# ATLAS Tonight's Sky > Astrophotography planning tool for identifying optimal deep-sky targets. (iPhone/iPad app by M102 Astro.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atlas-tonights-sky/id6766547848 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [M102 Astro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896301459) - Category: Education, Reference - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 31 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-08-25 - Data updated: 2026-10-13 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atlas-tonights-sky/id6766547848/reviews.md ## What is ATLAS Tonight's Sky? ATLAS answers one question: what is actually worth imaging from your backyard tonight? Tell it where you are, and it scores every deep sky object above your horizon by weighing the six factors that decide whether a target is worth the night: altitude, separation from the moon, moon illumination, sky brightness at your site, how long it stays inside your imaging window, and where it sits in its season. You get a ranked answer in seconds, instead of an hour across three apps and a weather site. WHAT IS INSIDE Tonight's Best A ranked list of targets scored for your location, your date and the forecast. Open any object to see its altitude curve, transit time, angular size, magnitude, and a plain reading of why it scored the way it did. An interactive 3D sky Messier, NGC, IC, Caldwell and Sharpless on a dome you can spin, zoom and scrub through time, forward or back by years. Search any designation or common name, fly to it, and see when it is highest. Conditions Hourly cloud cover and temperature for your exact coordinates, plus moon phase, moonrise and moonset, and every stage of twilight. Gear aware framing Enter your telescope and camera and ATLAS frames each target the way your rig will see it, so you know before you slew whether it fills the sensor or disappears in it. PLAN A YEAR AHEAD The imaging planner answers the question that decides a project: when can I shoot this, and for how long. Pick a target and ATLAS works out every night of the next twelve months from your location, your horizon and your gear: which nights are worth it, how many usable hours each one gives you, and which months carry the season. It is sky geometry, not a forecast. POINT AT THE SKY Raise your phone and the map follows it, with your camera's view behind it if you want the real horizon. Nothing to set up: ATLAS finds north when Point mode opens and then follows the phone, so the map holds steady even near a building or a steel railing. If it ever looks off, center the Moon and tap it, and it corrects. BUILT FROM A LIGHT POLLUTED ROOFTOP ATLAS was built by an astrophotographer in Chicago who has put over 750 hours of integration on deep sky objects from a Bortle 9 rooftop. The scoring is tuned for exactly that: real skies, real obstructions, a real moon in the way, not a perfect night at 8,000 feet. You do not need dark skies or expensive gear to do serious astrophotography. You do need to spend your clear nights on the right target. That is what this is for. FREE, AND STILL FREE ATLAS is free to use, with no account required. Tonight's best targets, the 3D sky and dome, Point mode, conditions and search all stay free, and there are no ads and no full screen upsell screens. Astronomer is an optional subscription for planning ahead and going deeper: the twelve month imaging planner, Universe view, the fainter NGC, IC and Sharpless objects, the advanced filters, and the framing tools for rotation and mosaics. It lives in one place in the menu, and nothing asks you twice. DATA AND CREDITS Star data from the HYG Database v3.8 (CC BY-SA 2.5), compiled by David Nash. Deep sky data from OpenNGC v2024.02 (CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled by Mattia Verga. Solar system positions, twilight and moon phase from astronomy-engine. Weather from Open-Meteo. Place names from OpenStreetMap and Nominatim. Made by M102 Astro. m102astro.com ATLAS Astronomer is an auto-renewing subscription. Monthly: $3.99 per month. Yearly: $29.99 per year. New subscribers pay $19.99 for the first year. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://atlas.m102astro.