The Photographer's Ephemeris

The Photographer's Ephemeris

It's all about the light

1.5K ratings
306 reviews
#32 in paid Photo & Video
📷 Photo & Video
🗺️ Navigation
$9.99
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • April 17, 2010
  • March 20, 2026
The Photographer's Ephemeris screenshot #1 for iPhone
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The Photographer's Ephemeris screenshot #7 for iPhone
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About

Plan outdoor photography shoots with this map-centric calculator for sun, moon, and Milky Way positions. Visualize light direction, plan celestial alignments, and scout locations with augmented reality. Features offline maps and detailed celestial event data.

Sun, Moon, and Milky Way rise/set times and positions
3D Milky Way and star visualization
Augmented reality for on-location scouting
Offline map support
Shadow length visualization
Celestial event tracking
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What users say

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What's New in The Photographer's Ephemeris

4.15.2

March 20, 2026

4.15.2 - Fix: eclipse path rendering on Apple Maps and Google Maps - Updated eclipse data for upcoming solar eclipses - UI fixes on Help screen - Remove "legacy" from "Open in TPE 3D" action Please send your feedback and suggestions to support@photoephemeris.com - we'd love to hear from you. If you're enjoying TPE, a review on the App Store is really helpful and lets us keep improving the app.

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In-App Purchases

$24.99

Skyfire (1-year)

1-year subscription to Skyfire service: 2-day sunrise/sunset colour forecasts for the lower 48 US states, southern Canada and Europe.

Charts

Top Paid

📈 32+10

Photo & Video

This app rose +10 positions in Photo & Video chart.

Last updated on July 19, 2026.

Events

Read more about Total Eclipse, April 8 2024

Total Eclipse, April 8 2024

A total eclipse of the Sun crosses North America!

Apr 8, 2024 Apr 8, 2024

User reviews

Forced re-purchase

New version is worthless. Old version used to have ray tracing to view the light at various hours. New version has deleted that functionality & forced me to re purchase the app after using the old version for years.

The BEST app!!!

This app is an absolute must have for any Landscape Photographer! The first thing I did after getting familiar with the apps controls was to get on the map and Pin, and save all my favorite places, and places I plan on shooting in the future. That way I can use my ipad offline at any of the locations and still be able to use all the calculators for sunrise and set, and moonrise and set. And also be able to track the stars! You will be able to plan when and where you want to shoot months ahead. ABSOLUTLEY INVALUABLE!!!
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Indispensable for photographers

This is where i plan my locations and consider the incidence of lights, sunset, moonrise times and direction.

Amazing!

This is an essential App if you want to plan your photographs beyond “f8 and be there.”
There’s nothing wrong with going out and finding photos you love by being in the moment and catching your flow. That’s still the majority of my photography by far.
BUT if you want to pre-visualize what a location has to offer TPE is an astounding tool. Especially when you’re making a photo trip to unfamiliar areas.

It’s also killer for rolling out in the moment to guide you to a shot you feel is possible if only you can look into the future, even if it’s just an hour from now.
Get it. You’ll love it.
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Indispensable, unique

J'utilise cette application depuis de nombreuses années pour programmer des séances de shootings; paysages, portraits, heure bleue, dorée en extérieur. Maitriser l'orientation du soleil et des ombres projetées est essentiel en photo.
(Photographie => dessiner avec la lumière) Cela permet de programmer le jour et le moment très précis où il faut être sur place à tel endroit. Cet outil est indispensable.
Grand merci et bravo au developpeur
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Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Crashes when loading TPE-3D

Bug

Logout issues with Skyfire subscription

Bug

Inaccurate elevation data in some locations

Bug

Requested Features

5 requests

Add tide information

Feature

Improve location saving and syncing

Feature

Provide better tutorials and documentation

Feature

Integrate with other photography apps

Feature

Add support for more regions/countries

Feature

FAQ

What does The Photographer's Ephemeris do?

This app helps plan outdoor photography shoots by calculating the position and direction of the sun, moon, and Milky Way for any location on Earth. It allows you to visualize how light will fall on the landscape, day or night, aiding in the precise planning of your shots.

What are the key features for planning a photo shoot?

Key features include detailed rise/set times and azimuth/altitude for the sun, moon, and galactic center. It also offers a 3D Milky Way overlay, augmented reality for scouting, shadow length visualization, and offline map capabilities for planning in remote areas.

Is The Photographer's Ephemeris free to use?

The app is free to download and use with core features. It offers in-app purchases for advanced functionalities and additional map types, providing a freemium model for users to access more comprehensive planning tools.

Does the app require an internet connection to work?

No, a network connection is not required for essential functions like rise/set times, azimuths, and sun/moon positions. Offline map types are also available, ensuring you can plan your shoots even without internet access.

Who would benefit most from using this app?

This app is ideal for landscape photographers, urban photographers, and anyone who needs to precisely plan outdoor shoots based on natural light. It's also useful for astrophotographers interested in capturing the Milky Way and other celestial events.