# SunSketcher — Reveal the shape of the Sun! > Citizen science app for photographing the Great North American Eclipse to model the Sun's shape. (iPhone/iPad app by Western Kentucky University.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunsketcher/id6464665997 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Western Kentucky University](https://appshunter.io/developer/365191345) - Category: Photo & Video, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 2.61/5 from 23 App Store ratings · 12 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 26 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2024-03-14 - Data updated: 2026-06-04 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunsketcher/id6464665997/reviews.md ## What is SunSketcher? SunSketcher is a citizen science initiative anyone can use to photograph the April 8th, 2024 Great North American Eclipse. Mass participation will generate an incredible database of images that, when analyzed together, could allow scientists to more accurately model the Sun. "We don't know the shape of the Sun?" you ask. Nope. Well, not exactly. Scientists have a pretty good idea, but it's not nearly as precise as it could be. Our hope is to change that—to measure the Sun's oblateness to an accuracy of a few parts in a million! This app uses your location to determine the time that totality will start and end there. This allows it to automatically take photos chock-full of data of the eclipse while you don't have to worry about the precise details! After totality, you can choose to upload the photos that were taken, along with a few other details about your location at the time of the eclipse and what settings your phone's camera was using, to our data servers for scientific analysis. What is citizen science? Citizen science is a collaborative style of research involving volunteers from the general public. The contributions of these “citizen scientists” help researchers collect and analyze large datasets. Citizenship is NOT a requirement. How will this project contribute to heliophysics research? We are aiming to create the first large-scale database of Baily's Bead images, which will allow the Sun’s shape to be precisely determined to within a few parts per million. Just as the precise shape of the Earth’s ocean surface allows us to determine flows inside the Earth, the SunSketcher database will allow us to study flows in the solar interior. In addition, knowing the precise shape of the Sun will allow physicists to test against and possibly disprove different theories of gravity, including General Relativity! Are there requirements or qualifications needed to participate? Can I participate if I’m not a scientist? You do not need to be a scientist to participate. Our aim is to involve as large and diverse a group of SunSketchers as possible. Why should I participate in SunSketcher? The unique aspect of SunSketcher is that everyone with a phone can make a valuable contribution to a state-of-the-art science project. No special equipment is required, just a smartphone. And, if you register as a SunSketcher on our site, we will add your name to the list of contributors. You might even get mentioned as a Guinness World Record Holder! Where do I have to be on the eclipse day? Anywhere inside the path of totality. Will I be able to watch the eclipse at the same time that I'm using SunSketcher? YES!! In fact, we encourage you to view the eclipse on your own (with appropriate safety precautions at appropriate times) while SunSketcher is running on your phone. The scientific quality of the images obtained will be best if the phone is left untouched throughout the few minutes between the start and end of totality. The app will be finished with the nitty-gritty science stuff just a minute or two after totality ends, at which point you can pick up and begin using your phone again. ## Key features - Automatic eclipse photography - Location-based timing for totality - Data upload for scientific analysis - Citizen science participation - Contributes to heliophysics research - No special equipment needed ## Recent user reviews (10 of 12) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunsketcher/id6464665997/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Horrible *2024-04-14* I was in Metropolis, IL for the eclipse and followed the directions as indicated on the site. My pictures all turned out black! I would have much rather had my phone to take pictures of the shadows, colors, sky, people etc… instead I have nothing. ### 1/5 — Didn’t work *2024-04-10* Idk if it collected the data or not, but I found no pictures nor was I even able to tell whether the phone was pointed correctly or not. ### 3/5 — Oops I guess I’m not smart enough to follow instructions *2024-04-08* I think I should have had the camera faced like I was taking a selfie. I interpreted the directions as the other way. Missed giving my data from out at sea from Mazatlan this total eclipse because of it. SO if I ever get to see another one that is what I will do! Amazing solar flares visible at totality in the 3:00 position moving to the 4:00 position during totality **Developer response:** The back camera should have faced the Sun, but a reason why it probably did not work was because you were in Mazatlan and not in the US in the path of totality. The app at the moment is only designed to work in the US. ### 1/5 — Incomplete app *2024-04-08* I did my best to cooperate but the app was not helpful, i was in the 99.8% of the eclipse, i saw the solar flares but the app recorded ZERO **Developer response:** I am sorry that you found our app unhelpful. Our app was designed to work only for users that were located within totality path (100%) for the eclipse. ### 1/5 — Didn’t work..at all!! *2024-04-08* Followed direction. Didn’t pick up anything at all!! Disappointed to say the least! **Developer response:** Hello! Can you tell us exactly what went wrong specifically? ### 1/5 — Didn’t work *2024-04-08* Didn’t get a countdown in the app and it said to set the phone down to take photos. Waited the full 10 minutes and images never showed up. Really disappointed.. was excited to capture this rare moment. **Developer response:** We are sorry