Comparison

Astrodate vs Polar Scope Align Pro Watch

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

Head to head
About

Astrodate

This app provides the current date and time in multiple specialized formats, including Julian Date, Modified Julian Date, and Truncated Julian Date. It also offers standard Gregorian ISO 8601 formats, eliminating the need for manual calculations. Ideal for astronomers and those requiring precise timekeeping across various systems.

Highlights
  • Julian Date conversion
  • Modified Julian Date
  • Truncated Julian Date
  • Dublin Julian Date
  • Gregorian ISO 8601 format
  • Astronomical date calculations
Features
Read full description

Astrodate provides the current date and time in Julian Date, Modified Julian Date, Truncated Julian Date, and Dublin Julian Date as well as normal Gregorian ISO 8601 numeric date time formats. This is particularly useful for astronomers and others who need these various date formats, and don't want to do the calculations.

About

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch

This app provides precise polar alignment for telescopes, with or without a polar scope. It includes a comprehensive suite of astronomical tools, such as a DSO database, calculators, and mount control. An accompanying watch app offers real-time alignment data and weather information.

Highlights
  • Precise polar alignment calculation
  • Polar scope reticle selection
  • Daytime/no polarscope alignment
  • Deep Space Object database
  • Astronomical calculators
  • iOptron mount control
  • Apple Watch companion app
Features
Read full description

Polar Scope Align Pro is a complete toolkit for amateur astronomers: accurate polar alignment, deep-sky observing, astro weather, push-to/manual GoTo, iOptron mount WiFi control, widgets and more. All features and updates are free forever. Optional in-app purchases are just tips to support development. POLAR ALIGNMENT • Calculates Polaris or σ Octantis position for 30+ reticle types: iOptron, Astro-Physics, Takahashi, Skywatcher, Vixen, Celestron, Orion, Astrotrac and others* • Atmospheric refraction correction for accuracy at any latitude • Works with or without a polar scope ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment: works day and night with just your phone's gyro • Camera Azimuth Calibration: use sun/moon/stars to calibrate gyro and align accurately without a compass, immune to magnetic interference • Laser / Hop Align: nighttime alignment for maximum accuracy with a laser or a scope with no view of Polaris • Live sky map guides you to the celestial pole in real time • Sun Finder helps you point your filtered telescope/telephoto to the Sun PUSH TO (MANUAL GOTO) • Attach your phone to any scope and convert it to manual/push GoTo • Select from a large database and use direct push or more accurate hop-to mode DEEP SKY OBJECT DATABASE • 22,000+ objects with altitude graphs, rise/set times and more info • Save and manage curated observing lists • Filter, search, sort and push to any target XASTERIA ASTRO WEATHER • Hourly astronomy forecasts from 7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway and Apple Weather, plus a configurable Multi-source forecast • Animated satellite Cloud Map with recent EUMETSAT and NASA infrared imagery • Aurora forecasts • ISS and bright satellite passes with an All Sky night chart, individual sky charts, live map tracking, and Tiangong and Hubble views • Solar eclipse tool with past and future eclipses, live mode with audio cues • Experimental eclipse camera for automated photoshoots of partial phase, diamond ring, Baily's beads, totality bracketing • Interactive light pollution map using World Atlas and recent VIIRS data CALCULATORS & TOOLS • 30+ calculators for observing and astrophotography • Moon phase calendar with altitude graphs • Solar eclipse calculator and simulator • Bubble level & Compass IOPTRON WIFI MOUNT CONTROL • Connect to WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts (HAE, HAZ, HEM, CEM, GEM and more) • Automatic date/time/location setup • Switch between Equatorial and Alt-Az on mounts that support both • Move & Sync: directional control with a live sky map • Point GoTo: aim your phone at a patch of sky and send the mount there • Current Point Query: find out what the mount is pointing at • GoTo any object from the DSO Database NIGHT-FRIENDLY • Red, green or white night mode with dimmer WIDGETS • Configurable Tonight and Multi astronomy weather forecasts • Upcoming bright satellite passes • Aurora probability, activity forecast and NOAA aurora map APPLE WATCH COMPANION APP • Graphic & text display of polar alignment • Weather view • Bubble level • Day alignment & push/hop-to assist • Moon/Sun rise/set/twilight/phase • Weather Tonight widget/complication * Full list of supported reticles: Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, iOptron, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser / MSM, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen PF-L/Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users.

Screenshots

Astrodate1 screens
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Polar Scope Align Pro Watch at 4.9 against Astrodate's 1.0. Polar Scope Align Pro Watch also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (51 vs 1). Astrodate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and price ($0.99 vs $4.99). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Astrodate costs $0.99 and Polar Scope Align Pro Watch $4.99 up front. Polar Scope Align Pro Watch sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Astrodate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align Pro Watch has 51 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Astrodate ships an update every 12 months, Polar Scope Align Pro Watch every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Astrodate versus Polar Scope Align Pro Watch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAstrodatePolar Scope Align Pro Watch
Price$0.99 — better$4.99
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.9 (51 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings151 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlying Titans, Inc.Dimitrios Kechagias

Customer experience

Astrodate

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch

All ratings51 ratings
Positive98.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Astrodate

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch

One-time3
  • Tip 1x$0.99
  • Tip 4x$3.99
  • Tip 10x$9.99

Questions

Is Astrodate free?
Astrodate costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Polar Scope Align Pro Watch free?
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Astrodate or Polar Scope Align Pro Watch?
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch is rated higher. Astrodate averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Polar Scope Align Pro Watch averages 4.9 from 51 ratings.
Do Astrodate or Polar Scope Align Pro Watch have ads?
Neither Astrodate nor Polar Scope Align Pro Watch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Astrodate or Polar Scope Align Pro Watch?
Astrodate ships an update every 12 months, and Polar Scope Align Pro Watch every 6 weeks. Most recently, Astrodate was updated on September 10, 2026 and Polar Scope Align Pro Watch on September 26, 2026.

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