saved favourite or recent location directly on the Watch.
◦ Improved Weather Tonight complication, plus new small complications for Moon phase, darkness, sunrise/sunset, clouds tonight and current clouds/seeing.
• Improved night mode for maps and when launching or reopening the app.
A quick rating or review on the App Store is always appreciated. For suggestions or feedback:
http://astro.ecuadors.net
Version 7.3
The developer, Dimitrios Kechagias, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
Usage Data
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Dimitrios Kechagias
Size
39.8 MB
Category
Utilities
Compatibility
Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 13.0 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.