# Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre-Viz — Plan shoots in natural light

> Predict sun, moon, and star positions for precise photo and video shoot planning. (iPhone/iPad app by Chemical Wedding.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helios-sun-moon-star-pre-viz/id1187474993 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Chemical Wedding](https://appshunter.io/developer/311648873)
- Category: Photo & Video, Productivity
- Price: $29.99
- Rating: 3.50/5 from 20 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 135 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-11-21
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helios-sun-moon-star-pre-viz/id1187474993/reviews.md

## What is Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre?

The greatest challenge faced ny photographers and cinematographers when shooting on location is predicting where the sun, moon or stars might be at any given moment, to create the best visual effect. It's a time critical process, to be in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time.

It might be predicting where the sun will set behind a wide shot of Manhattan on a particular day...
It might be planning when to shoot the moon so it perfectly backlights the ocean...
It might be to schedule where the Milky Way might be at its brightest at the edge of the Sahara Desert...

Helios is the one tool you need to plan in any of these situations.

Included in Helios are a number of tools suitable for different situations:

Live View
This allows you to see a camera overlay showing where the sun might appear through a window. Just frame up the shot you want to do, and observe where the sun might be at any time, on any day in the future.

Street View
The position of the sun on any future day is mapped over the 360º images in Google Street View. Virtual Stand-Ins of people, animals & vehicles can be placed to view how the sun or moon might light them.

MapView
This is graphic representation of the position and height of the sun on a top-down map. Great when planning multiple shots in a specific location throughout a shooting day.

3D Landscape View
Using modeled 3D landscapes, the path and character of the sun can be visualized during the course of a day. Again, Virtual -Stand-Ins can be used to help visualize how light might make subject look different at various times during the day.

3D Building View
Using the same tools as 3D Landscape view, this is for use in urban settings, where building throw shadows, depending on where the sun might be at any given time.

Underwater View
Helps predict the way light reacts when shooting beneath the waves.

From our users....


Craig Wrobleski CSC
Cinematographer
FUBAR, A Man in Full, Matlock,The Umbrella Academy, Fargo, Legion, In the Tall Grass, X-Files

“Both Artemis Pro and Helios Pro have become indispensable tools for me.  Artemis is the most effective way to find common compositional ground with directors and camera operators, and is especially great for large format cameras like the Alexa 65 and the LF.  Helios Pro is invaluable for scouting and scheduling the day to chase the light and capture it.  The new features in Helios Pro mean you can be in a meeting and show everyone how the light will travel in a 3D rendering of an exterior location on the exact day we plan to shoot.  I can’t imagine working without these tools.” 

Robert McLachlan ASC, CSC
Cinematographer/Director
American Gigolo, 1923, Yellowstone, Landman,Ray Donovan, The Affair, Game of Thrones, Westworld

“On Game of Thrones we often scouted locations months in advance...it was critical in the down to the minute schedule planning we made for the Dance of Dragons sequence...with Helios you’re way ahead of the game in both prep and on set.”

Oliver Curtis BSC
Cinematographer
Urban Myths, Hamlet Within, A Little Life, ,The Wedding Date, Death at a Funeral, Owning Mahowny, Vanity Fair

"Helios has become an indispensable tool in my work... With the addition of AR in Helios Pro the level of preparedness for all departments is that much higher.  With today’s budgets and schedules this level of information accuracy is invaluable.”  

Gary Varney
Gaffer
Eternals, The King's Man, Wicked,The Deep Blue Sea, Sexy Beast / Gaffer 2nd Unit Jack Ryan, Kick Ass, American Assassin

“Helios just blows you away. To have the ability to overlay 3D models of people, buildings or vehicles to see just how the light falls on them throughout the day is incredible. I highly recommend Helios."

Mairzee Almas
Director
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Jessica Jones, Y: The Last Man, The Sandman,iZombie, Guilt, 12 Monkeys, The Last Ship, Smallville

"I use both Artemis and Helios when scouting and find them both invaluable tools for prep."

## Key features

- Live View camera overlay
- Street View sun mapping
- 360º image integration
- 3D landscape visualization
- 3D building shadow prediction
- Underwater light reaction analysis

## Recent user reviews (10 of 25)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helios-sun-moon-star-pre-viz/id1187474993/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Why is this app so annoying

*2024-04-12*

The rotation feature is not working ever since I bought this app. Why are you taking so much money and not even providing basic features

### 5/5 — Helios

*2024-02-03*

Helios is the best and more accurate app for sun position. The developer respond very fast to any questions suggestions. In the movie industry it is the reference.

### 1/5 — Waste of time

*2023-10-17*

I’ve tried using this app on several occasions and it’s always a struggle to get it to recognize where I am and what time it is. Painfully frustrating.

