Polar Scope Align 4+

Telescope Polar alignment

Dimitrios Kechagias

    • 4.9 • 69 Ratings
    • Free
    • Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description

Polar Scope Align will calculate the position of Polaris or σ Octantis in your Polar Scope reticle for your location (using your phone's GPS or manually), allowing a quick and accurate polar alignment. It is one of the few programs that are accurate in lower latitudes by correcting for atmospheric refraction (so expect results to agree only with precise software and not most simplistic "polar align" apps - see the "Accuracy" section in help for details). It will even allow you to measure and correct a centering error of the reticle. In the settings you can select from a vast collection of reticles, one that matches your own. Pretty much every reticle in the market is supported:
iOptron old & new, Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen 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.
Feel free to contact the developer with any questions, feature/reticle requests and any problems you have with the app. If you like Polar Scope Align, please consider leaving a review on the app store.

Main features:

-Accurate calculation of Polaris or Sigma Oct for any date and location, including effect of atmospheric refraction (and annual aberration, nutation). Most other apps do not perform precision calculations, so please only compare app readings to accurate sources (USNO, scientific software etc).
-Automatic Time/Location.
-Calculation and correction/compensation for off-center reticles.
-Remember zero position on Celestron / Skywatcher / Orion etc reticles.
-Full app in red-color night mode.
-Moon phase.
-Messier, Caldwell and Bright star database.
-Download and explore DSS color images of the DSO database entries.
-8 calculators useful for observing and astrophotography.

This free version is ad-supported. You can also try the ad-free Pro version with many extra features:

-Ability to manually enter time/date and location (including saving favorites, list of recent locations, loading from world location database, searching online).
-Zoomable reticle view.
-Approximate daytime / no polarscope polar alignment tool. Great for visual use, solar imaging (including eclipses) and even limited short focal length astrophotography. Now with sun shadow calibration for more accuracy!
-Alt-az alignment error display for mounts that calculate it after star alignment (e.g. iOptron iEQ45, CEM60).
-Polar alignment when your scope is not in zero position (for mounts on which you can always access the polar scope).
-Lunar Calendar with solar/lunar rise/set and twilight times.
-Bubble level (using either gyro or accelerometer) and Compass heading, as well as magnetic declination reading.
-GPS accuracy & elevation data.
-Switch to alternative night mode colors, or daytime mode for the tools.
-Red/White/LED light control.
-Deep Space Object Database with 22000+ objects from several catalogs (Messier, Caldwell, NGC, IC, Herschell 400, Sharpless 2, Barnard), along with stars (Yale Bright Star) & planets. The database is searchable and fully configurable with filters, various sorting methods etc.
- Get help finding the DSO Database objects with your non-goto telescope with the Push-To function.
-Connect to and control WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts.
-Over 30 calculators useful for observing and astrophotography, from eyepiece magnification and field of view, to imaging resolution and reducers.
-World astro-weather report based on data from 7Timer!, Met.NO & more.
-Water vapor satellite images.
-Solar Eclipse Simulator.
-List of visible ISS and bright satellite passes.
-iOptron Named Star list, Meade LX200 star list.
-Screen dimming.

What’s New

Version 6.8

Please support the app by reviewing or rating! You will never get annoying popups asking you in the app.
What's new:
- Barlow/Reducer option added to 4 calculators (Eyepiece Magnification, Eyepiece Projection Focal Length, FoV for Imaging System, Actual Size of Lunar View).

Ratings and Reviews

4.9 out of 5
69 Ratings

69 Ratings

WashedMyBrain ,

Makes Alignment Less Daunting

Polar alignment used to be the bane of my life and I’d often skip viewing as I dreaded it so much. Since being recommended this app it’s not only made the whole process much easier, it’s also given me a better insight into the workings of my mount, so much so that the app has become a reference tool to double check my alignment rather than being the guiding principle. I still use it every time I align. The display is clear and concise, every function explained and the instructions are way to understand and follow.

MerlinsApprentice ,

Excellent app

This is an easy to use and feature rich app that no visual astronomer or astro photographer with an equatorial mount should be without. The reticule zoom feature is a must have for super accurate polar alignment if you're planning on doing photography at longer focal lengths. Layout is clear and comprehensive. It even provides a means of fairly accurately aligning with Polaris during the daytime .. and it works!

Rob m1rjg ,

Just Brilliant

I love this app, and the fact that even the free version has so many features without all the annoying popup ads. A very well built app & a must have tool.

App Privacy

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 Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

  • Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

  • Identifiers
  • Usage Data

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

More By This Developer

Xasteria: Astronomy Weather
Weather
Polar Scope Align Pro
Utilities
Bubble Level + Compass
Utilities
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch
Utilities
Xasteria Plus - Astro Weather
Weather
Bubble Level + Compass Pro
Utilities

You Might Also Like

Star Adventurer Console
Utilities
SynScan Pro
Utilities
SynScan
Utilities
StellarMate
Utilities
iOptron Optical Polar Scope
Utilities
SynScanLink
Utilities