# AstroHelm — Find Objects & Plate Solve

> Hardware-agnostic push-to guide and plate solver for astronomy. (iPhone/iPad app by Pacizu LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrohelm/id6761955319 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Pacizu LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892191741)
- Category: Reference, Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 73 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish, Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan)
- Released: 2026-04-23
- Data updated: 2026-09-23
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrohelm/id6761955319/reviews.md

## What is AstroHelm?

Find galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and planets without struggling with star hopping.
AstroHelm turns your iPhone into a smart push-to finder for almost any manual telescope. Using fast, on-device plate solving, AstroHelm recognizes the stars in your camera view, determines exactly where your telescope is pointing, and guides you to your target.
No proprietary telescope. No motorized GoTo mount. Just attach your iPhone with a rigid phone mount and start exploring.

NOT SURE WHAT TO OBSERVE?
AstroHelm can help with that too. Best Tonight highlights bright, interesting objects visible from your location, so you can spend less time planning and more time observing.

HOW IT WORKS
Mount: Attach your iPhone securely to your telescope tube, or to your camera using a standard bracket or hot-shoe mount.
Choose: Pick a galaxy, nebula, star cluster, planet, or other target from AstroHelm's catalog.
Point: Move your telescope while following the on-screen guidance. AstroHelm repeatedly plate-solves the sky and shows you exactly how to reach your target.
CENTER: When the reticle reaches the target, look through the eyepiece—or start your exposure.

BUILT FOR THE GEAR YOU ALREADY OWN
AstroHelm works with manual telescopes and cameras without requiring a specific telescope brand or proprietary accessory. It can also integrate with compatible astronomy software and equipment using standard telescope-control protocols.
Whether you're exploring the sky with a Dobsonian or framing a deep-sky object with a camera, AstroHelm gets you from “I want to see that” to “there it is.”

## Key features

- On-device plate solving
- Real-time star pattern analysis
- Push-to guidance
- Hardware-agnostic compatibility
- Expansive deep-sky object database

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AstroHelm Plus | $9.99 | one-time |
| AstroHelm Pro | $29.99 | one-time |
| Plus to Pro Upgrade | $19.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (7 of 7)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrohelm/id6761955319/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Fantastic

*2026-09-17*

This app has been so good that I sold my other push to and goto hardware. It’s far beyond what I’d hoped for!

### 5/5 — Fantastic!

*2026-08-11*

One or two very minor upgrades and this will be a complete game changer. It’s really that good!

### 5/5 — Awesome app with one upgrade suggestion

*2026-07-30*

What a great app. Works very well and is fast at platesolving. I have a suggestion that would enhance this app. When aligning phone to be on center with your telescope instead of trying to move the phone holder it would be better to be able to use two fingers and slide the screen around to center the object. This would be a far more accurate method. Celestron starsense allows this and it is a great enhancement. Thank you for providing a stand alone product that works very well.

### 5/5 — Ridiculously good for what it costs

*2026-07-16*

I’ve wanted an affordable phone app with basic plate solving for a while. Everything else I’ve used fails during the calibration. I was actually able to use this app to find things quickly in my scope, even under ~bortle 6 partly cloudy urban skies. Works great, the pay options really open up the catalog.

### 5/5 — Excellent.

*2026-07-01*

Incredible app that replaces a hardware plate solver solution. I built a DIY mirror reflector so the app/phone can be used in a more ergonomic position and it has worked flawlessly.

### 2/5 — Unreliable, Inconsistent, Essentially Unusable

*2026-06-21*

I wanted to love this app, which I had hoped would be my gateway into the wonderful world of plate solving. Unfortunately, I believe the developer released this app long before it was suitable for general use. I have found it to unusable in even the most favorable viewing conditions despite trying it in multiple up to date iOS devices.

Buy this if you are curious about plate solving and you enjoy experimenting and tinkering. I do not recommend this app in its present state if you are looking for a working plate solving solution. I gave it two stars because with development it has potential. It's performance merits a single star rating. I'll give it five stars if and when it actually works.

**Developer response:** Hi there,

Thank you for the feedback. I am very sorry AstroHelm hasn't been working for you, even under favorable conditions.

I want to get this fixed. Could you please email me at support@astrohelm.app with the specific iOS devices you used, your telescope setup, and your viewing environment?

This information will be incredibly helpful for debugging the issue.

Best,

Jason

### 5/5 — A Must Have Astronomy Plate Solving App

*2026-05-08*

Hi. I have the Pro version, so please keep that in mind as you read this.

I have been in the market for a plate solving solution for some months now. I was looking at the Hopper hardware/software solution, but it currently costs $325, and I am retired, and money does not grow on trees these days.