to hear that. The reason you did not get a countdown could have been because you were not in the path of totality or you denied location permissions. ### 4/5 — Simple instructions for competent iPhone users *2024-03-24* I’ve read 2 previous reviews that indicated the reviewers couldn’t read the instructions in the app. It’s a simple fix for anyone to make on their own. If you’re using an iPhone, just go into your Settings, then select display & brightness. Scroll down to the text size tab & slide the bar to the left to make the text smaller. Problem solved. You can thank me after the eclipse. ### 1/5 — Camera damage *2024-03-23* As far as I know pointing your phone camera at an eclipse is going to cause permanent damage to it. If I’m wrong and someone wants to correct me then please go ahead. **Developer response:** While we humans have sensitive eyes that require a solar filter to be able to safely look at the Sun, rest assured that aiming a camera at the Sun will incur no damages to it, especially over such a short period of time. A phone's camera has nothing organic like the cells in our eyes do, and, as such, cannot be damaged by contact with sunlight unless over very long periods, about the same amount of time it might take for a piece of cloth to become sunbleached. The SunSketcher team has performed extensive testing related to the effects of sunlight on phone cameras and even ran an early test during the October 14th annular eclipse last year (which, due to being annular as opposed to total, results in more light hitting the camera's sensor) and saw no adverse effects, whether lasting or temporary, with any phone used. ### 2/5 — Instructions are not completely viewable *2024-03-23* The instructions cut off at the bottom of the slide. I was unable to determine a way to continue with them. Will be deleting the app. Unfortunately. **Developer response:** I am sorry to hear that. Our team is working on an update that will fix this issue. I hope you will reconsider using our app on April 8th. Thank you for your feedback! ### 5/5 — Complete instructions on website *2024-03-23* FYI if anyone needs to see the full tutorial for the app it is available on the website. Looking forward to using this app and doing some citizen science with my students in the zone of totality. ## Frequently asked questions about SunSketcher ### What is SunSketcher used for? SunSketcher is designed to help citizen scientists photograph the Great North American Eclipse on April 8th, 2024. The app automatically captures images during totality, collecting data to help scientists more accurately model the Sun's shape. ### Do I need to be a scientist to use SunSketcher? No, you do not need to be a scientist to participate. The app is intended for anyone with a smartphone to contribute valuable data to state-of-the-art scientific projects. ### How does SunSketcher help study the Sun? By collecting a large database of Baily's Bead images during the eclipse, SunSketcher aims to precisely determine the Sun's shape. This data can help scientists study flows within the solar interior and test theories of gravity. ### Can I watch the eclipse while using SunSketcher? Yes, you are encouraged to watch the eclipse while SunSketcher is running on your phone. The app is designed to work in the background, allowing you to experience the event while it collects scientific data. ### What are the requirements to participate in SunSketcher? You need a smartphone and must be located within the path of totality for the April 8th, 2024 eclipse to participate. No other special equipment is required. ### What is the rating for SunSketcher? SunSketcher has a rating of 2.6 stars based on 23 ratings. ### Is SunSketcher available on Android devices? Based on the provided data, SunSketcher is currently only supported on iPhones. ### When was SunSketcher last updated? SunSketcher was last updated on April 16th, 2024, with version 1.1.2. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.1.2 — 2024-04-16 This is for users who ended up on the main screen and was not able to send their images. This update allows you to be able to send the images that were taken in-app on April 8th. ### 1.1.1 — 2024-04-02 This update fixes the text from "You're not in the eclipse path" to "You're not in the path of totality" on the countdown screen. This also fixes notification capabilities. ### 1.1 — 2024-03-28 Fixed problems with the UI text cutting off and now most of the text is scrollable. ### 1.0 — 2024-03-14 No release notes. ## Apps similar to SunSketcher | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Seestar](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seestar/id6447429891) | 4.2 (302) | Free | Photo & Video | | [Solar Eclipse Timer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865) | 3.8 (560) | Free | Photo & Video | | [Flashes for Bluesky](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashes-for-bluesky/id6741443033) | 4.5 (337) | Free | Photo & Video | | [The Photographer's Ephemeris](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670) | 4.7 (1,530) | $9.99 | Photo & Video | | [Slow Shutter Cam](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slow-shutter-cam/id357404131) | 4.6 (2,738) | $2.99 | Photo & Video | | [Solar Snap](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-snap/id1599230728) | 4.7 (6,400) | $1.99 | Photo & Video | ## More apps by Western Kentucky University - [iWKU](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iwku/id365191342) - [Kentucky Museum](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kentucky-museum/id1109052860) - [Kentucky Mesonet](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kentucky-mesonet/id1365272874) - [WKU Red Wave Student Rewards](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wku-red-wave-student-rewards/id1433657476) - [WKU Campus Rec & Wellness](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wku-campus-rec-and-wellness/id1625310721) All apps by Western Kentucky University: https://appshunter.io/developer/365191345 ## Related topics [vegatouch eclipse](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vegatouch-eclipse) --- *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 2026-06-04.*