Comparison

Eclipse Explorer vs Solar System Planets

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Eclipse Explorer

Explore solar eclipses with detailed circumstances for your location between 1900 and 2100. Features countdown timers, Sun and Moon simulations, and real-time shadow mapping. Overlay weather data to avoid clouds during totality.

Highlights
  • Location-based eclipse circumstances (1900-2100)
  • Countdown timers to eclipse events
  • Sun and Moon position simulation
  • Real-time Moon shadow mapping
  • Satellite and radar weather overlays
  • Offline map functionality
Features
Read full description

Eclipse Explorer is a free mobile app that allows you to view the circumstances for solar eclipses that occur between 1900 and 2100 using your GPS defined location. It uniquely features countdown timers to eclipse events at your specific location, simulates the position of the Sun and Moon, and draws the location of the Moon's shadow on the Earth in real-time. A solar eclipse is one of nature's most amazing spectacles, however, clouds can ruin your day. Use this app to overlay satellite and radar data on the day of the eclipse to make sure you stay within the path of totality and away from the clouds! Find out exactly when the eclipse starts and finishes for your location with countdown timers. Be ready for the total eclipse in August of 2017! Free, with minor ad support. Only one full page ad will be displayed per app start, then one banner ad, which will automatically close in less than 20 seconds. Please check out my website for full details and instructions on how to use the app. http://www.solareclipseapp.com Please keep in mind this is a CPU/GPU intensive app. Recommended for phones a tablets made within the last 2 years. Full Release Notes Welcome to Eclipse Explorer version 3! Now has a beautiful material design. Multi-threaded performance improvements. Improved accuracy. Improved shadow details. Newly designed map. Map works offline. Show weather overlays on the eclipse map. Optionally, show eclipse circumstances, map, and simulation on a single screen. Your all-in-one app for the Great American Eclipse of 2017. Full version history: v3.4.1 Fixed: iOS only: Upside down orientation fix. v3.4.0 New: Lunar limb profile for improved contact times (TSE2017 only) New: Solar corona shown during total phase in eclipse simulation Improved: GPS time correction sync. (Green clock is GPS time) Fixed: Offline map does not load in some situations. v3.3.0 New: Moon's shadow speed shown in realtime or during animation, only when (ant)umbral shadow is touching Earth. New: Distance to totality/annularity or distance to eclipse centerline shown. New: Max duration of totatlity/annularity at closest point along centerline shown. New: Info ball shows click for hint. Fixed: Another timezone crash bug. Fixed: Offline map sometimes did not display after app restart. Changed: Hints last longer. v3.2.0 New: Voice cue and three cue beep audio event indications. New: Next occurring circumstance will scroll to visibility and flash in realtime. New: App user hints and tips. Fixed: Realtime tag did not appear on simulation screen when it should have. Fixed: Zoom in button did not work in certain screen orientations. Fixed: Map may not display on app restart in offline mode. Fixed: Next visible eclipse selects day-of eclipse. Fixed: Animations tags may show up circumstance page when they should not. Fixed: Certain timezones caused app crash. Improved: Realtime shadow lag. Improved: Hardened code to ensure realtime shadow and simulation start on day of eclipse. Changed: Time travel mode will now sequence to 15 seconds prior to event. Total or annular begins event is 60 seconds. v3.1.0 Added: App maintains state through restart/refresh. Added: Location Freeze mode, long press location icon to freeze manual location. Long press to unfreeze. Improved: Shadow animations while GPS is on. Fixed: Race condition when selecting certain eclipses. Fixed: Draw all eclipse lines no matter which thread completes first. v3.0.5 Fixed location change while zooming. Made circumstance page more readable / flexible Various bug fixes v3.0.4 Fixed location change while zooming. Made circumstance page more readable / flexible Various bug fixes v3.0.2 * Made map more responsive to location change touches. * Fixed version code in about page v2.0.2 Fixed: Google Maps API Key added, Google maps feature should work. Improved: Built against latest Apache Cordova and latest Android SDK. Update: jQueryMobile v1.4.5

About

Solar System Planets

Explore our solar system with interactive 3D models and detailed information about each planet. Discover celestial bodies and uncover their secrets through a user-friendly interface, perfect for students and space enthusiasts alike.

Highlights
  • Interactive 3D solar system model
  • High-resolution planet imagery
  • Detailed planet information
  • User-friendly interface
  • Educational content
  • Celestial body exploration
Read full description

Solar System Planets is designed to provide you with an unparalleled journey through the cosmos. Have you ever dreamt of traversing the vast expanses of space, visiting the planets of our solar system, and uncovering their secrets? Your dream has now become a reality, right at your fingertips. Solar System Planets is an interactive window into the universe. With its user-friendly interface and convenient navigation, users of all ages and backgrounds can embark on an educational and awe-inspiring adventure through our celestial neighborhood. Upon launching Solar System Planets, you're greeted by a visually captivating representation of the solar system. The app boasts high-resolution imagery of each planet, beautifully rendered to showcase their unique characteristics and breathtaking beauty. Whether you're a space enthusiast, a student, or simply curious about the cosmos, you'll find yourself immersed in an interface that's as easy to navigate as it is informative. The true magic of Solar System Planets lies in its interactive features. You can tap on any planet to delve deeper into its mysteries. From the scorching surface of Mercury to the icy landscapes of Neptune, each planet's detailed information is presented in a format that's both engaging and educational. Learn about their composition, orbital characteristics and interesting facts. In a world where learning and technology go hand in hand, Solar System Planets stands out as an exemplary educational tool. Whether you're using it for personal enrichment, as a supplement to your studies, or as a source of family-friendly entertainment, the app's dedication to accuracy and accessibility shines through. So, whether you're an aspiring astronomer, a lifelong learner, or someone who simply marvels at the wonders of the universe, Solar System Planets is the app you've been waiting for. Embark on a cosmic journey, tap into the depths of knowledge, and let the mysteries of the solar system unfold before your eyes. Get ready to explore, learn, and be inspired by the beauty that lies beyond our world. Privacy Policy: http://evgeniyasench.tilda.ws/privacypolicy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Eclipse Explorer2 screens
Solar System Planets4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Eclipse Explorer at 67% against Solar System Planets's 0%. Eclipse Explorer also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Solar System Planets's advantage is ratings volume (9 vs 1). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Solar System Planets sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Eclipse Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Eclipse Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solar System Planets has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Eclipse Explorer's written reviews are positive against 0% of Solar System Planets's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Eclipse Explorer ships an update every 5 days, Solar System Planets every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Eclipse Explorer versus Solar System Planets: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEclipse ExplorerSolar System Planets
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better3.1 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings19 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS10.3 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB147 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua BerlinEvgeniya Senchurova

Customer experience

Eclipse Explorer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Solar System Planets

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

Eclipse Explorer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Solar System Planets

Subscriptions3
  • One Month Premium Access3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Three Months Premium Access3 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • One Year Premium Access3 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Eclipse Explorer free?
Eclipse Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Solar System Planets free?
Solar System Planets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Eclipse Explorer or Solar System Planets?
Eclipse Explorer is rated higher. Eclipse Explorer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Solar System Planets averages 3.1 from 9 ratings.
Do Eclipse Explorer or Solar System Planets have ads?
Neither Eclipse Explorer nor Solar System Planets shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Eclipse Explorer or Solar System Planets?
Eclipse Explorer ships an update every 5 days, and Solar System Planets every 4 months. Most recently, Eclipse Explorer was updated on June 1, 2026 and Solar System Planets on July 8, 2026.

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