# The Photographer's Ephemeris — It's all about the light

> Map-based calculator for sun, moon, and Milky Way positions for outdoor photography planning. (iPhone/iPad app by Crookneck Consulting LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Crookneck Consulting LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/366195673)
- Category: Photo & Video, Navigation
- Price: $9.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 1,553 App Store ratings · 370 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 95 MB
- Languages: British English, French (France), German (Germany), European Spanish
- Released: 2010-04-17
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670/reviews.md

## What is The Photographer's Ephemeris?

"Head and shoulders above the crowd is The Photographer’s Ephemeris. Odd name, great app." - National Geographic

"One of the most useful apps for any nature photographer" - Outdoor Photographer Magazine

"It worked perfectly. The program was dead on…" - National Geographic

"One of the most powerful photography applications that I've seen, one that you'll be using for years and years."  - AdoramaTV

The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) helps plan outdoor photography shoots in natural light, particularly landscape and urban scenes. It's a map-centric Sun, Moon and Milky Way calculator: see how the light will fall on the land, day or night, for any location on earth.

Whether you need at-a-glance information on today's sun, moon and Milky Way data for your current location, or need to plan a precise alignment of the full moon for a future shoot, TPE has the tools you need. The combination of augmented reality, line-of-sight analysis and visual search supports the most sophisticated photo planning needs.

Night mode features a 3D representation of the Milky Way, pole stars and major constellations directly over the map, so you can easily visualize exactly how to align your shot.

Research and save your own list of favorite photographic locations, using 7 different map types (including 2 offline maps) and save them in your locations list. Favorite locations are always displayed right on the map.

Advanced features including visual sun and moon search, automatic time zone and elevation detection, correction for atmospheric refraction and height above the horizon, ensuring that you have the best possible information for planning your shoot.

You can even determine when the sun or moon will rise from behind nearby hills and mountains.

Key features:

- Time/direction of sun, moon, and galactic center rise/set
- View azimuth and altitude of sun/moon and the galactic center for any time of day/night
- Milky Way, stars and asterisms visualization via 3D map overlay
- Moon phase and % illumination
- Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight
- 2 topographic maps
- 2 offline map types
- Movable map pins: drag and drop the pin exactly where you need it
- Map autorotation using the compass (on compatible devices)
- Shadow lengths displayed to scale on map
- Save any location you want: no fixed lists
- Celestial events including moon phases, apogee, perigee, solstice, equinox
- Solar eclipse details for August 12, 2026 and beyond: maps, simulator, times
- Network connection not required for rise/set time, azimuths and sun/moon position

Advanced features:

- Augmented reality view for on location scouting
- Saved location synchronization between devices and the free TPE web app
- Automatic time zone detection
- Elevation above sea level
- Distance, bearing and elevation angle between any two points
- Location import/export from KML
- Magnetic north option
- Configurable timeline display
- Sun/moon transit times
- 'Golden hour' time/duration
- Light pollution overlay
- Event countdown and notifications

Geek features:

- Line of sight analysis
- Find when the sun/moon will appear from behind a hill or ridge
- Advanced visual sun and moon search
- Azimuth or altitude search priority
- New crescent moon visibility
- Distance to the visible horizon

Available map types include:

- Standard, Satellite/Hybrid, Terrain
- OpenCycleMap Topographic
- OpenStreetMap

Sunrise/sunset color forecasts are available (covering lower 48, southern Canada and Europe) with an optional subscription to the Skyfire service, available via in-app purchase.

