10 Best Milky Way Apps for Astrophotography of All Time

A DSLR camera, telephoto lens, and tripod are insufficient for astrophotography. Nowadays, Milky Way Apps are becoming very popular among astrophotographers. Do you know why these apps are needed for astrophotography? These apps help you find the perfect mix of weather, location, stars, and time for amazing pictures.

If you love to take Milky Way photos at night, we have made a Milky Way app list for you for the easiest photography experience. Many of these apps are free, you can use them without spending a single coin. Some of them provide features for high-end photography, which these paid apps. Don’t worry, most of the apps are free to use on your mobile phone, and paid apps also have free versions.

The Clipping World’s team has built the 10 Best Milky Way Apps list for astrophotography. We have collected these apps from the suggestions of top astrophotographers worldwide. Also, confirmed by using and checking the reviews section for each app. This list has covered everything from checking the weather, the moon phase, etc. for the best astrophotography session.

10 Best Milky Way Apps for Astrophotography

The list of astronomy apps can help you in various ways. Such as you will get astronomical weather forecasts 100% accurate. By checking the weather conditions, you can plan your astrophotography session. You can track the movement of planets to stay informed about their positions. Receive timely notifications about the Northern or Southern Lights.

These Milky Way Apps also help to identify Galaxies and Nebulae. Also, you can get information about when the ISS will be visible in your location. Each app has unique and different characteristics to improve your astrophotography. So let’s start to learn details about every single Milky Way app.  

01. Heavens-Above App: Satellite-Tracking Tool

‘Heavens-Above’ is a satellite tracking app for Android of the website heavens-above.com. This is a non-profit organization, aimed to help people to track satellites. The website was developed by Chris Peat. The primary goal of the ‘Heavens-Above App’ is to provide precise information about satellites. s can easily identify and track the satellite orbiting system.

Satellite tracking is an essential task for astrophotography. The astrophotographers love their app for its -friendly and easy interface. This is one of the oldest Apps on our 10 Milky Way Apps list, at nearly 25 years old. 

Key Features

• Satellite Tracking Database: The app can track and predict the satellite’s next movements and events. You will get comprehensive information about orbits and positions to take the right astrophotography.
• Sky Chart: This shows a detailed chart of satellite movements against the stars. You can easily identify those during the es and take a great photo shoot of this moment.
• Night Mode: A red interface enhances visibility during nighttime observations.

Heaven Above App Details

• Operating System: Android App & Website.
• Free or Paid: Available in both Free and Paid versions.
• Purpose: Primarily designed for Satellite Observation.
• Rating: Impressive 4.3 out of 5.

02. Polar Scope Align Pro: Astrophotography Alignment

Polar Scope Align Pro was developed by Dimitrios Kechagias. This is very useful for the astrophotographer to calculate the position of Polaris. Polaris is a star with is commonly known as “North Star”. The location of this star is very close to the celestial North Pole.

Polar Scope Align Pro App can provide very precise polar alignment and all details about the celestial. This App has a 5 out of 5 stars rating in the App Store. You can purchase this paid app for only $2.99. Dimitrios Kechagias provides a free version of this app called ‘Polar Scope Align’. This also has a 4.6-star rating, which is great.

The app is only available for iOS or iPad. But you can use an alternative app called “Polar Finder App” for your Android mobile. The paid version of the Android app is also good and has a 4.5-star rating in the Play Store. These Milky Way Apps are very useful for the accurate alignment of Polaris.

Key Features

• Accurate Polar Alignment: The app calculates Polaris or σ Octantis position. This can provide details information about the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• Daytime Alignment Tool: This app is ideal for visual use, solar imaging, and short focal length. Also offers an approximate daytime alignment tool.
• Laser / Hop Align: When the Polaris is not visible, you can use this tool to get accurate alignment.
• Deep Space Object (DSO) Database: Have a big database of 22,000+ objects. This app has data about Messier, Caldwell, NGC, IC, Herschell 400, Sharpless 2, and more. You can search, filter, and DSS color images.

Details

• Compatibility: Available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch (iOS 9 and above). (“Solar Finder” for Android)
• Pricing: $2.99 for Pro. Offer a Free App (Polar Scope Align)
• Purpose: Specialized for Polar Alignment in Astrophotography.
• Reviews: Rated 5.0 out of 5.0 with 248 reviews, s glorify its functionality, and ease of use. Some adjustments might be needed for specific setups, as highlighted in .

