# AstroGuide - Astrophotography — better plans for astro imaging

> Astrophotography planning and learning companion for smart telescope owners. (iPhone/iPad app by chris hollander.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroguide-astrophotography/id6760981265 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [chris hollander](https://appshunter.io/developer/1135990297)
- Category: Reference, Photo & Video
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 252 MB
- Released: 2026-06-11
- Data updated: 2026-08-14
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroguide-astrophotography/id6760981265/reviews.md

## What is AstroGuide?

AstroGuide is a planning-and-learning companion for smart-telescope owners and newer astrophotographers who want to make better use of every night under the stars.

Start with the night itself. AstroGuide helps you understand weather, moonlight, sky brightness, visibility, local obstructions, equipment fit, available time, and subject timing before you commit your observing window.

Use AstroGuide to:

- See whether tonight looks strong, limited, risky, or better used for planning
- Find the most useful observing hours
- Browse deep-sky subjects with planning-aware context
- Preview subject paths across the sky
- Plan around your real site, horizon, and equipment
- Save goals and objectives for better future windows
- Compare framing and filter choices with Capture Studio
- Import and review telescope sessions with Direct Scan
- Learn from session efficiency, image metrics, and diagnostics

AstroGuide is especially useful for smart telescope workflows, including Seestar-style planning and review. It is built to complement the telescope software you already use by helping with the decisions around the session: what kind of night you have, what fits your setup, what belongs later, and what you can learn afterward.

For beginners, AstroGuide is designed to make astrophotography more approachable without hiding the complexity. Charts, tips, recommendations, sky views, and diagnostics are built to explain why something matters, not just show another number.

For more experienced users, AstroGuide offers deeper planning context: site profiles, horizon and panorama context, Sky Atlas views, Capture Studio framing tools, equipment kits, filter-aware planning, schedule import/export, and session analysis tools.

Core planning features are available for free. AstroGuide Pro unlocks advanced planning tools, including Capture Studio and multiple equipment kits.

AstroGuide helps you move from “the sky looks clear” to a plan that fits the actual night.

Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Privacy Policy: https://astroguide.space/privacy

## Key features

- Weather and moonlight analysis
- Sky brightness and visibility assessment
- Local obstruction and equipment fit checks
- Subject timing and path preview
- Site-specific horizon planning
- Session efficiency and diagnostics
- Capture Studio framing comparison

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroguide-astrophotography/id6760981265/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Really like this app

*2026-07-09*

I’m still learning it but what I see so far I really like. One request:  Could you add Celestron 6SE to the list of owned equipment?  Thanks a ton!

**Developer response:** hi! happy to hear you're enjoying AstroGuide :) the Celestron 6SE is an excellent telescope, especially when paired with a great imaging camera.  I had originally included a few Celestron telescope models in my "Smart Telescope" as placeholders, but since they don't have built in optics, it's not the best fit to include them in that category. I've added it for convenience, but a much broader selection of telescopes is now available in the Telescope Workshop, which lets you assemble an imaging rig by combining OTAs and Cameras to more accurately reproduce your imaging setup.  This lets the app more faithfully create a Field of View simulator, and calculate other attributes of your equipment.  I would be happy to help more;  please reach out via email, or use the other support options listed at Https://AstroGuide.space

### 5/5 — I’m a new astrophotographer…

*2026-07-09*

… and even with my limited knowledge of the hobby, this app is incredibly helpful. Just the forecasting alone (cloud cover, dew point, lunar phase) helps me plan my evenings, but then the ability to sort objects by whether they will be a good target for my particular smart telescope (Seestar S30 Pro) lets me optimize those evenings. There’s a lot of information but it’s displayed pleasingly and with a great eye for design. Looking forward to future updates and to get even more out of this app.

### 4/5 — Objects search page needs performance optimization

*2026-06-21*

The main "Tonight" page loads just fine and scrolls great. But the moment you hit the search bar and look for objects a bunch of images load and the app slows to a crawl and becomes unusable on a 17 Pro Max. 

I like the concept. I like the tonight view is very useful. I like that I can search and filter objects nicer than otherwise. But I need it to not slow down so much. I've tried all 3 settings of image fetch protection and it doesn't help.

**Developer response:** Thank you very much for this feedback! I have been testing these areas of the app using a variety of devices, under a variety of network conditions, and have recently implemented fixes that should result in improvements. Please evaluate the latest version of the app (1.3.4), and let me know if these issues are addressed.  You can contact me via the Support Url or Email address, I’m more than happy to help if needed. Clear Skies!

## Frequently asked questions about AstroGuide

### What is AstroGuide?

AstroGuide is a planning and learning companion designed for smart telescope owners and astrophotographers. It helps users understand various environmental factors like weather, moonlight, and sky brightness to plan more effective observing sessions.

### Is AstroGuide free to use?

Core planning features of AstroGuide are available for free. An optional subscription, AstroGuide Pro, unlocks advanced planning tools, including Capture Studio and multiple equipment kits.

