Eclipse Run vs Light Pollution Map
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Eclipse Run
Plan your perfect viewing spot for upcoming solar eclipses. Get detailed maps, duration estimates, weather forecasts, and driving directions. Receive real-time alerts as you approach and enter the path of totality.
- Eclipse path mapping
- Totality duration estimation
- Weather forecasts
- Driving directions via Maps
- Real-time totality zone alerts
- Plan Ahead bonus eclipse information
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Eclipse Run lets you pick the best spot for you to experience—live and in person!—Available in two languages (English and Spanish) it covers the eclipse of August 12th 2026 (From Iceland to Spain), and with Plan Ahead you get a bonus eclipse, that of August 2nd 2027. This app shows maps marking the zone where you can see the total eclipse. In the middle of the zone, is the line of maximum totality (over 2 minutes, depending on the location) The app now gives you the approximate duration of the eclipse at all spots within the zone of totality. The maximum totality for the bonus eclipse is over 6 minutes. You just hold your finger on various spots at intersections between this line of maximum totality and a road. A dot appears. Next, by tapping on that dot, you can learn what the weather will be like at your desired location. Plus you’ll get detailed driving instructions via Maps. On your journey, Eclipse Run gives you alerts when you enter the zone of totality, and when you cross the line of maximum totality. It’s easy to understand. It will help you experience this miracle of nature—totally! The Plan Ahead feature, will give you even more information, such as historical average cloud cover and more!
Light Pollution Map
Visualize sky brightness data, including VIIRS and SQM measurements, to understand light pollution levels. Explore various overlays like cloud coverage, aurora forecasts, and observatory locations. Offers offline access to essential maps.
- VIIRS, Sky Brightness, World Atlas, Cloud, Aurora layers
- Color blind friendly color options
- Cloud animation
- SQM/SQC readings submission
- International dark sky parks overlay
- Offline mode
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The map displays VIIRS/World Atlas/Clouds/Aurora/IAU observatories and the user SQM measurements. The primary use is to show VIIRS/DMSP data in a friendly manner, but over time it also included some other interesting overlays that concern light pollution like SQM/SQC, World Atlas 2015 zenith brightness, clouds, aurora and IAU observatories. If you have a permanent SQM reader installed you can add it to the map by sending me an e-mail. Please send comments and requests for new features via email (look under help) Functionalities: - VIIRS, Sky Brightness, World Atlas 2015, Cloud coverage and Aurora forecast layers - VIIRS and Sky Brightness layers can be displayed in color blind friendly colors - Road & Satellite base maps - Cloud animation for the last 12 hours - Get detail radiance and SQM values from layers at a click. For Sky brightness/World Atlas 2015, you also get Bortle class estimation. - SQM, SQM-L, SQC, SQM-LE, SQM readings submitted by users - International dark sky parks overlay - Submit your own SQM (L) readings - Observatories layer - Save your favorite locations - Distance measurement tool with azimuth angle report - All-sky view of light pollution with real horizon - Offline mode (Sky brightness map and a base map are saved to your device, so it will be displayed when you are offline)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Eclipse Run at Free against Light Pollution Map's $4.99. Light Pollution Map's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Eclipse Run is free to download; Light Pollution Map costs $4.99 up front. Eclipse Run sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Light Pollution Map asks for nothing beyond the download.
Light Pollution Map holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 46 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Eclipse Run's written reviews are positive against 57% of Light Pollution Map's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Eclipse Run ships an update every 6 weeks, Light Pollution Map every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Eclipse Run | Light Pollution Map |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 3.9 (12 ratings) | 4.1 (46 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.5% of reviews — better | 57.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 46 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #35 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Martine Habib | Jurij Stare |
Customer experience
Eclipse Run
Light Pollution Map
In-app purchases
Eclipse Run
- Plan Ahead$1.99
Light Pollution Map
No in-app purchases