03. Dark Sky Finder Reviews | Light Pollution Detector App

Light pollution is a barrier for astrophotographers when they want to see or capture the night sky. Light pollution might come from different sources. Lighting provides better security at night, that’s why people light their parking areas. The electric advertising board is another big source of light pollution. Besides that, when celebrating any event, sky lantern is also a big source of light pollution.

On the other hand, darkness is the main source of productivity. Most intelligent people find their best productivity hours at night (dark). When it comes to talking about astrophotographers, they often face problems with lighting. But where to complain? There are a lot of reports available online and in the media, but they don’t work. Without a dark sky, they can’t research the sky and capture the best photography.

So we have found an App for astrophotographers to find a dark sky. We have included this app in our list of Milky Way Apps. The Dark Sky Finder App will be very helpful in finding the dark sky and perfect weather for your Milky Way Photography.

Key Features

• Light Pollution Map: The app provides a map highlighting the clearest night sky areas. This is very useful for astrophotography, You must try this app.
• -Friendly Design: You can mark your favorite area on the map. Additionally, you can create a personalized note for targeting your favorite star.
• Astronomical Calculators: Dark Sky Finder offers handy calculators for planning celestial observations.
• Special Alerts: You will get notifications for celestial events, supermoons, and eclipses. Also, you can use it as an ISS tracker. This special feature of this app attracts us to include it in our top 10 Milky Way apps.

Details

• Operating System: Android, iOS (Both)
• Pricing: Free (limited) and Paid (All Features)
• Purpose: Finding Dark Sky and Weather Track.
• Rating: 4.5-Star Rating. 

04. Sky Safari 7 Pro | Telescope Controller App

The SkySafari 7 Pro app is an awesome collection on our list of Milky Way apps for astronomers. This is an advanced app for controlling the telescope with your mobile phone. The responsive interface and different sections like ‘Tonight’ and ‘Events’ make this easy to use. Also included observing planners and interactive maps for a better experience.

SkySafari 7 Pro has become popular for advanced features like AstroBin integration and AR features. Also included are Icons, lists, and features like ‘Galaxy’ and ‘Orbit’ for better understanding. You don’t need to install the Dark Sky Finder App for light pollution. Because you will get these features in this single app.

Pros and Cons of Safari 7 Pro

Pros	Cons
New Features: The team of SkySafari 7 Pro is trying to improve all sides of this app. They added LiveSky and SkyCast features. Also, they offer various discounts to attract astrophotographers.	Large Size: The app size is nearly 2.4 GB. This is the biggest challenge to use on your phone. You have to use your regular apps, and an additional 2.4 GB of apps can be harmful to your mobile.
Telescope Control: The Milky Way Apps can control Celestron StarSense telescopes. This is an unbelievable feature of SkySafari 7 Pro.	Learning Curve: New s might not understand all the features when they look the first time at the app. They may require some time to understand the functionalities.

Pricing and Subscription of SkySafari 7 Pro

The App offers a wide range of features, and the price might be considered affordable. SkySafari 7 Pro is part of a series, with three versions available: Basic, Plus, and Pro. These Milky Way apps come with separate pricing, with Pro priced from $19.99 (£18.99).

• Operating System: iPhone, Android
• Category: Planetarium, Education
• Free: No, Only Paid App Available.  
• Free App Available for Android devices in the Play Store. 

05. Sun Surveyor

Photographers must know the importance and value of the “Golden and Blue Hours”. But often you need help with predicting the exact time of sunrise and sunset. You need to track the time of golden and blue hours to ensure you are getting the best scenarios from the day.

Sun Surveyor is one of the most helpful Milky Way apps, with many features for astrophotographers. The Sun Surveyor provides the exact position of the Sun and Moon, where they are now. It also tracks the position of the moon. Let’s discuss a few key features of the Sun Surveyor App.

Key Features

• Solar and Lunar Insights: The “Sun Surveyor” allows tracking the position in real-time in the sky. So you can capture the beauty of the moon and other beauties of the sky.
• Plan for Best Shooting Time: Sunrise, Sunset, Moon rise, Moon set, Golden hours, and Blue Hours, every moment you can capture by getting accurate information and making a plan for astrophotography.
• Enhance Night Photography: The Milky Way app, Sun Surveyor, has dedicated features for night photography. You can capture the Milky Way and Star Trails nicely by using these features.
• Moon details: Distance, age, apogee, perigee, and supermoon predictions.
• Sun shadow information: Calculate shadow lengths cast by objects.
• Offline Usage: Enter coordinates and save/load locations without a data connection or GPS.
• Map view tools: Measure distances, elevation differences, and vertical angles.
• Google Earth Integration: Import and export .kmz/.kml locations.

