UI and functionality
Works great
Super Useful App
New favorite Astro app!
Game changer for Milky Way Photographers
This app is genuinely a game changer for Milky Way photographers. I’ve been doing Astrophotography for years and this app changed my preproduction workflow after a single use. The app is basically an all in one planner for shooting night sky photography. You can type in a location and then check the weather, the sky conditions for things like light pollution from nearby cities or from the moon, where and when the Milky Way core will be visible and how it will be moving across the sky.
I’m a pretty serious planner and what’s so exciting to me about Milky Way Tonight is that it offers me the information that I’ve been going to 5 or 6 different resources to gather independently. Instead of photopills AND stellarium AND Capture the Atlas Milky Way calendars AND google maps AND weather apps AND light pollution map, etc. I have all of that information not only in one place, but it’s easy and intuitive to use. I can type in my exact shooting date and location plans and have all of that instantly accessible to compare for multiple nights and nearby locations. SO convenient!
One of the things I was most impressed by is how acute you can hone in to locations for weather data. In August, I was shooting in Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierras, and I was able to get different weather conditions for the town of Mammoth Lakes and the bottom of the mountain just a few minutes away. That may not sound like a big deal, but the change in elevation affects the clouds, which is one of our biggest concerns. Being able to check the different conditions in spaces close enough together to be counted as “one location” in my weather app helped me decide where to shoot based on which location would have better cloud conditions. That kind of thing can make a break an entire night of shooting. I’ve been in situations where I was set up to shoot, then the clouds started coming in, but the other nearby-enough locations all fell under one location umbrella in my weather apps that I couldn’t tell if the clouds were different there or if it was likely to be the same. Then you’re just left to guesswork if you should pack up and move or stick it out. I wish I had this app in situations like that to help me plan across those very specific locations and also check for nearby backups if conditions change (as they tend to do) very quickly in places like the mountains.
The creator of this app is Jack Fusco who is both an amazing artist and photographer but also a thoughtful and generous educator. All of that comes through in this app. Even if I didn’t know his photography work itself, it would be obvious that this app was made by someone that actually goes out and does this work. You can tell the app wasn’t just put together with some grab bag features without cohesion, but is thoughtful and efficient about supporting you in finding what you need but also remaining easy to navigate. You can tell all of this because of how intuitive it is to use. Whenever I wanted a piece of information or had a question or was looking at the response data from putting in my location and what it showed me made me think “huh, I wonder about this other thing next…” while looking at the data, that thing I was wondering about was the next thing that was presented to me. That kind of thing only happens when it’s been built by someone with experience. It’s just clear that this was built from a place of someone who has gone through this process and been like “I wish I had this, I wish I had that, etc. to help me plan,” and then they went and built what they need with those features. That’s what Jack has done with this app and it really shows.
There are other features that I haven’t even explored yet, like exposure guides and also more educational features like tips from Jack. I’m excited to dive into these further during the offseason when the Milky Way core isn’t visible and I’ll have a few weekends at home. In the meantime, this has become my number 1 go to app for my Milky Way photography. It’s the kind of thing that any photographer in their astrophotography journey can use. I have had both thoughts of “I wish I had this when I was just starting out and learning,” and also “now that I know what I’m doing, this is going to help me be more proficient and help me utilize my existing knowledge better and plan better and get more out of my shoots.” Really truly cannot recommend this app enough to anyone that’s interested in actually going out into the night and shooting photography of the night sky. Thanks Jack for making this awesome resource!
Awesome App
A game changer for Milky Way photography!
Response from developer
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you've found the app easy to use and have enjoyed using it! Making sure it was straightforward was really important to me, so I'm really happy to hear that. If you ever come across feature or ideas you'd like to see in the app or improved, please feel free to reach out! Thank you again! - Jack
10/10
Response from developer
Thank you so much! I appreciate you checking out the app and am so glad you're enjoying it! Hope you have clear skies coming up!
My new favorite Milky Way app!
Response from developer
Thank you so much for all of the kind words! This is honestly the reason behind why I was working on this before it was an app. My hope just to make it easy for people to plan and get out under the stars, myself included! So glad you've been enjoying it! I hope you'll share any thoughts or ideas you might have if anything comes up that you'd like to see! Thank you again! - Jack
What I Have Been Waiting For
Response from developer
Thank you so much for checking out the app for taking the time to leave your thoughts! I'm so happy you've been able to get back out under the stars and the app has played a small part in helping that. That's honestly the best feedback I could hope for! If you ever have any questions or things you think would be helpful to see in the app, please let me know! I hope you plenty of clear skies ahead and will share any photos you end up taking! I'd love to see them. Thank you again!
