Having a Milky Way app makes astrophotography a whole lot easier. They help you find the perfect combination of weather, location, stars, and time for stunning photos of the Milky Way.
We recommend downloading the following apps. We use iOS devices but found the same or similar apps for Android and Windows phones.
What Are the Best Milky Way Apps for Astrophotography?
The best Milky Way apps offer a range of features to assist astrophotographers. They help in planning and capturing stunning images.
10 Best Milky Way Apps for Astrophotography
Here are our top apps to find the Milky Way and take your astrophotography to the next level. Choose the apps that best suit your needs and preferences based on features, ease of use, and compatibility with your device.
1. Deluxe Moon Pro
Deluxe Moon Pro is our favorite moon application. It gives you a visual representation of how much light the moon will reflect in the night sky. Again, we aim to shoot Milky Way photography during the new or full moon. So we must know exactly when this is.
It also shares information about when the moon will be visible in the sky. This way, you can time your shoot exactly at moonrise or moonset if you want to. This is a free app with in-app purchases for more advanced features.
2. Stellarium Mobile
The Stellarium Mobile app provides a captivating virtual planetarium experience. It lets you navigate the night sky in real-time. And it’s the best Milky Way finder app for photographers.
It’s particularly useful for Milky Way photography. It helps astrophotographers easily locate this celestial marvel. And beyond simple identification, the app enables detailed planning. It simulates the sky’s appearance at designated times and locations.
This feature helps you preview how the Milky Way will align with other elements in the scene. This optimizes composition and ensures the best possible shots.
Stellarium Mobile is an essential app with a user-friendly interface and powerful planning tools. It’s perfect for photographers seeking to capture stunning images of the Milky Way. The app is free with in-app purchases.
3. The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE)
The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE) app is a powerful tool for Milky Way photography. It lets you visualize how the Milky Way will appear in any location.
It has a sun and moon location calculator. So, photographers can assess how natural light will interact with their chosen shooting spot at night. For instance, for a Milky Way shoot in Iceland, you can determine the optimal time and location based on moonrise and other celestial events.
TPE also provides essential data such as sunrise and sunset times. This helps in thorough Milky Way photoshoot planning.
While the app costs $9.99 with optional in-app upgrades, its features make it a worthwhile investment. For online planning convenience, you can also explore TPE for free via their website.
4. Forecast: The Weather Channel
For astrophotographers, having accurate weather predictions is crucial for planning photography sessions. There are countless different weather apps available. So why choose the Weather Channel app? In our experience, it provides the most reliable and up-to-date weather forecasts.
Clear skies are essential for capturing celestial objects. It shows the percentage of cloud cover you can expect at night and hourly weather radar. And it also shows you when the next new or full moon is for planning the best time to take pictures of the Milky Way.
The app is free with in-app purchases.
5. PhotoPills
Astrophotographers prize the PhotoPills app for Milky Way photography. This is due to its specialized planning tools.
You can visualize the Milky Way’s position and location to optimize composition. Its augmented reality feature overlays celestial objects onto live camera views. This helps with compositional adjustments.
The app offers precise timing data for Milky Way visibility, including rise and set times. This helps photographers capture it at its best. Also, it provides lunar phase and light pollution information for optimal shoot scheduling.
PhotoPills has advanced calculators for camera settings, like exposure time and ISO. This streamlines the shooting process and ensures well-exposed Milky Way images.
It’s a bit lower on our list because of its $10.99 price and higher learning curve. But PhotoPills is indispensable for planning and executing stunning Milky Way photography. You can read our full review of PhotoPills for more information about this app.
6. Sol: Sun Clock
Download: iOS
This pretty-looking app tells you the exact phases of light you pass through daily based on location. It shows everything from daylight and golden hour to full darkness and astronomical dusk.
It also tells you the exact time of sunrise and sunset. From our experience, it’s 100% accurate and essential for planning Milky Way photography. It only costs $3.99 and is worth it. An Android alternative called Sunclock performs the same tasks and rates well.
7. GoSkyWatch Planetarium
Download: iOS
The GoSkyWatch Planetarium app is ideal for Milky Way photography. It has an intuitive interface and precise features. You can easily locate and track the Milky Way, aided by the app’s clean design and tools.
With accurate time and location settings, astrophotographers can plan sessions effectively. You can predict Milky Way visibility and alignment. The app also offers augmented reality. This overlays celestial bodies onto live camera views for easier composition.
This app simplifies Milky Way photography by providing essential planning tools and visual aids. This makes it a valuable asset for photographers seeking stunning night sky images. It’s only available for iOS and only costs $3.99.
8. SkySafari
The SkySafari app offers detailed star charts to help identify celestial objects in the night sky, including the Milky Way. The large database lets you precisely locate its position relative to other stars and constellations.
It also has time and location settings, letting you accurately plan Milky Way photoshoots. You can predict the Milky Way’s visibility and alignment by inputting specific dates and locations. This ensures optimal shooting conditions.
This app is a valuable tool for novice and experienced astrophotographers. It helps with the planning and execution of breathtaking Milky Way images. The Basic SkySarafi app costs $4.99. There are also more expensive and advanced Plus and Pro versions.
9. SkyView
SkyView is the app we use for identifying stars in the sky, such as Polaris (The North Star). You can quickly identify and locate stars, planets, constellations, etc. By simply pointing your camera to the sky, the app shows and tells you what you’re looking at with an overlay.
It’s handy to know what you’re taking photos of instead of finding the stars through your naked eye. It also makes you feel more in touch with the night sky above.
There is a free SkyView Lite version for iOS and Android. But we recommend getting the paid app for a nominal fee ($2.99 for iOS and $1.99 for Android) because it functions better.
10. Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)
The Sun Surveyor app is a fantastic tool for capturing Milky Way photos. It’s excellent for helping photographers plan their nighttime photography. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out when the sun, moon, and Milky Way will rise and set.
It has helpful features like a live camera view and an interactive map with a street view. This shows you where celestial objects will be in the sky, with a rotating view. It also tells you the exact time of sunrise and sunset and predicts golden hour and blue hour.
This Milky Way app makes it easier for photographers to capture stunning night sky shots. You can try the free Sun Surveyor (Lite) version for iOS or Android first. We recommend the paid version ($9.99 and 10.99 respectively) for professionals.
Conclusion: The Best Milky Way Apps
The best Milky Way apps offer a range of features to assist you in planning and capturing stunning Milky Way images. You can choose the app that best suits your needs and preferences based on features, ease of use, and device compatibility.
Milky Way photography can be difficult to master. But you don’t need expensive gear to photograph the Milky Way. These Milk Way apps will help bring the most out of your night sky shots!
Check out our Milky Way Mastery course to take out-of-this-world photos!
