# Astro Planner: DarkScout — Moon, clouds, clear nights

> Astrophotography planning app with sky quality forecasts and observing spot comparisons. (iPhone/iPad app by Sebastian Mraz.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-planner-darkscout/id6760223860 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Sebastian Mraz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883345914)
- Category: Weather, Photo & Video
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 21 MB
- Languages: Korean, Dutch, German (Germany), Norwegian Bokmål, Swedish, European Spanish, Slovak, American English, Italian, Japanese and 3 more
- Released: 2026-03-24
- Data updated: 2026-08-21
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-planner-darkscout/id6760223860/reviews.md

## What is Astro Planner?

DarkScout helps astrophotographers know when the sky is worth the drive.

Check tonight’s Astro Score, clear-sky forecast, moonlight, darkness, Milky Way timing, saved spots, clear-night alerts, and real community shots in one focused planner before you pack gear or drive to a spot.

FEATURES
• Tonight at a glance: Astro Score, best window, moon, clouds, and sky darkness
• Planner: compare upcoming nights and pick stronger shooting windows
• Spot scouting: save locations, drop pins, and rank better dark-sky options
• Milky Way timing: see visibility, direction, and night context
• Widgets and alerts: keep key conditions close and get notified when it is worth going out
• Free Red Night Mode: a full-app red filter that activates automatically after sunset

COMMUNITY SHOTS
• Browse astrophotos from other DarkScout users
• Share your own clear-night shots with location privacy controls
• Save favorites, like strong work, report issues, or block accounts when needed

COMMUNITY EVENTS
• Find nearby, upcoming, and live observing sessions in a list or on the map
• Request to join or host a complete one-off event for free, with reminders and accepted-member chat
• Exact locations stay private until acceptance; reporting, blocking, moderation, cancellation, and basic rescheduling stay free

DARKSCOUT PRO
• Unlimited saved spots
• 14-night planning range and complete object catalog
• Multi-spot alerts and custom thresholds
• Spot Compare for same-night location ranking
• Pro Event Series & Smart Host Toolkit for recurring series, co-hosts, weather-aware backups, custom reminders, and scheduled announcements

DarkScout is built for fast field decisions, so you spend less time checking apps and more time under the right sky.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Sky quality tracking
- Observing spot comparison
- Best observing window identification
- Milky Way visibility and direction
- Offline forecast fallback
- Home screen widget

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly PRO | $2.49 | per month |
| Yearly PRO | $14.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-planner-darkscout/id6760223860/reviews.md

### 5/5 — 5 stars

*2026-03-27*

Very helpful for planning! Excited for future updates and features!

## Frequently asked questions about Astro Planner

### What is the Astro Score in DarkScout?

The Astro Score provides a rating for each observing spot, helping you quickly assess its suitability for astrophotography based on various sky quality factors.

### Does DarkScout offer offline access?

Yes, DarkScout provides a forecast and astronomy snapshots with offline fallback, ensuring you can access essential planning data even without an internet connection.

### What features are included in DarkScout PRO?

DarkScout PRO unlocks unlimited saved spots, a 7-day planning range, an any-date planner, multi-spot notifications, custom alert thresholds, and a red night mode for better visibility.

### How much does DarkScout PRO cost?

DarkScout PRO offers a monthly subscription for $2.49 or a yearly subscription for $14.99, providing extended planning capabilities and features.

### What devices is DarkScout available on?

DarkScout is currently supported on iPhone devices, allowing users to plan their astrophotography sessions on the go.

### What is the age rating for DarkScout?

DarkScout has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in astronomy and photography.

### How often is DarkScout updated?

DarkScout was last updated on March 25, 2026, with version 26.3.10, indicating regular maintenance and potential feature additions.

### Does DarkScout have ads?

No, DarkScout does not contain advertisements, ensuring an uninterrupted planning experience for users.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 27.7.10 — 2026-07-23

Version 27.7.10 makes every observing decision clearer.

NEW
• Open a detailed 12-hour cloud-cover map from Tonight and Spot Details
• Astro Score and hourly decisions now account for rainfall
• Share images and observing events with links that open directly in DarkScout
• Open joined event chats from one dedicated chat list

IMPROVED
• Missing forecast retries and pull-to-refresh now fetch again and clear when recovered
• App data refreshes automatically when DarkScout opens
• Pure-black iOS 26 Liquid Glass polish across cards, controls, paywall, and planning flows

ALSO UPDATED
• New app icon and launch screen
• Updated translations in all 13 languages
• Recommended by us stays current for this month

### 26.6.10 — 2026-06-04

Version 26.6.10 makes DarkScout faster and more useful before clear nights.

NEW
• Shots tab for browsing and sharing astrophotos
• Favorites, likes, reports, blocks, and your own shot management
• PRO original-quality uploads up to 100 MB

IMPROVED
• Smoother navigation across Tonight, Planner, Spots, Map, Settings, and Community
• Faster planning with less background refresh work
• More reliable spot, forecast, widget, alert, and notification handling

### 26.5.10 — 2026-05-13

Version 26.5.10 adds a new community layer to DarkScout.

NEW
• Shots tab for browsing and sharing astrophotos
• Favorites, likes, reports, blocks, and your own shot management
• PRO original-quality uploads up to 100 MB

IMPROVED
• Spots are closer to Tonight for faster planning
• Wishlist feedback from Settings
• Smoother loading during heavier refreshes

### 26.4.20 — 2026-04-22

Version 26.4.20 makes night planning clearer before every clear session.

NEW
• Better tonight guidance and stronger planning context
• Cleaner planner, spots, and settings flows

IMPROVED
• Forecast and astronomy context across saved spots
• Widgets, alerts, and upgrade messaging

FIXED
• Stability improvements for cached data, purchases, and notifications

### 26.4.11 — 2026-04-11

- Bugfixes

## More apps by Sebastian Mraz

- [Water tracker: FluidIQ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/water-tracker-fluidiq/id6775147078)
- [LaterDone: AI Action Inbox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laterdone-ai-action-inbox/id6783365017)

All apps by Sebastian Mraz: https://appshunter.io/developer/1883345914

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-21.*