FinderCam with Plate Solving vs SkyPlanner

M31 is located using FinderCam and shot by Daniel Mendell This app is used for finding objects in the night sky with a telescope, binoculars and the naked eye. The latest demo video was recorded on March 19, 2023 at https://youtu.be/md9LDchUuzU. In this video, I use FinderCam to find some bright stars and M42 Orion Nebula instantly. It shows the plate solving alignments that lead the user accurately to the target. How does it works? 1. Open the app and point your device camera at the night sky. 2. Tap Solve button in the app. 3. It will identify 3 stars in the camera image. Working Conditions: 1. Works in city with blocked sky view. 2. Works with partial cloudy sky. 3. Works during full or new moon. 4. Works with city light pollution. Advance use with telescope: 1. You will need a suitable holder to fix your phone to your telescope or binoculars for alignment. 2. The app contains a star map and large catalogs of celestial objects. The star map will automatically adjust to your location and time. 3. The view through the scope or bino can be aligned with the star map. 4. Tapping the Solve button displays 3 star names for plate-solving alignment giving their az-alt positions. 5. After alignment, other objects can be searched and their location is shown by a green guiding line for moving the scope. Benefits: - More stars than with the naked eye can be seen. It uses image processing to make more stars visible. - It saves you many frustrating hours finding your deep sky objects. - Attach your phone to your telescope or binocs and it can lead you to 110 Messier deep sky objects accurately, as well as to planets and bright stars, - It works in heavily light polluted cities and partial cloudy night. Requirements: - For most telescopes, you need a basic phone holder or home-made holder with 45 degree mirror. If you are using a binocular, you will need a L mount. - You may need a mount with slow motion control like a Dobsonian telescope or slow motion tripod. The app requires you to move a crosshair to the target. - Requires iOS 14 and above. Tips: - Draw a user defined area for solving by tap hold the screen and drag to draw a rectangle. Tap hold and release to remove the user define rectangle.

SkyPlanner: Your Personal Astrophotography Planner Stop guessing what's worth imaging tonight. SkyPlanner combines your real-world horizon with a massive celestial database to deliver personalized, ranked target recommendations, so every clear night counts. YOUR SKY. NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S. Most planning tools assume a perfect horizon. Your backyard doesn't have one. SkyPlanner uses your phone's camera to capture your actual horizon profile, including trees, rooftops, and hills, at each of your imaging locations. Every recommendation, every visibility window, every integration time estimate is calculated against your obstructions, not a textbook sphere. SMART RANKINGS. BETTER NIGHTS. SkyPlanner's ranking engine analyzes over 4,000 deep sky objects and surfaces the best targets for your specific date, location, and sky conditions. It factors in: Visibility window duration from your location - Moon phase and angular separation - Object altitude and atmospheric seeing - Seasonal peak imaging windows - Your personal imaging history New to an object? SkyPlanner flags targets you haven't imaged yet and surfaces ones you may never have considered. PLAN AHEAD. IMAGE SMARTER. Don't wait for clear skies to start planning. SkyPlanner's yearly visibility charts show you exactly when each object peaks from your location, so you can schedule sessions weeks in advance and never miss the optimal imaging window for a target again. Available integration time is calculated for any object, on any date, from any of your saved locations. EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE - 4,000+ deep sky objects with detailed data - Planets with apparent size, magnitude, and event tracking (oppositions, elongations) - Integrated real-time sky conditions (cloud cover, atmospheric transparency, and seeing) displayed across your entire observing night - Monthly planner with moon phase calendar and high-illumination warnings - Full search with Messier, NGC, IC, and common name support - Save favorites, log imaged objects, and add personal notes to any target SKYPLANNER PRO Take your sessions further with an optional Pro subscription: - AI-powered target descriptions tailored to your specific equipment - Personalized imaging and processing tips based on your camera, telescope, and skill level - Advanced ranking controls to tune recommendations to your preferences Whether you're imaging from a light-polluted suburb or a dark-sky site, SkyPlanner Pro gives you expert-level guidance without the guesswork. SkyPlanner is designed for astrophotographers of all experience levels, from first-light imagers to seasoned deep sky veterans. It’s a big universe. Make your plan. Privacy Policy: https://www.optickstudios.com/skyplanner-privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/