Pricing and Subscription of Sun Surveyor

Sun Surveyor Milky Way apps is a perfect tool for photographers. This app offers precision in selecting the best time of the day for photography outdoor. When you are going to plan an outdoor photo session, you can get help by using this Milky Way app. 

• Operating System: iPhone, Android
• Category: Photo and Video. 
• Free: No, Paid App for $9.99 (iOS). 
• Ratings and Reviews: 4.8-star ratings. Most of the photographers said this is the best, time-saving, perfect time finder, and more.

06. Deluxe Moon—Moon Calendar App

Deluxe Moon Pro is a moon-based application for Android and iOS. The previous one, Sun Surveyor, mostly focuses on Sun Day photography. Deluxe Moon Pro is all about the moon. If you love to look at the moon at night or wait to see the full moon, check out this app, Deluxe Moon. If you have those Milky Way Apps “Sun Surveyor” and Deluxe Moon”, then you will not be confused about day and night or the Sun and moon.

You can find out about the moon’s phases when it rises and sets, and even details like its distance from Earth. If you’re curious about how the moon affects daily life, there are tips for gardening and more.

The app also covers sun-related info, like sunrise and sunset times. It’s -friendly, with cool features like customizable themes and widgets. It is also compatible with the Apple Watch. 

Details About Deluxe Moon Pro_ Milky Way Apps

• Operating System: Android and iOS.
• Free or Paid: Free of Cost.
• Ratings and Reviews: Impressive 4.8-star rating out of 5.

07. “The Sky Guide” Best Milky Way Apps for iOS

The Sky Guide is a great app for iOS s. You can use this app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Almost 315k people have rated this app in the App Store. Still, now they have a 4.9-star rating. You can start using this app with a free version (Limited features). You may realize that you need to upgrade the Milky Way App to the paid version. Almost all the s are satisfied.

The best thing I have seen in this app is that they don’t provide a lot of information like other Milky Way Apps. But which information you will get here is 100% accurate. There are also cons to this app; look at the table below.

Pros	Cons
Attractive and easy interface.	This App is only for iOS s.
Built-in accurate weather forecast.	No telescope control feature.
Smart AR modes for an immersive experience.	Limited features for the Free version App.
Regular astronomy news articles keep s informed.	Observing lists cannot be saved.

The AI camera control, AR modes, and dynamic aurora display can be very helpful for astrophotography. Astronomers love customizable settings and notifications for celestial events.

Keynotes, Specifications, and Reviews of The Sky Guide for iOS

• Operating System: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch 15+ versions. macOS 12.1+ or with an Apple M1 chip. No Android Version.
• App size: 337 MB.
• Free/Paid: Free and Paid, both versions available.
• : 4.9-star ratings out of 5, among 315k app s. 

08. PhotoPills – For Planning Locations

PhotoPills is a funny and useful app for Android and iOS to find the Milky Way. You can find the Milky Way and capture photos of it to surprise the world. As an astrophotographer, you can use the Photopills App as an assistant.

There are a lot of advanced features available, such as a map planner and finding the best time for capturing photos. If you think about any beautiful imagination about the sun, moon, and other stars, or the Milky Way. This app will inform you when it is going to happen. This is one of the most well-known apps worldwide, and our list of Milky Way Apps.

Photography experts love this app. Also, this app has won an award. You can even win cash prizes for your photos! The app helps you plan, adjust your shots, and explore new places to take pictures. So, if you want to make your photos Awesome and have fun taking them, PhotoPills now! It’s like a magic tool for photographers.

Details About PhotoPills- Milky Way Finder

• Operating System: Android and iOS
• Free or Paid: Paid, nearly $10.99 for iOS. 
• Ratings and Reviews: Impressive 4.7-star rating out of 5 among 1.2K ratings.

09. Stellarium Mobile App: Explore Night Sky

Stellarium Mobile is the most popular of these 10 Milky Way Apps. Within 3.5 years, they had reached the top of this industry. 1.61 lac people voted on the Stellarium Mobile app in the Play Store. Among this huge amount of ratings, this app gained 4.7 stars, which is very good.

