# AstroFinder — Telescope pointing solved > iPhone telescope finder with real-time sky identification and push-to guidance. (iPhone/iPad app by Peter Santangeli.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrofinder/id6790024890 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Peter Santangeli](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828014548) - Category: Education, Utilities - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 90 MB - Languages: American English, Arabic, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean and 5 more - Released: 2026-07-20 - Data updated: 2026-09-03 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrofinder/id6790024890/reviews.md ## What is AstroFinder? **AstroFinder turns your iPhone into a plate-solving push-to finder for any telescope — no motors, no alignment stars, no setting circles.** Clamp your phone beside the scope. AstroFinder takes a short exposure of the real sky, identifies the star pattern the way a research plate-solver does, and repeats about once a second — so you always know exactly where you're pointed. A red-on-black star chart shows your aim live, and a simple arrow guides you onto whatever you want to see. **Find anything** • Planets, Sun and Moon — sorted by what's up right now • Deep sky by catalog number — Messier, NGC, IC, and more, on a keyboard-free keypad • Named stars and showpiece double stars • "Best this month" — well-placed showpieces for your location, tonight, nearest to where you're already aimed **Built for the eyepiece** • Fully night-vision friendly: red on black, dimmable below the phone's own minimum • Alt-azimuth mode for Dobsonians (no field rotation) or equatorial mode for tracking mounts • Tap any object on the chart for details, then push-to it • Optional constellation lines, labels, and progressive zoom as you close in • Works in portrait or landscape, at any mounting angle **How it works** AstroFinder mounts alongside your telescope and syncs to your eyepiece in seconds. From then on, the chart and all guidance are aligned to your scope's actual aim. Everything runs on-device — no internet needed under the stars. A one-month free trial gives you a full new-moon cycle to try it. Subscription then renews yearly; cancel anytime. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.santangeli.net/astrofinder/privacy Clear skies. ## Key features - Real-time telescope pointing - Plate-solving star identification - Night-vision friendly interface - Offline operation - Finds planets, deep sky objects, and stars - Alt-azimuth and equatorial modes ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | AstroFinder Yearly | $12.99 | per year | ## Frequently asked questions about AstroFinder ### How does AstroFinder help me find celestial objects? AstroFinder turns your iPhone into a plate-solving push-to finder. It takes short exposures of the sky, identifies star patterns, and shows you exactly where your telescope is pointed on a red-on-black star chart with a guiding arrow. ### Does AstroFinder require an internet connection to work? No, AstroFinder is designed to run entirely on-device. This means you can use it under the stars without needing an internet connection, making it ideal for remote observing locations. ### What types of celestial objects can I find with AstroFinder? You can find planets, the Sun and Moon, deep sky objects by catalog number (Messier, NGC, IC), named stars, and showpiece double stars. It also offers a 'Best this month' feature for well-placed showpieces. ### Is AstroFinder suitable for different types of telescopes? Yes, AstroFinder offers an Alt-azimuth mode for Dobsonians (which don't experience field rotation) and an equatorial mode for tracking mounts, making it versatile for various telescope setups. ### What is the pricing and subscription model for AstroFinder? AstroFinder offers a one-month free trial. After the trial, it renews yearly at $12.99. You can cancel your subscription at any time. ### Is AstroFinder safe for use at night? Yes, AstroFinder is built for the eyepiece with a fully night-vision friendly interface. It uses red-on-black display and can be dimmed below the phone's own minimum brightness setting. ### What devices does AstroFinder support? AstroFinder currently supports iPhones. It can be used in portrait or landscape mode at any mounting angle. ### How often is AstroFinder updated? The latest version, 1.5, was released on August 26, 2026, indicating a recent update. The app was initially released on July 20, 2026. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.5 — 2026-08-26 - AstroFinder now speaks 14 languages — the whole app is localized. - Clearer free-trial details on the subscription screen. ### 1.4 — 2026-08-11 - Better support for Southern Hemisphere observers: the sky simulator now shows your own sky, and equatorial chart mode orients to the south celestial pole below the equator. ### 1.3 — 2026-08-09 - The sky chart now fills the whole screen — stars and labelled objects reach the top and bottom edges instead of sitting in a central band. ### 1.2 — 2026-07-24 - Faster, more reliable solving with an updated star catalog. - New Binning control (Camera → Advanced): combine pixels to pull faint stars out of a hazy or light-polluted sky — and shorten exposures, which speeds up solving and makes handheld use more practical. - The chart now orients to the sky immediately at startup using the compass, before the first solve. - Smoother camera startup. ### 1.1 — 2026-07-22 The simulator is now FREE — explore everything indoors, driven by your phone's motion, no subscription needed. Subscribe only when you're ready for live use at your telescope. Also in 1.1: - Night vision toggle: render in white/grey if you observe through a red screen filter - Settings reorganized into Setup / Chart / Info tabs - Chart label size and deep-sky depth controls (push deeper with a big scope) - Always-on status indicator: moving / solving / solved / refining - Off-screen find targets point the way with an arrowhead - Smarter defaults: auto-zoom and constellation lines on ## More apps by Peter Santangeli - [Altitude Drive](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/altitude-drive/id6748924961) All apps by Peter Santangeli: https://appshunter.io/developer/1828014548 --- *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 2026-09-03.*