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://atlas.m102astro.com/privacy ## Key features - Ranked deep-sky object list - Interactive 3D sky map - Real-time weather conditions - Gear-aware framing previews - 12-month imaging planner - Augmented reality sky pointing ## Is ATLAS Tonight's Sky safe? Not enough ratings yet to assess ATLAS Tonight's Sky. ## Is ATLAS Tonight's Sky legit? ATLAS Tonight's Sky has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for ATLAS Tonight's Sky is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atlas-tonights-sky/id6766547848/reviews.md ### 5/5 — A must-have app for astrophotographers. *2026-09-26* Easy to use for beginners and more than enough detail for experts. ## Frequently asked questions about ATLAS Tonight's Sky ### What is the main purpose of ATLAS Tonight's Sky? ATLAS Tonight's Sky helps astrophotographers determine the best deep-sky objects to image from their location by scoring targets based on factors like altitude, moon separation, and sky brightness. It aims to save users time by providing a ranked list of targets and relevant imaging data. ### How does ATLAS Tonight's Sky score potential imaging targets? It scores targets by weighing six factors: altitude, separation from the moon, moon illumination, sky brightness, how long it stays within the imaging window, and its seasonal position. This provides a comprehensive assessment for optimal imaging. ### What information is available for each deep-sky object in ATLAS Tonight's Sky? For each object, users can view its altitude curve, transit time, angular size, magnitude, and a clear explanation of why it received its score. This detailed information aids in planning imaging sessions. ### Does ATLAS Tonight's Sky offer features for planning future imaging sessions? Yes, the optional 'Astronomer' subscription includes a twelve-month imaging planner. This feature helps users identify suitable nights and usable hours for specific targets over the next year. ### Can ATLAS Tonight's Sky help with framing my shots? Yes, the app includes gear-aware framing tools. By entering your telescope and camera specifications, ATLAS can show you how each target will appear in your sensor, helping you avoid unnecessary slews. ### Is ATLAS Tonight's Sky suitable for users with light-polluted skies? Absolutely. The app was developed by an astrophotographer in a light-polluted urban environment and its scoring is tuned for real-world conditions, including obstructions and moon interference, not just perfect skies. ### What are the benefits of the 'Astronomer' subscription in ATLAS Tonight's Sky? The 'Astronomer' subscription unlocks advanced features like the year-ahead imaging planner, Universe view, access to fainter NGC, IC, and Sharpless objects, advanced filters, and mosaic framing tools. These enhance planning and exploration capabilities. ### Does ATLAS Tonight's Sky have ads? No, ATLAS Tonight's Sky is ad-free. The core features are free to use without advertisements or full-screen upsell screens, providing an uninterrupted user experience. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.1.0 — 2026-10-06 Astronomer, a new subscription ATLAS is still free, and the free version still does what it always did: tonight's best targets from your own sky, scored for your gear and your light pollution. Astronomer adds the twelve month imaging planner. Pick a target and see which nights of the next year it is actually reachable from where you stand, how many hours each night gives you, and which months are worth planning around. Free accounts see the best months for any target. Astronomer sees the rest. It also opens Universe view, which leaves the sky behind and puts every object at its real distance, so a constellation stops being a shape and becomes the scattered stars it actually is. $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year, and the first year is $19.99. Point at the sky Hold your phone up and ATLAS shows you what you are looking at, with the live camera behind the map if you want it. Nothing to set up: it finds north when it opens and then follows the phone, so the map stays where it should even near a building or a steel railing. If it ever looks off, center the Moon and tap it, and it corrects. Also in this release A calmer first launch, a time scrubber that reaches five years either way, a rebuilt Conditions page that reads as one night instead of three sections, and search that keeps up as you type. ### 1.0.1 — 2026-09-07 This update improves location sharing and sign-in: - Location permission requests now display ATLAS correctly. - Your location permission is remembered when you close and reopen the app. - Signing in returns you to ATLAS. ### 1.0 — 2026-08-25 No release notes. ## Apps similar to ATLAS Tonight's Sky | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [SkyLens Star](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skylens-star/id6803046382) | — | Free | Education | | [CosmicTelescope](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmictelescope/id6800230334) | — | Free | Education | | [Hubble: Deep Space PRO](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hubble-deep-space-pro/id1579382668) | — | $0.99 | Education | | [NearLight](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearlight/id6766338717) | 4.7 (3) | $3.99 | Education | | [Night Logic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-logic/id6793682397) | 4.6 (8) | Free | Education | | [NYAAStarfest](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyaastarfest/id6758523156) | — | Free | Education | --- *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 2026-10-13.*