I am an active member on Cloudy Nights, www.cloudynights.com, and saw where this was announced. I was one of the first to try it. The thing that shocked me is how simple this app makes my viewing. I live under Bortle 5 skies, so I must deal with a lot of light pollution. As a result, my conditions are not ideal for astronomy.

I have an old iPhone XR mounted to my OTA with a cell holder. The holder cost me $13. I use Stelarium Mobile Plus on my iPad to access AstroHelm on the cell, and what I see is a crosshair where my scope is pointing in Stellarium. I can search for an object in Stellarium, and I am shown how to move the OTA to my target. It is just that simple.

There is an AstroHelm app that can be loaded to an iWatch. It provides visual movement direction even if I am not using the iPad. I have developed the habit of using both the iWatch and the iPad. When I point the OTA to the target I hear a tone and get a haptic response from the watch.

I cannot think of anything that could be easier.

If you are chasing something like a comet it will likely not be in an object catalog. No problem. Just get the coordinates from a very current source. The upper right of the AstroHelm screen shows the current coordinates the scope is pointed to. Use them to move the scope as needed, and there is your comet.

This holds true of double/multiple stars too. Many of the more obscure ones are not in common catalogs. Just look up the coordinates, and move the scope tube based on the coordinate data shown in the upper right.

So here is an accounting for my plate solving solution:

AstroHelm Pro $30
AstroHelm watch app $0
Cellphone holder $13
Stellarium Mobile Plus $20 (which I already had)

I do need to mention AstroHelm Pro will also work with SkySafari in place of Stellarium Plus. Not sure of the version required, sorry.

So in my case I spent $43 to acquire a very easy to use plate solving solution using an old iPhone I had sitting around. This makes a LOT more sense to me than spending $325. And it just works.

## Frequently asked questions about AstroHelm

### Does AstroHelm have ads?

No, AstroHelm does not contain advertisements. It is a free app with optional in-app purchases.

### What devices does AstroHelm support?

AstroHelm is currently supported on iPhone devices.

### What is the age rating for AstroHelm?

AstroHelm has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### How often is AstroHelm updated?

The latest version, 0.3.1, was released on June 17, 2026, indicating active development and updates.

### What is the user sentiment for AstroHelm?

AstroHelm has a rating of 4.0 stars from 3 ratings, suggesting generally positive user experiences.

### Can AstroHelm be used with any telescope?

Yes, AstroHelm is designed to be hardware-agnostic, meaning it can upgrade any manual telescope or telephoto lens.

### Does AstroHelm require a motorized mount?

No, AstroHelm provides precision push-to guidance without the need for heavy or expensive motorized tracking mounts.

### What kind of celestial objects can AstroHelm find?

AstroHelm features an expansive database of hundreds of deep-sky objects, allowing users to select and locate targets easily.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 0.5.0 — 2026-09-09

• Best Now is now Best Tonight, completely redesigned to recommend handpicked showpiece objects based on your location, time, and sky conditions.
• Major performance improvements make AstroHelm smoother and more battery-efficient.
• Added the Barnard Catalog of dark nebulae.

### 0.4.1 — 2026-08-31

Improved remote connection stability

### 0.4.0 — 2026-08-29

• New Remote Control feature for connecting and controlling AstroHelm from another device
• Added Sync support for ASCOM Alpaca, LX200, and INDI integrations
• Improved star database and plate-solving reliability
• New troubleshooting guidance for plate solving and camera focus
• Assorted stability and usability improvements

### 0.3.1 — 2026-06-17

* Manual Exposure Control: You can now manually adjust the camera exposure.
* Image Flipping: Added the ability to flip the camera image, making it easy to use with phone mirror attachments.

### 0.3.0 — 2026-06-03

We’re continually working to make navigating the night sky even better. In this update, we've added several new visual guides to help you explore:
* Celestial Grids: Toggle horizontal and equatorial grids for more precise orientation and tracking.
* The Ecliptic Line: Trace the path of the sun, moon, and planets across the sky.
* Constellation Outlines: Easily identify your favorite star patterns.
* DSO Symbols: Deep sky objects are now clearly marked with standard astronomical symbols.

## Apps similar to AstroHelm

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [AstroGuide - Astrophotography](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroguide-astrophotography/id6760981265) | 4.7 (3) | Free | Reference |
| [Astrophotographer’s Universe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrophotographers-universe/id6755179859) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Reference |
| [SkySafari 8 Plus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-8-plus/id6752672698) | 4.6 (99) | $19.99 | Reference |
| [SkySafari 8 Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-8-pro/id6752672420) | 4.7 (739) | $49.99 | Reference |
| [SkySafari 7 Plus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-7-plus/id1567654881) | 4.7 (1,671) | $9.99 | Reference |

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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 2026-09-23.*