# Dark Skies: Astrophotography — Milky Way Photo Planner

> Night sky photography planning with weather, astronomical data, and AR guidance. (iPhone/iPad app by Nathan Stryker.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-skies-astrophotography/id843351673 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nathan Stryker](https://appshunter.io/developer/383950754)
- Category: Photo & Video, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.86/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 22 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.1 · 22 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2014-03-27
- Data updated: 2026-08-23
- Monetization: subscription
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-skies-astrophotography/id843351673/reviews.md

## What is Dark Skies?

Plan better nights. Find darker places. Know when it is worth heading out.
Dark Skies is a focused night-photography planner built to answer one practical question: is tonight worth shooting?
See tonight’s best shooting window, compare the next 14 nights, plan around the Milky Way, Moon, meteors, weather, and darkness, then keep the essential tools ready when you arrive.
FIND DARKER PLACES
Explore a satellite-measured light map and discover nearby campgrounds from the federal recreation catalog. Compare measured light, distance, facility type, and managing agency before deciding whether a destination may be worth the drive.
Measured light is not the same as sky quality, and nighttime access can vary. Dark Skies gives you useful planning evidence while clearly reminding you to verify access and local conditions before traveling.
KNOW WHAT TONIGHT OFFERS
Tonight turns complex forecast and astronomy data into a clear Night Plan with:
• A simple nightly score
• Your recommended shooting window
• Moon illumination and timing
• Suggested celestial targets
• Practical lens guidance
• A quick comparison with stronger upcoming nights
FIND YOUR BEST NIGHTS
Best Nights scores the next 14 nights so you can quickly identify promising opportunities instead of comparing forecasts one day at a time.
Review cloud cover, darkness, Moon conditions, atmospheric proxies, and a concise forecast summary designed for photographers.
PLAN THE SHOT
Prepare for Milky Way, Galactic Core, Moon, meteor, landscape, and general night-sky photography with tools including:
• Milky Way and Galactic Core planning
• AR sky guidance
• Moon phase, rise, set, and visibility tools
• Meteor shower outlooks
• Astronomical twilight and dark-window timing
• Nightly weather forecasts
• Star exposure calculator
• Balanced and Sharper exposure modes
• DSLR, mirrorless, and film camera support
• Custom camera and lens profiles
TAKE IT INTO THE FIELD
Field Mode keeps essential timing and tools available in a red-on-black interface designed for use under the night sky. Apple Watch support helps you check key information without pulling out your phone.
SAVE THE PLACES THAT MATTER
Save observing locations, choose your active shooting spot, compare locations, and keep planning information synchronized across your Apple devices with iCloud.
Dark Skies also includes widgets and smart alerts so strong shooting conditions are easier to catch.
BUILT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS, NOT DATA ANALYSTS
Dark Skies is simpler than an all-purpose photography planner. It turns forecasts, astronomy, and location data into practical decisions about where to go, when to shoot, and what to photograph.
• Free to download
• No ads
• No account required
• Privacy-first design
• Optional Pro features available
Spend less time comparing data and more time under the sky.

## Key features

- Milky Way and Galactic Core planning
- AR sky guidance
- Moon phase and visibility tools
- Astronomical twilight timing
- Nightly weather forecasts
- Star exposure calculator
- Custom camera profiles

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dark Skies Pro Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Dark Skies Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dark Skies Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 22)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-skies-astrophotography/id843351673/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Big update! No more ads

*2026-05-16*

I thought this app was dead, then this huge update shows up! AND no more ads! Fantastic work!

### 5/5 — Huge Update

*2026-05-11*

I don’t know where this app has been for the last 5 years, but the latest update is awesome. No more ads, the design feels cleaner, and there are a ton of new features that make it way more useful. It feels like Dark Skies finally got the upgrade it deserved. Great app for anyone who likes planning around the night sky.

### 1/5 — Horrible

*2020-04-07*

Horrible.  Doesn’t work most of the time, AT ALL.  Crashes.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

### 1/5 — My camera is not featured.

*2020-01-07*

REALLY not much info and the list of cameras is limited. No info about aperture, shutter speed and probably missing other things too. Too simple... already deleted.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

### 1/5 — Ap info does not match download

*2019-06-14*

The display screens at the Ap store do not match the download. The 4 buttons on the right display do not exist in the download. Light, Settings, About & Night are not available in the Ap. Sent an email to the support address. No reply.  Forget this a Ap. Use a calculator.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

### 1/5 — Nathan Stryker is a Moron for developing this crap

*2017-11-19*

Every 7 seconds an ad pops up, then it won’t let you close the ad for several more seconds. This is a completely useless application. The 1.4 stars should tell Nathan that this application is a failure. Save your time, don’t bother with this waste of time. Shameful. This should not even be available on the App Store.

### 1/5 — Literally unusable

*2017-10-23*

No matter what you are doing, a full screen ad takes over the screen every 12 seconds. Sometimes you can immediately dismiss it, other times you have to watch the first few seconds of a video ad, and still other times you have to wait quite a while to dismiss an ad.

I’m serious. I timed it. Every twelve seconds.

And the worst part: these ads happen even during the “first launch” tutorial. It took me several minutes to get through the short, 4-screen tutorial because ads kept taking over before I could finish reading each step.