**Developer response:** Could you send an email to me--I'd like to discuss. Many thanks in hope

nic@chemicalwedding.tv

### 1/5 — App crashes immediately

*2023-10-01*

iPhone 15 Pro - was only able to open it once, and it crashed as soon as I tried to set the timezone. Now it won’t even make it past the splash screen.

**Developer response:** jFalztar

Could I ask what phone and operating system you have? Please send a note to Nic@chemicalwedding.tv

Many thanks, in hope

### 4/5 — Great app

*2022-10-06*

Hey guys great app, works great! Been using it for years. 

Would love to see a widget developed for my phone to be able to track the sun without needing to open the app or even to just have quick access to it. 

Anyway! Great app, would buy it again :) 

Thanks 
J

### 1/5 — Awful

*2021-11-01, version 1.7.2*

It impossible to use this app… totally disappointed

### 1/5 — App doesn’t load, crashes instead

*2021-08-18*

I get the startup screen 30 seconds later it crashes. Restarted my phone…. Same thing

**Developer response:** cbarrett83

Could you send a note to
toby@chemicalwedding.tv
and we'll solve your problem.

Many thanks

### 5/5 — Excellent App

*2021-05-22*

Sun tracking allows you to calibrate by sun position (which other programs lock) and 3D buildings view is unique and immensely useful. Developers really care - wrote them requesting the use of the phone’s wide angle camera and within two days they had created the feature. Very impressive.

### 2/5 — Where’s the sun?

*2021-05-20*

On every location scout the sun is always in some random place. Calibration hardly if ever seems reliable. If this takes a lot of effort to troubleshoot I think it’s simply not worth it.

Concept and design are all good and helpful, but in reality it’s not useable

**Developer response:** Christian

I suspect that your device compass is mis-set. Could you send an email to toby@chemicalwedding.tv and we'll try to get your settings corrected.

Kind regards

### 4/5 — If you app is not working try this:

*2021-04-20*

I just paid for the app and is not working, I want my money back. 
**Update**
I restart my phone and didn’t work, but I erased the app and re-installed and is working perfect.

**Developer response:** Vladimir

Could you email toby@chemicalwedding.tv and we'll find the problem. (At present, there are no crash logs matching an app not opening so I'd love to get to the bottom of this.)

Kind regards

## Frequently asked questions about Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre

### What is Helios Location Light Pre-Vis used for?

Helios Location Light Pre-Vis is used by photographers and cinematographers to predict the exact position of the sun, moon, and stars at any given time and date. This helps in planning shoots to achieve specific lighting effects and compositions.

### How accurate is Helios Location Light Pre-Vis?

The app utilizes advanced tools to visualize celestial body positions and their impact on light and shadow. User testimonials suggest it is invaluable for precise scheduling and on-set planning, helping users get ahead of the game.

### What devices does Helios Location Light Pre-Vis support?

Helios Location Light Pre-Vis is available for iPhone and iPad devices, offering a versatile tool for planning shoots on the go or at a desk.

### What is the price of Helios Location Light Pre-Vis?

Helios Location Light Pre-Vis is a paid application, currently priced at $17.99. This one-time purchase grants access to all its planning and visualization features.

### How often is Helios Location Light Pre-Vis updated?

The app was last updated on May 21, 2025, with version 3.8. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and feature enhancements for users.

### Can Helios Location Light Pre-Vis be used for urban shooting environments?

Yes, Helios Location Light Pre-Vis includes a '3D Building View' specifically designed for urban settings. This feature helps visualize how buildings cast shadows based on the sun's position throughout the day.

### What is the age rating for Helios Location Light Pre-Vis?

Helios Location Light Pre-Vis has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for users of all ages interested in photography and videography planning.

### Does Helios Location Light Pre-Vis offer a free trial?

Based on the provided information, Helios Location Light Pre-Vis is a paid app with a set price of $17.99 and does not mention a free trial period.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.2.4 — 2026-08-27

Helios now works with dates as far back as 1000 C. Fixed a bug with renaming favourites.

### 4.2.3 — 2026-08-25

Bug fixes for maps.

### 4.2.2 — 2026-08-19

Fixed bug where menus were hard to read in dark mode. Added the ability to jump to sunrise and sunset with a tap.

### 4.2.1 — 2026-08-11

Added the ability to choose a specific year from any of the screens. It was taking too long for archeological historians to scroll to 1066.

### 4.2 — 2026-08-08

Added pdf export

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## More apps by Chemical Wedding

- [London - A City Through Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/london-a-city-through-time/id537733115)
- [London - Mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/london-mobile/id581563445)
- [Artemis Prime](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artemis-prime/id1127558565)
- [Artemis Director's Viewfinder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artemis-directors-viewfinder/id1164523253)
- [Artemis TV](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artemis-tv/id1573989453)

All apps by Chemical Wedding: https://appshunter.io/developer/311648873

## Related topics

[helios](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/helios)

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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 2026-08-31.*