AsterScope

iOS Universel / Références

AsterScope is the transparent stargazing planner built for real observers — from first-time binocular users to seasoned deep-sky hunters. Instead of dumping a wall of coordinates, it answers the question you actually care about: "Is tonight worth setting up?"

EXPLAINABLE TONIGHT PLAN
Every plan is scored on five independent pillars — Sky clarity, Moon friendliness, Dark hours, Gear fit, and Target quality — and visualized as a five-axis radar chart. You see at a glance which pillar is dragging the night down, plus a one-tap remediation hint ("Switch to planets tonight, deep-sky is compromised by the bright Moon").

INTERACTIVE SKY CHART
Real-time gnomonic projection backed by precise ephemeris. Tap any object for rise/set times, an altitude graph, and imaging suitability. Horizon-up mode mirrors what you see in the eyepiece.

AR SKY OVERLAY
Point your phone at the sky and AsterScope labels stars, planets, and deep-sky objects in real time. Markers stay pinned to celestial positions as you pan across the night.

DARK-SKY FINDER
Browse nearby dark-sky sites with Bortle ratings, compare light pollution, and plan trips to the best location within driving distance.

OBSERVATION LOGBOOK
Pin must-see objects to a Tonight List, work through them during the session, and keep a searchable log with year reports and CSV / Markdown export.

WHAT YOUR APP PURCHASE INCLUDES
The paid download already unlocks Tonight Score, the explainable plan, sky chart, AR overlay, dark-sky finder, observation log, weather forecasts, and the Core catalog (planets, the Moon, bright stars, and popular Messier objects). No subscription. No auto-renewal.

OPTIONAL ONE-TIME CATALOG UPGRADES
For deep-sky observers who want the long tail, two non-consumable, one-time upgrades extend catalog depth only:
- Catalog Upgrade — adds Extended and Pro Deep Sky catalogs to planning, search, AR, and offline packs.
- Ad-Free Catalog Upgrade — same catalogs, with no third-party ads.
Neither is required to use the app.

PRIVACY
AsterScope uses coarse location only. Coordinates are rounded to a roughly 1 km grid before any third-party request. Apple WeatherKit, Open-Meteo, 7Timer ASTRO, and NASA GIBS receive only the rounded coordinates needed for forecasts and imagery. We do not collect or sell personal data. Full policy: https://qixiaobing54673.github.io/asterscope-site/privacy.html

AsterScope works offline for core sky calculations. An internet connection is needed for weather, dark-sky site information, and image fetching.