# AstroAid

> Telescope and camera field of view simulator for amateur astronomers. (iPhone/iPad app by iLanga, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroaid/id541448395 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [iLanga, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/541448398)
- Category: Education
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 44 App Store ratings · 45 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 125 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2012-07-14
- Data updated: 2026-08-03
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroaid/id541448395/reviews.md

## What is AstroAid?

AstroAid is an app for amateur astronomers that functions as an aid to visualizing what you will see through your telescope/camera lens when you use a particular eyepiece and, optionally, an optical aid (such as a Barlow lens). You can also pair a camera/imager with a telescope and determine what your camera/imager will see in its frame. This will be a big help for astro-imagers.

The app computes a number of parameters for your telescope/eyepiece/imager combination, such as magnification, actual field of view, visual magnitude limit, etc. and displays these values in tabular form.

Several astronomical catalogues are built in to the app (including Messier, NGC, IC, and many other object catalogues), and will be updated on-line occasionally. Images for these objects can be downloaded. All catalogues can be searched.

The app contains extensive lists of known vendor-supplied telescopes, camera lenses, eyepieces, imagers, and optical aids. You can also create your own custom entries if your equipment isn't listed (for example, if you made your own telescope). These custom entries are shared between your devices via iCloud (if available).

## Key features

- Telescope/eyepiece/imager field of view simulation
- Magnification and visual magnitude limit calculation
- Built-in astronomical object catalogs (Messier, NGC, IC)
- Searchable object catalogs with downloadable images
- Extensive equipment lists with custom entry support
- iCloud synchronization for custom equipment

## Recent user reviews (10 of 45)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroaid/id541448395/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Does not even open!

*2022-12-31, version 3.5.1*

App doesn’t open at all. Was very excited to ise this but not good

### 3/5 — Needs updating

*2021-11-28*

This could be a perfect app for planning astrophotography, but the images it uses are far too small to be of much help with any low magnification telescope setup. Full frame image circle scopes like the Takahashi FSQ, or a William Optics Red Cat 51 are woefully under supported in terms of showing you what the image would look like with a full frame sensor. Also, the list of available imaging sensors is extremely out of date, with all of the latest Canon and ZWO sensors missing. Sure, you can manually add your own sensor data, but it would be good to have an updated list in the app. On the plus side, the summary for each set-up in terms of resolution limits is very useful for determining whether a given target can be successfully imaged under any given set of seeing conditions.

### 4/5 — Very good but needs updating

*2021-11-05, version 3.5.1*

So easy and quick to use but needs equipment updating. Most of cameras and scopes are not in the database.

### 4/5 — really needs updating

*2020-11-28, version 3.5.1*

AstroAid does not open in ios 14.2.

### 4/5 — Unusable

*2020-11-11, version 3.5.1*

In iOS 14.2 the app crashes on opening.

### 4/5 — Excellent for planning

*2020-05-15*

Excellent app for framing and planning, only wish you could rotate the camera so that it would be the same orientation as my setup.

### 4/5 — Tolle App

*2020-04-07*

Ich nutze diese App seit 2 Jahren und bin sehr zufrieden damit.
Ein Update der Optiken wie z.B. TS-Optics 6“ Hypergraph,... wäre wünschenswert. 
Sonst eine klare Empfehlung. Ein Dank an die Entwickler.

### 5/5 — Brilliant

*2020-02-06*

Worth every penny. Brilliant app for every astronomer.

### 4/5 — Amazing and helpful app, needs update

*2018-11-24, version 3.5.1*

After 12.1 the app starts then crashes. Once updated back to my default aid app!

### 4/5 — As good as expected

*2018-09-27*

It appears there is not much demand for an app such as this:  one that lets the user list his equipment owned; oculars, scopes, and other accessories.  Than let the user select the desired equipment and apply that combo to a very inclusive list of the various objects in observable in the night sky from the users location.   I’m fact this is the only app of which I am aware that is able to perform that function.  In fact, I could not find one of a simpler type, that would only allow the user list equipment; oculars, scopes, etc., how they interacted with each other,  ignoring the object observed.  

Since this is the only game in town one would expect to see a compromised program.  Why go to extremes when a mediocre job will do?  But to the credit of the developer concerning this app, that’s not the case.  This is a very good program.  

One can pick out the equipment owned from the provided list and for anything that is not listed under the owned section, a convenient “custom” section is included where one can list specific equipment and their stats.   Once this information is provided you only need to pick out an object, and list the equipment you intend to use, (plus some other variables) and you are provided with a decent representation of the object. 

Not that this app is without flaws.  It can be a problem adding and or editing equipment.  And if you make a mistake in selection, it can be a problem to correct.  I have often found it easier to close and reopen the app, starting the process over from the beginning than labor through changes after I have entered errant information.  

None the less those complaints are minor, especially when compared to what you get.  

This is a good app for any amateur astronomer who wants to stay organized.

## Frequently asked questions about AstroAid

### What does AstroAid do?

AstroAid helps amateur astronomers visualize their view through a telescope with specific eyepieces and optical aids. It also allows users to determine what a camera or imager will capture when paired with a telescope, aiding in astrophotography planning.

### What are the key features of AstroAid?

Key features include simulating the field of view for telescope and eyepiece combinations, calculating parameters like magnification and visual magnitude limit, and providing access to searchable astronomical object catalogs with downloadable images. It also includes extensive equipment lists and allows for custom equipment entries.

### Is AstroAid free to use?

Yes, AstroAid is a free application. It does not have in-app purchases or advertisements, meaning all features are accessible without any cost to the user.

### What kind of equipment can I use with AstroAid?

The app includes lists of vendor-supplied telescopes, camera lenses, eyepieces, imagers, and optical aids. If your specific equipment is not listed, you can create custom entries for it, which can be shared across your devices via iCloud.

### Who would benefit from using AstroAid?

AstroAid is designed for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers. It is particularly useful for those who want to plan their observing sessions, understand what they will see through their telescope, or precisely frame their shots for astrophotography.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.5.1 — 2018-01-16

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- minor bug fixes for iOS 10 users

### 3.5 — 2018-01-08

- Bug fixes and improvements.
- Added visual detection info for objects (and the ability to choose the best eyepiece directly).
- For field of view greater than 2 degrees, show constellation boundaries and figures where applicable.
- Better star designations on field of view.
- More object info, including extinction, apparent magnitude, sun and moon angular distance, air mass, parallactic angle, hour angle, heliocentric julian date, galactic & ecliptic coordinates, rise/transit/set times, etc.

### 3.4.1 — 2017-11-15

• Bug fixes

### 3.4 — 2017-11-13

• Bug fixes, UI improvements and documentation update
• Setting available to show other found catalogue objects in the field of view, and the ability to press on them and show information.
• Chart page info available in object information view for 30+ common charts and atlases (selected via Settings). Shared via iCloud with all your devices.
• When downloadable updates are available, changes are listed (e.g. new catalogues and new hardware resources).

### 3.3 — 2017-10-30

• Assorted bug fixes and UI improvements.
• Size boundary of objects can be shown in field of view (option).
• Catalogues now sorted alphabetically by name.
• Star catalogue (2.5 million stars) included to provide background stars for fields of view > 1 degree.
• Binoculars.
• Swipe left on object entry to delete cached image (where applicable).
• Settings view now scrollable and include new field of view settings.
• Constellation mini-view in object/system data views.
• More data in hardware info views, showing data for pairing with other appropriate custom/owned hardware.
• (iPhone only) Field of view now has Hardware button to facilitate switching to custom hardware view.

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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 2026-08-03.*