Having an app for capturing the Milky Way simplifies astrophotography significantly. They assist you in discovering the ideal mix of weather, location, stars, and timing for breathtaking photographs of the Way Milky.
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 Apps for Astrophotography of the Milky Way?
The top apps for capturing the Milky Way provide a variety of features to support astrophotographers. They help in planning and capturing stunning images.
10 Best Software Tools for Capturing the Milky Way in Astrophotography
Here are our top apps to locate the Way of the Milky and elevate your astrophotography skills. 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
Download: iOS or Android
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. Once more, our goal is to capture photography of the Milky Way 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 enables real-time navigation through the sky at night. And it’s the top app for locating the Milky Way for photographers.
It’s particularly useful for photography of the Milky Way. 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 assists in previewing the alignment of the Way Milky with additional components in the view. 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 ideal for photographers aiming to snap breathtaking pictures of the Way Milky. 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 photography of the Milky Way. 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 aids in comprehensive planning for photoshoots of the Milky Way.
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 indicates when the next new or full moon occurs, aiding in scheduling the optimal moment for capturing images of the Way Milky.
The app is free with in-app purchases.
5. PhotoPills
Astrophotographers value the PhotoPills app for photography of the Milky Way. This is due to its specialized planning tools.
You can visualize the position and location of our galaxy to optimize composition. Its augmented reality feature overlays celestial objects onto live camera views. This helps with compositional adjustments.
The app provides accurate timing information for visibility of the Way Milky, including its 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 images of the Milky Way.
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 photography of the Milky Way. 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 perfect for photography of the Milky Way. It has an intuitive interface and precise features. You can effortlessly find and follow the Way of the Milky, supported by the app’s sleek design and features.
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 makes capturing the galaxy’s creamy band easier by offering crucial planning tools and visual aids. This makes it a valuable asset for photographers in pursuit of stunning images of the sky at night. It’s only available for iOS and only costs $3.99.
8. SkySafari
The SkySafari application offers comprehensive star maps to help identify celestial bodies in the sky at night, including the Way Milky. 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 visibility and alignment of the Way Milky 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
Download: iOS or Android
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 connected to the sky at night 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 eliminates the uncertainty of predicting the rise and set times of the sun, moon, and the Way Milky.
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 app for photographing the galaxy makes it easier for photographers to capture breathtaking images of the sky at night. 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 Top Apps for Capturing the Galactic Core
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.
Photography of the Milky Way can be challenging to perfect. But you don’t need expensive gear to capture the celestial beauty of our galaxy. These software tools for capturing the Milky Way will help bring the most out of your shots of the sky at night!
Check out our Milky Way Mastery course to take out-of-this-world photos!