### What devices does AstroGuide support?

AstroGuide is supported on iPhone and iPad devices, offering a comprehensive planning experience for mobile users.

### How does AstroGuide help with planning observing sessions?

AstroGuide analyzes factors such as weather, moonlight, sky brightness, local obstructions, equipment fit, and subject timing to provide a comprehensive assessment of the night's potential. It helps users determine the best observing hours and plan around their specific site and equipment.

### Can AstroGuide be used offline?

The provided description does not specify offline functionality. However, it focuses on planning based on real-time and predicted environmental data, which may require an internet connection for certain features.

### What kind of learning features does AstroGuide offer?

AstroGuide provides charts, tips, recommendations, sky views, and diagnostics to explain the 'why' behind planning decisions. It also offers insights from session efficiency, image metrics, and diagnostics to help users learn and improve.

### How often is AstroGuide updated?

The latest version, 1.3.2, was released on June 22, 2026, indicating recent development activity. Users can expect updates to enhance features and address any issues.

### What is the age rating for AstroGuide?

AstroGuide has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in astrophotography.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.0 — 2026-08-13

Paste-ready:

Version 1.4 marks a major milestone for AstroGuide: Solar System Mode.

AstroGuide’s planning tools now extend beyond deep-sky objects to help you understand the Moon, planets, comets, meteor showers, and close encounters as part of the same sky you observe from your own back yard.

- Planetary Mode is now Solar System Mode, with new Lunar, Meteors, and Comets sections.
- Lunar Mode adds moonlight timing, phase-cycle planning, full-moon cycle names, eclipse details, and Moon close encounters with deep-sky subjects.
- Comet Mode adds curated comet browsing, orbit and tail geometry, sky-path previews, and close-encounter context.
- Meteor showers now include active-window highlighting, date scrubbing, orbital context, and bookmark support.
- Upcoming Events and Recent Bookmarks make Solar System events easier to save, revisit, and use while planning.
- Site Visibility sharing, catalog aliases, Telescope Workshop equipment, metadata handling, launch behavior, and Solar System detail views have all been improved.

### 1.3.6 — 2026-07-31

AstroGuide 1.3.6 adds Planetary Mode, a new way to explore which planets are visible tonight with visibility timing, sky-path context, and an educational solar-system view.

This release is also coordinated with the release of https://explore.astroguide.space, the web based companion to AstroGuide.  The website enables richer sharing of schedules, including sharing with fellow astronomers that don't have AstroGuide (yet :) )

- Capture Studio projects can now carry framing details into schedules, with FOV footprints shown in schedule and sky previews. You can now see the correct field of view rectangle for your telescope/mount configuration when scheduling your subject to ensure collision of obstructions.
- Telescope Workshop adds stronger rig comparison tools and Pro search results for owned rigs, optics, and cameras.  You can now compare multiple telescopes, and find rigs or components using the global search in AstroGuide.
- ASIAIR schedule import is more flexible, and AstroPlan export/import better preserves framed schedule details.
- Also includes improved narrowband target classification, longer observed-cloud history, Planetary Mode polish, and other UI and reliability fixes.

### 1.3.5 — 2026-07-19

- Added Timing Advisor to help optimize schedule order and timing based on visibility, obstructions, altitude, sky brightness, and lunar impact.
- Added Dark Sky site support, including nearby sites, subject-specific dark-site discovery, comparisons, and directions.
- Added schedule management tools plus ASIAIR clipboard import/export.
- Improved Observation Window recommendations, Capture Studio panel guidance, iCloud Sync status, new-device restore, panoramas, and text wrapping.
- Improved performance across app launch, Tonight, Search, and Cloud Sync, with dynamically updateable comet catalog data.

### 1.3.4 — 2026-07-08

Capture Studio 2.0 adds dedicated tools for framing, filter evaluation, sub-length guidance, integration planning, and saved Pro capture goals.
New Telescope Workshop lets you build custom astrophotography rigs from 1,300+ optics, cameras, and accessories, with Pro support for saving setups.
Schedule planning now includes interactive path previews with lunar separation, obstruction checks, and richer lunar context.
Search: Explore and Sky Atlas now support framing FOV rectangles in Alt/Az or EQ orientation.
Observation Windows are smarter, with Prime Time, Preview, and Last Chance seasonal recommendations.

### 1.3.3 — 2026-07-01

This update brings major Search/Browse performance improvements, bundled subject thumbnails, smarter Observation Window guidance, improved site/location comparisons, better iCloud sync handling, and the first version of Telescope Workshop for building custom astrophotography rigs.

Also includes catalog polish, stability fixes, and reduced memory/network usage across the app.

## More apps by chris hollander

- [Routinely - track your daily routine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routinely-track-your-daily-routine/id1135990298)

All apps by chris hollander: https://appshunter.io/developer/1135990297

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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 2026-08-14.*