If we look at their iOS App, among 21k ratings, it gained 4.8 stars. So we can see that the satisfaction rate is very high for this application. They also have another paid application called Stellarium Mobile Plus. You will get more advanced features in the paid app, including telescope control.

You can explore the Stellarium Mobile app for the night sky. Just point your phone at the stars to see constellations, planets, and more. It is easy to use for both adults and kids. You can learn about stars, track satellites, and even see how people in different places view the sky.

Key Features

• Real-Time Sky View: Point and identify stars, planets, and satellites.
• Accurate Night Sky Simulation: See stars and planets for any date and location.
• Celestial Database: Explore stars, galaxies, and more.
• Fun Education: Learn how different cultures see constellations.
• Satellite Tracking: Spot the International Space Station.
• Realistic Atmosphere: Watch sunrise, sunset, and more.
• 3D Planets: See planets and their moons in 3D.
• Plus Features (Stellarium Plus): ( Milky Way Apps)
• More Stuff to Explore: Access a huge collection of stars and galaxies.
• Zoom In: Get a closer look at planets and space objects.
• Offline Use: Use the app without the internet in the field.
• Telescope Control: Move your telescope with the app.
• Advanced Tools: Plan your stargazing sessions.

Quick View About Stellarium Mobile App

• Operating System: Android and iOS
• Free or Paid: Both. Limited features for Free.
• Ratings and Reviews: 4.7-star rating out of 5 among 1.6 lac Android app s and 4.8 stars rating from 21k iOS app s. 

10. NightCap Camera

Bad Luck for Android s! iOS s, come to a close and listen to a piece of good news for you. I am introducing you to an iOS App called ‘NightCap Camera’. This is a super camera for low light on your iPhone or iPad. You may be confused about why we have included this camera in this Milky Way Apps list. We have included it because this is not only a camera, but also this is like a telescope.

You can capture awesome night sky photography with this NightCap Camera. This camera has a lot of advanced features, which make it attractive. This Milky Way app is like a professional camera on your phone. If your photos usually look dark and grainy in the dark, this app fixes that and helps you get clear and bright shots.

Some Best Features for Astrophotographers

• Easy Shooting with AI: The app automatically sets the best focus and brightness for your photos. Just hold steady and tap the button!
• Manual Control: You can adjust settings with simple gestures. It’s like using a DSLR camera.
• Special Modes: Create cool effects with Long Exposure mode. It can provide detailed low-light shots. Also has a Light Trails mode for things like fireworks.
• Zoom and More: Zoom in smoothly, reduce noise in your shots, and control your camera with your Apple Watch.
• Great Videos and Time-Lapse: Record videos in low light with special Night Mode or make time-lapse videos with cool features.
• Astrophotography Modes: Capture stars, Northern Lights, and even meteors with special camera modes. You can use this camera, such as Milky Way apps.

Short Notes

• Operating System: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch.
• App size: 6.7 MB (Very Lightweight).
• Free/Paid: Only Paid at $2.99. 
• : A 4.4-star rating out of 5 is good for iOS s. 

Conclusion | Best Milky Way Apps

There are a lot of Milky Way Apps available in the App Store and Play Store, but a few have quality. If you are an astrophotographer or night photographer, then choosing the right apps is significant. We have attached the 10 best apps to enhance your Milky Way photography in this list. You can install and use it according to your needs. Some of these apps are free and some of paid. Though most of the apps are reliable for iOS s, you can also use some of them on your Android device.

Hope this blog post can help you find the best Milky Way app to enhance your astrophotography. We have provided accurate information about all apps, including lacking of them. Capture impressive pictures of the Milky Way and make these photos at the incredible by Perfectly Editing Photos.

According to the Clipping World team’s recommendation, the 3 most useful Milky Way Apps are:

1. “PhotoPills” Best for Planing your Milky Way Photography. Available on Play Store and App Store. This is a paid App for $10.99 for iPhone s.
2. “Stellarium Mobile App”/Pro: Best to Explore Night Sky. This is also available for both, Android and iOS s. They offer free and paid both packages for you.
3. “The Sky Guide” Best Milky Way Apps for iOS. This is not available for Android. You can get 100% accurate information from this app. You can start using a free version of this app then if you love this, upgrade into paid version.

Frequently Asked Questions