Astro Tools vs Eclipse Calculator 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Astro Tools
This comprehensive astronomy toolkit assists with planning, observing, and capturing celestial events. It offers tools for weather forecasting, object databases, augmented reality sky planning, astrophotography, and telescope control.
- Augmented Reality Sky Planner
- Digital Finderscope
- Astro Camera with Deep Stack mode
- RAW Photo Editor
- Plate Solver
- Telescope Mount Control
- Astro Weather Forecasts
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Every astronomy tool, in a single app. From planning a night under the stars to capturing it, Astro Tools brings your astronomy toolkit together. It combines the tools from Polar Scope Align Pro and Xasteria with new additions for observing and imaging, including an Augmented Reality Sky Planner, Digital Finderscope, Astro Camera, Photo Editor, Plate Solver, Canon Remote. PLAN YOUR NIGHT • Astro Weather: compare forecasts for clouds, seeing, transparency, wind and precipitation. Offers multi-forecast source view and animated satellite cloud maps. • Sun & Moon: browse a monthly Moon calendar, altitude graphs, rise/set and twilight times. Change date, time and location to plan ahead. • Light Pollution & Aurora: explore interactive light pollution maps and check aurora forecasts. • ISS & Satellites: find visible passes, follow satellites on sky charts and live maps, or play through the night's passes. • Home Screen Widgets: keep astronomy weather, aurora conditions and upcoming satellite passes at a glance. FIND AND OBSERVE • DSO Database: explore 22,000+ deep-sky objects, stars and Solar System targets. Search, filter and build observing lists. Mark objects as observed, add notes and export them. • Observing Charts: see altitude, Moon separation and how long a target stays high in a dark sky. Follow a target across the sky with a time slider. • Push To: attach your phone to a manual telescope and follow arrows to your target. Sync on a known star or use star-hopping for improved accuracy. • Digital Finderscope: a live, zoomable sky map follows your phone and guides you to a selected target. • AR Sky Planner: overlay a star chart on the camera view. Move through time to plan targets around your horizon and landmarks, or compose a nightscape. CAPTURE, EDIT AND PLATE-SOLVE • Astro Camera: manual controls for photos and time-lapses, Star Trail mode with optional fading, and Deep Stack / Long Exposure mode to align and stack shots from a tripod or tracker. Star Assist helps you focus; a sky overlay helps you frame. • Photo Editor: open JPEG, TIFF, RAW and FITS files or Astro Camera stacks. Develop RAW, adjust exposure, stretch, curves, color and detail, then crop and export. • Plate Solver: identify a photo's sky coordinates, field of view and orientation. Add constellation lines and object labels. • Canon Remote: Bluetooth shutter control and intervalometer for Canon cameras compatible with the BR-E1 wireless remote. ALIGN AND CONTROL • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment: align a star tracker or equatorial mount, day or night. Use the compass or calibrate azimuth with the camera on the Sun, Moon or stars. • Laser / Hop Align: polar-align with a laser or with a polar scope when the pole star is not visible. • Mount WiFi Control: control compatible iOptron and Pegasus NYX mounts, with experimental ZWO and OnStep support. • Level, Compass & Sensors: measure level and tilt, and inspect GPS and sensor data. CALCULATE AND EXPLORE • Astro Calculators: 30+ searchable calculators for observing and imaging, including field of view, magnification, exposure, focal length and image scale. Shared inputs and remembered values make comparisons easier. • Solar Eclipses: find eclipses for your location or browse upcoming total and annular eclipses worldwide. Explore path maps, check local circumstances and rehearse an eclipse in the live simulation. Whether you observe with binoculars, a manual telescope, a GoTo mount or an imaging rig, Astro Tools keeps the information and practical tools you need close at hand. Many tools are completely free. A single Pro subscription unlocks the remaining tools, with a free trial. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Eclipse Calculator 2
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Whether you're an astronomy enthusiast, eclipse chaser, or curious observer, this app lets you explore, calculate, and simulate solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, and planetary transits with remarkable detail. Discover when and where future eclipses will be visible, how they will appear from your location—or anywhere else on Earth—and explore historical events spanning centuries. From global visibility maps to detailed local circumstances, everything you need to plan and enjoy these extraordinary astronomical events is at your fingertips. Key Features: • Complete database of all solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, and planetary transits from 1900 to 2100, with an optional extension covering 1550 to 2300. • Detailed calculations of the general circumstances for every event, including global visibility maps. • Accurate local circumstances for any location worldwide, including contact times, duration, Sun or Moon altitude, and other observational data. • Interactive maps showing eclipse visibility and local conditions. • Realistic simulations of eclipses and planetary transits from your chosen observing location. • Animated simulation of the Moon's shadow crossing Earth's surface during solar eclipses. • Animated simulation of the Moon passing through Earth's shadow during lunar eclipses. • Choose any observing location using GPS, a built-in location database, or manual coordinates. • Lunar limb profile and Baily's Beads calculations for advanced eclipse observation. • Sky simulation during totality. • Continuous GPS tracking with live updates of contact times—ideal for observing from moving locations such as ships. • Add eclipses and planetary transits directly to your personal calendar. • Built-in countdown timer for upcoming events.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Eclipse Calculator 2 at none against Astro Tools's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Astro Tools sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Eclipse Calculator 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Astro Tools | Eclipse Calculator 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 88 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dimitrios Kechagias | Eduardo Masana |
In-app purchases
Astro Tools
- Astro Tools Pro Monthly3 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Astro Tools Pro 6 Months3 Days trial$2.996 Months
- Astro Tools Pro Annual3 Days trial$4.991 Year
Eclipse Calculator 2
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Astro Tools free?
Is Eclipse Calculator 2 free?
Do Astro Tools or Eclipse Calculator 2 have ads?
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