Finally, the ultimate astrophotography planning app!
I’ve followed the work of Milky Way Tonight’s developer, Jack Fusco, since the very beginning and was fortunate enough to be one of his first followers on social media. Watching his journey as a photographer has been inspiring, but what he’s accomplished with this app is on another level.
The lens exposure
calculators and AR planning tools alone have been incredibly helpful for me. What makes this app special is that it feels like more than just software—it’s over a decade of real-world experience, struggles, lessons learned, and hard-earned successes distilled into a tool that anyone can use.
Milky Way photography has always involved a lot of guesswork, trial and error, and missed opportunities. This app removes so much of that uncertainty and gives photographers the confidence to plan more effectively and spend more time creating.
You can tell this wasn’t built by someone guessing what photographers need. It was built by a photographer who has spent years in the field chasing conditions, solving problems, and refining his craft. Jack’s passion for astrophotography and commitment to helping others succeed shine through in every part of the app.
An incredible achievement and an easy 5-star recommendation for anyone interested in photographing the night sky.
Response from developer
Thank you so much, Jason! I sincerely appreciate your kind words and all of your support, both now and throughout the past years. While working on the app, I really wanted to find a balance of something that would be just as helpful to someone starting out as someone who has spent years doing it. Your review feels incredibly validating and I can't tell you how much it's appreciated. Being out under the night sky is such a special experience and being able to capture it feels special every time. I hope it will become a staple in your planning tool kit and helps you find yourself under clear, dark skies soon. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review and for all of your kind words. - Jack
Exactly what I was looking for!
Response from developer
Thank you so much for checking out the app and for the kind words! Making sure it provided all of the information needed in a clean and easy to understand manner was a top priority while working on everything. So, I'm really glad that's been your experience with it! Thank you again! I hope you have clear skies in your forecast! - Jack
Download this to plan your night sky adventures!
This app is functional, clearly laid out, and a perfect tool for planning a shoot or just simply witnessing the awesome beauty of the night sky. 10/10!
Response from developer
Thank you so much for the kind words and for following along all this way! I'm so glad to hear my work has been helping you and your family enjoy the night sky. My main hope for this app was for it to find the balance between simple and powerful so it could help people enjoy their time under the stars. I appreciate you checking it out and I'm so glad you've been enjoying it so far. I hope you'll find yourself under clear, dark skies soon! Thank you again! - Jack
The App Rules
Response from developer
Thank you so much! Being able to spend more time under the stars instead of figuring out when and where was a huge goal for the app. I'm so glad it already feels like it's making that process easier. I hope you have clear skies in your forecast! Thank you again! - Jack
Worth it!! It makes it fun again
Response from developer
Thank you!! Making sure the app had everything needed to plan without feeling overwhelming was hugely important to me while working on it. I'm so glad to hear you've had such a positive experience and appreciate you sharing that! Thank you so much for the kinds! - Jack
Reach for the stars!
Milky Way Tonight is an excellent app for anyone interested in stargazing and astrophotography. It takes the guesswork out of finding the Milky Way by showing the best times and locations for viewing based on your area. The interface is clean, easy to use, and provides accurate information that helps maximize your chances of seeing the night sky at its best.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, this app makes planning a Milky Way outing simple and enjoyable. I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite astronomy apps. Highly recommended for anyone who loves the stars!
Response from developer
Thank you so much for such thoughtful review! Helping people find their way under the stars to experience the beauty of the night sky has long been a goal of mine. I'm so glad to hear how excited you are about the app. I know there are no shortage of both astronomy and photography apps, so I really appreciate you giving it a chance. I hope it helps you find your way under the stars and I can't wait to share everything I have planned! Thank you again! - Jack
Awesome!
Response from developer
Thank you so much! The Dark Sky Finder was one of the features I was most excited about. Most people (myself included) light in areas with a lot of light pollution, so providing an easy way to find Certified Dark Sky Parks or just less light polluted areas was something that felt really important to include. Thank you so much for checking out the app! I hope you clear skies in your forecast! - Jack
Perfect planning tool
Response from developer
Thank you so much for checking out the app! Making it easy to understand how and when to get out to see the Milky Way was one of my main goals for the app. So, I'm really glad it's felt like an easy process so far! I hope you have clear skies in your forecast! Thank you again! - Jack