Daytime Alignment now lets you calibrate by aiming your camera at the sun, a planet or a star. More accurate than the phone compass, immune to magnetic interference.
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
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 (7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway, Apple Weather)
• Aurora forecasts
• ISS and bright satellite pass predictions with sky chart
• Light pollution maps, satellite imagery and more
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 iOptron WiFi mounts
• Automatic date/time/location setup
• Directional control and GoTo via the DSO Database
• Sync to target
NIGHT-FRIENDLY
• Red, green or white night mode with dimmer
WIDGETS
• Tonight's weather, satellite passes and aurora forecast
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
* 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 recently purchased the Pro version of this app. I use it with and Explore Scientific iEXOS-100 eq mount and a William Optics Z61 scope. I have an extremely limited view of the northern sky (none at all — trees and other obstructions). Therefore I need a way to polar align with no view of Polaris. I tried over and over again to “align” my mount. However, I use the compass to get a rough setting for North. Place my iPhone on the mount head and, as I do so, it drifts toward the West. When it finally settles, it wants me to make a correction by almost 15-18 degrees. This is way off. I take the iPhone off the mount, open the compass away from the mount and it again shows the correct North. There must be a way to compensate for this aberration. If there isn’t, the app is worthless for my use. By the way, I do love all the positive responses but, for me, it has not be useful so far.Update: (3/7/19) Update: I’ve made some adjustments, including purchasing a five inch dovetail and an inexpensive smart phone mount. This gets my iPhone away from the core of the mount. I tried a few nights ago (3/3/19) and was able to do a decent polar alignment using just PS Align Pro. Now I am able to give the app five stars.
Developer Response
Hello, and sorry for the trouble you had. However, the review is rather unfair, as the in-app help is very clear about this: you can't just put the phone on the mount, the compass will be way off! That's how magnetometers work. There is an entire section about how to avoid this with various suggestions if you click the info button and read the help for the Daytime Alignment tool. In fact, there have been astronomy publications showing phones on mounts as a good idea and I point out how bad advice that is. I didn't think this would be missed, the header text points you to the info button to learn how to use the tool, perhaps I'll find a way to make it even more clear on the next version.In any case, because you seem to have a nice setup for astrophotography, I should warn that the Daytime Alignment tool in any case is just a small utility that is meant mainly for aligning for solar tracking or at most visual observation in the night time. If you are planing to try some astrophotography, without access to the north I think you'd have to do the (more cumbersome unfortunately) process of drift alignment.You can always use the contact form on the Polar Scope Align site to write to me directly with any concerns.Regards,Dimitrios
Surprisingly Useful
Annoyed consumer 6613
I purchased the Pro version to give it a try and help me setup an Orion Atlas Pro mount. The app was surprisingly easy to use with great functionality. It can be as easy as opening it up to see what position to align your mount or dive into more detail about various objects in the sky and where they’re located. You can change the mount type being setup for a variety of brands that any backyard astronomer would be familiar with. Additionally, there’s an exceedingly huge catalog of information under the menu. Press the cog wheel and you open up the object list which was a delightful addition that justified supporting the app and purchasing the Pro version.
Great app
george lucas was better
I’ve been using the free version of this app for several years and after just recently purchased the pro version to go along with my new mount. For the price of the pro version, it has a lot of great features. I would recommend getting this app for sure. However, what would make this app even better would be have it interface with a guide camera or even have its own accessory camera to get spot on polar alignment. I know there are electronic polar scopes already with their own proprietary software, but if this app offered a polar alignment assist using a guide camera and without being obligated to an annual subscription like some of the competitors, this app may very well earn 5 stars from me.
Developer Response
Hi. Unfortunately iOS apps don't have access to USB devices (unless you are a manufacturer and chosen for Apple's MFi partner program), so even if I wanted to, it would not technically be possible.This is why you see several apps that can communicate with USB webcams etc on Android, MacOS, Windows, but not iOS.
Many Extras
Jmcgrady
I got this app for the real time polar alignment scope reticle simulation. That’s the main feature, but I find myself using this app for planning my observations with the deep sky and solar system object database or leveling mounts even when I don’t need a polar alignment. It has tons of extra info and features beyond the polar alignment scope!I also appreciate that the pro version is a one time fee and not a subscription. Thank you!If the developer added a feature (or created a new app) to record my observations in association with the object database, I’d be first in line to buy that.
Version 7 brings improved daytime alignment and many more tools and features:
• Camera Azimuth Calibration added for Daytime / No Polar Scope alignment, using the Sun, Moon, planets or bright stars for higher accuracy instead of relying on the compass.
• Improved Daytime Alignment, Laser / Hop Align, and Push To compass/magnetometer handling.
• Phone mounting orientation options added for alignment and Push To tools.
• Sky maps added to Push To, Hop To, Laser / Hop Align, and Daytime Alignment.
• DSO Database lists can be saved, edited by swiping, and printed.
• Xasteria updates: Widgets available (weather, satellite pass and aurora), OpenWeather forecast, aurora forecast map, improved weather display with sun/moon altitude arcs, in-app satellite trajectories, and updated light pollution map.
• Bubble Level adds incline/slope percentage mode and Camera Az calibration support.
• Auto Night Mode added.
• New onboarding screens and improved help, especially for daytime calibration.
• Magnetic declination calculation restored.
• Various small fixes, including settings screen and iOS 26 compatibility updates.
Remember, the app never nags you with popups, so it gets very few ratings/reviews. Support it by rating it!
Version 7.0
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
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Accessibility
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