Note:

- Maps and elevation-based calculations require a data connection, except for offline map tiles previously downloaded and stored on your device
- Topographic map data is available only between 60°N and 47°S
- Availability of map types is subject to change, due to 3rd party map service availability, terms or conditions

## Key features

- 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

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $9.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Skyfire (1-year) | $24.99 | one-time |
| Skyfire Plus (1-year) | $34.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Skyfire Plus (1-year) | $14.99 | one-time |
| Skyfire (3-months) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Skyfire Plus (3-months) | $12.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Skyfire Plus (3-months) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #31 in Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

## What do users think of The Photographer's Ephemeris?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Excellent planning tool
- 🌄 Accurate sun/moon tracking
- 📍 Useful location-based features
- 🔍 Detailed information for photographers
- 🎨 Helps create better photos

**Cons**

- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 🔍 Difficult to use interface
- 🔌 Skyfire feature not reliable
- 🗺️ Mapping issues in some areas
- 🔒 Subscription model for some features

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes when loading TPE-3D
- Logout issues with Skyfire subscription
- Inaccurate elevation data in some locations

**Most requested features**

- Add tide information
- Improve location saving and syncing
- Provide better tutorials and documentation
- Integrate with other photography apps
- Add support for more regions/countries

## Recent user reviews (10 of 370)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Forced re-purchase

*2026-05-29, version 4.15.2*

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.

### 5/5 — The BEST app!!!

*2026-05-19*

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!!!

**Developer response:** Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying the app.

### 5/5 — Indispensable for photographers

*2026-04-03, version 4.15.2*

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

### 5/5 — Amazing!

*2026-04-01, version 4.15.2*

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.

### 5/5 — Indispensable, unique

*2026-01-26, version 4.15.1*

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

### 2/5 — Skyfire not working

*2025-12-01, version 4.15.1*

Skyfire wont work after i updated the app. Yes im subscribed to it. Yes im signed in. Yes its enabled but no skyfire. WTHeck?! Its the only reason i have this app! Im out if its not fixed

### 5/5 — Photographer’sDream

*2025-11-25, version 4.15.1*

Just what I needed

### 5/5 — También para Arqueologia

*2025-11-12, version 4.15.1*

Además de su gran valor para fotografía, es útil para comprobar posibles orientaciones astronómicas de monumentos. Seria fantástico que pudiese medir en tiempo en BP o Antes de Cristo para poder utilizarla con megalitísmo.

### 1/5 — too complicated

*2025-10-17, version 4.15.1*

if you use the most basic functions, it’s useful to figure out where the sunrise sunset, moonrise, etc. is happening. And it works great for a while until I accidentally clicked on the wrong button and now I can’t figure out how to get back to the default settings, even after you delete, and reinstall the app. So now it’s useless to me. if there was a way to go back to the default settings, I would’ve given it five stars.

### 3/5 — No topographical data for cities or any way to view depth. Image was completely warped

*2025-09-24, version 4.15.1*

.

## Frequently asked questions about The Photographer's Ephemeris

### 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.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.16 — 2026-07-24

4.16
- Updated solar eclipse maps

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.

### 4.15.2 — 2026-03-20

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.

### 4.15.1 — 2025-05-05

4.15.1
- Updates the World Magnetic Model to the 2025 version for current magnetic north declination predictions

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.

### 4.15 — 2024-09-07

4.15
- Moon azimuth line is now displayed for negative elevations above -5 degrees to aid observers elevated above the local horizon and therefore able to see the Moon after standard moonset
- Open in TPE 3D and Open in Photo Transit actions are marked "Legacy" pending the forthcoming retirement of those apps.

support@photoephemeris.com

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.

### 4.14.5 — 2024-06-08

4.14.5
- Fix: include shot plan URL in sharing activities (regression)
- Fix: Add to Calendar (regression affecting iOS 17.4 and later)
- Updated activity icons

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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## More apps by Crookneck Consulting LLC

- [The Photographer's Transit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-transit/id668449546)
- [Photographer's Ephemeris 3D](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photographers-ephemeris-3d/id1152829925)
- [Insolation AR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/insolation-ar/id1585187309)

All apps by Crookneck Consulting LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/366195673

## Related topics

[tpe](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tpe) · [photo ephemeris](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/photo-ephemeris) · [skyfire](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/skyfire) · [ephemeris](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ephemeris) · [ephemeris sky](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ephemeris-sky) · [blurred light shadow](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/blurred-light-shadow) · [ephemerality](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ephemerality) · [sweetescape for photographer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sweetescape-for-photographer)

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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 2026-08-28.*