Literally unusable. If the developer had this little regard for my experience during the tutorial of what amounts to the trial version, there’s no way I’m paying to find out of the rest of the app actually works well.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

### 1/5 — Ads every 4 seconds

*2017-10-22*

Unusable with full screen ads every 4 seconds. Does it do what it says it does? No idea, 8 ads just in the time it took to get through the introduction. Never could get all the settings entered before getting too angry to bother.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

### 1/5 — Elan

*2017-10-21*

Lasted a whole of 2 minutes on my phone. Every 5 seconds of use a new ad pops up rendering this app usless. 
Just easier to use a standard calculator.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

### 1/5 — Pop ups

*2017-10-21*

Pop ups literally every 4 seconds. The app is completely unusable

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, and I’m sorry the earlier version created such a poor experience. Dark Skies has since been completely rebuilt: all ads have been removed, camera and lens profiles are customizable, and the app now includes nightly planning, forecasts, AR sky guidance, and updated exposure tools.

## Frequently asked questions about Dark Skies

### What is the subscription cost for Dark Skies?

Dark Skies offers a monthly subscription for $2.99 and an annual subscription for $19.99. These plans unlock Pro features for enhanced planning and tools.

### Does Dark Skies have ads?

No, Dark Skies is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted experience for photographers planning their night sky sessions.

### What devices is Dark Skies available on?

Dark Skies is available on iOS devices and supports iCloud sync across your devices, ensuring your saved locations and profiles are always up-to-date.

### How often is Dark Skies updated?

The latest version, 4.8, was released on June 20, 2026, indicating a commitment to regular updates and feature enhancements for users.

### What is the age rating for Dark Skies?

Dark Skies has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in photography and astronomy.

### Can I use Dark Skies offline?

While the app utilizes Apple Weather for forecasts, core features like AR guidance, exposure calculators, and saved locations are designed for use in the field, often with limited connectivity.

### What makes Dark Skies different from other photography apps?

Dark Skies focuses specifically on night sky planning with features like astronomical dark window timing and AR sky guidance, offering specialized tools without requiring an account or displaying ads.

### How does the AR sky guidance work in Dark Skies?

The AR sky guidance uses your device's camera to overlay celestial objects like the Galactic Core and Moon onto your live view, helping you frame your shots accurately.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.1 — 2026-08-18

Dark Skies 5.1 makes Tonight clearer, more accurate, and easier to use.
• Refined Tonight layout makes your shooting window and key conditions easier to read at a glance
• More accurate twilight timing with real nautical dusk and clearer astronomical darkness and dawn milestones
• Improved Dynamic Type and accessibility layouts
• Polished Meteor Outlook, event imagery, and spacing throughout Tonight
• Additional reliability and interface improvements
Less time interpreting the forecast. More confidence knowing when it’s worth heading out.
Clear skies!

### 5.0.1 — 2026-08-03

This update improves the accuracy and consistency of Moon and nighttime planning data.
Fixed an issue that could display Moon impact instead of Moon illumination.
Corrected cases where Tonight’s Plan could show Moon or lens guidance from the wrong night.
Improved forecast caching so saved data always matches the correct date and location.
Aligned Moon calculations across forecasts, widgets, and planning tools.
Improved astronomical darkness calculations and overall forecast reliability.
Additional performance, stability, and accuracy improvements.

### 5.0 — 2026-07-30

Dark Skies 5.0 is here—and your next great night starts now.

Discover darker places, explore nearby campgrounds, compare measured light, and find shooting spots worth the drive. Then use the completely redesigned experience to check Tonight, find your Best Nights, plan the shot, and head out with confidence.

Find darker skies. Plan smarter. Get the shot.

### 4.10.0 — 2026-07-21

Best Location is here.
Compare your saved locations and quickly see which one offers the best opportunity for astrophotography or night photography tonight. Dark Skies considers the Night Score, usable darkness, weather conditions, moonlight, timing, and distance to help you choose where to shoot.
Once you choose a location, Night Plan brings the important details together in one clear view, including:
• Your recommended shooting window
• Key weather and night-sky conditions
• Moon and darkness timing
• Exposure starting points
• Quick access to Field Mode, Maps, Calendar, and sharing
Dark Skies still keeps the decision simple: less time comparing forecast data and more confidence deciding whether tonight is worth shooting.
Version 4.10 also includes accessibility improvements, clearer layouts at larger text sizes, and additional reliability refinements across the app.

### 4.9.2 — 2026-07-16

Dark Skies 4.9.2 improves reliability and polish across location, sky guidance, permissions, and accessibility, with small fixes throughout the app.

## Apps similar to Dark Skies

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Nightcam Camera: Night Mode](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcam-camera-night-mode/id1485217423) | 4.1 (2,523) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [ASIAIR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asiair/id1367782034) | 3.9 (234) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [PhotoPills](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805) | 4.7 (1,516) | $10.99 | Photo & Video |
| [StarryLens - Night Sky Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starrylens-night-sky-camera/id6448165469) | 4.3 (123) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [DWARFLAB](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarflab/id1667394131) | 3.5 (138) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Astro Stacker: Star Images](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-stacker-star-images/id6753679598) | 1.0 (1) | Free | Photo & Video |

## More apps by Nathan Stryker

- [Goalie Scout](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goalie-scout/id504940749)
- [Five Hole: Hockey Goalie Stats](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/five-hole-hockey-goalie-stats/id6762281961)
- [PacerX: Running Analysis](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacerx-running-analysis/id6772818477)

All apps by Nathan Stryker: https://appshunter.io/developer/383950754

## Related topics

[dark skies](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dark-skies) · [astro a50x](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/astro-a50x) · [dark sky widget](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dark-sky-widget) · [astro photography](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/astro-photography) · [milky way photo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/milky-way-photo)

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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 2026-08-23.*