Astrophotography is the art of capturing stunning images of the night sky using a camera and a telescope. With the advancement of technology, it has become easier than ever to take astrophotography shots from your smartphone. If you are an android user and looking for the best app to start your astrophotography journey, look no further. In this article, we will explore the top android apps for astrophotography that will help you take breathtaking shots of the stars and planets.
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10 Best Android App For Astrophotography
Below is a compiled list of 10 Best Android App For Astrophotography for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
1. AstroCam – The Astrophotograph
Long exposures of stars, Milky Way, and deep sky objects can be taken with this app. The app can only be run if manual mode is supported by the phone. The pictures can be saved in either JPEG or RAW, if mobile phones support raw capture. Shutter speed, ISO, focus, white balance, timer, intervalometer, and image save type (RAW/JPEG) can be manually controlled through the app. Feedback is welcome. The app is being fixed as it appears to be crashing on high-end Samsung Galaxy devices.
2. Astrospheric
Advanced weather tools for professional astronomers and astrophotographers in the Continental US and Canada are provided by Astrospheric, which also supports astronomical societies with tools to help members stay connected. The service features an 84-hour, hour-by-hour forecast, updated CMC astronomy data every six hours, and an ensemble cloud forecast that allows for quick comparison of major forecast models with hourly updates. It also includes an extended cloud forecast, Kp index for Aurora viewing, international space station flyover paths and times, and integrates smoke forecast into the transparency report. Astrospheric Professional offers weather alerts, ensemble cloud forecast, and more for a monthly or yearly fee.
3. Clear Outside
Reliable weather forecasts with an emphasis on cloud cover are provided for astronomers through Clear Outside. Features include hourly forecasts for seven days, low, medium, high and total cloud cover, as well as moon and sun rise/set times and phase. Civil/nautical/astronomical darkness and ISS pass-over information are also included. The location search provides automatic forecast for the user’s location, and favourite locations can be saved for easy access. Clear Outside also covers daytime, making it useful for solar observers/imagers. Frequent hourly updates are provided, with the ISS pass-over information being a favourite feature. Additionally, regular weather data is included, perfect for those wanting a detailed forecast without cutesy graphics. The developers are open to suggestions for further development.
4. Compass & Altimeter
Useful information about your current position can be retrieved with a simple and easy to use Compass. True Geographic north and true altitude above sea level are provided, as well as sunrise and sunset times and various angle measurements. The Compass works perfectly offline and without network access, but it is important to note that it works better outside where magnetic perturbations are low and magnetic closure cell phone cases may disrupt its accuracy. The Compass also uses EGM96 as the geoid reference to compute true altitude above sea level and offers various coordinate systems. Additionally, the Compass provides the address of your current location, but this feature requires data connectivity.
5. DarkLight
The DarkLight app can be used to provide a source of light in the dark without requiring your eyes to adjust. The lighting conditions can be analyzed by the app using the light sensor, and the information can be displayed on the screen when needed. The red light intensity can be adjusted by adjusting the backlight intensity of the screen, which can be done using the slider on the screen. The app is equipped with a light sensor, and the backlight intensity and light sensor information can be displayed. A home screen widget can also be added to quickly monitor light sensor information. The app has features such as a red flashlight, excellent lighting in the dark, adjustable brightness, and is easy to use with no ads. No special permissions are required to use the app.
6. DeepSkyCamera
Astrophotography can be done with a smartphone using the app DeepSkyCamera. Pictures can be taken with long exposure times in RAW format, which can be processed with stacking software. However, the app is not a 1-click solution and requires knowledge about astrophotography and post-processing. The phone must support RAW mode and manual settings, which most cheaper phones do not support. The maximum ISO and exposure time depend on the camera sensor and can vary. The app is only for taking pictures and not for post-processing. Portable mounts can be used for travel purposes. A manual is available for reference.
7. Deluxe Moon – Moon Calendar, P
The Deluxe Moon application has been beautifully designed and is a great tool for astronomers, photographers, and hunters. It introduces traditional concepts like Moon Days as well as more advanced features like Moon Void-Of-Course periods, Moon Mansions, and even Nakshatras with Padas. With this application, users can explore the connection between the Moon and plants, human emotions, blood pressure, health, or finance. The application offers precise moon phase times, moonrise and moonset times for the user’s location, moon distance to the Earth, and much more. Users can also enjoy different calendars and widgets, as well as specific gardening advice based on the current moon phase.
8. DSO Planner Pro (Astronomy)
DSO Planner, an astronomy observation planning tool with star charting capabilities, was made by passionate amateur observers. It has large databases of deep sky objects and allows users to create their own databases. DSO Planner has the largest star catalog of Android astronomy applications, and features note taking capabilities, PushTo and GoTo support, and a night mode. Users must have at least 2GB of free space on their internal SD card to download application databases. DSO Planner also has comet and minor planet support, and the ability to create custom catalogs. It has powerful share/export/import capabilities and a twilight calculator.
9. Heavens-Above
The Heavens-Above app provides precise pass predictions for the ISS, visible satellites, and radio satellites. The live sky chart allows users to see what’s in the sky above them at any given moment. Pass predictions are generated locally on the user’s phone every few days. The app also features a tracker to easily identify objects in the sky and a calendar integration to add interesting passes. The app is free but contains advertisements. The ad-free version is available with Heavens-Above Pro.
10. ISS Detector Satellite Tracker
The International Space Station can be seen with the naked eye and ISS Detector app can notify when and where to look for it. The weather conditions are also checked to ensure a clear sky for optimal spotting. The app offers extensions for an in-app purchase, such as tracking famous satellites and amateur radio satellites, Starlink satellite trains, Hubble space telescope, comets, planets, and more. The app also offers Radio Amateur Satellites for tracking ham and weather satellites with transmitter information and real-time Doppler frequencies. The app’s other available extensions include Starlink and Famous Objects for tracking SpaceX Starlink satellite trains, Hubble Space Telescope, rocket bodies, bright satellites, and Comets and Planets for tracking all planets and comets as they become bright enough to see.