Luminos vs SkySafari 8 Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Luminos
This astronomy companion app, after 12 years of updates, is being retired. A more advanced version, Luminos Pro, is available with new features and ongoing support. This version remains accessible for existing users.
- Astronomy software
- 12 years of updates
- Retired version
- Advanced version available (Luminos Pro)
- Continued support for existing customers
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Thank you for being a part of my journey with Luminos! As I strive to bring you the best in astronomical software, I want to let you know that, after 12 years of updates, this version of Luminos will be retired in 2023. But there's exciting news: I've developed Luminos Pro, an advanced version that offers even more amazing features and updates. To continue providing support and updates to my existing customers, this version will stay available in the App Store for now. I invite you to explore my latest features and designs in Luminos Pro and join me on this continuing adventure. See you in the stars! Clear skies, - John
SkySafari 8 Pro
This advanced astronomy app provides a comprehensive database for identifying celestial objects and planning observations. It offers telescope control, augmented reality, and tools for simulating the night sky through time.
- Extensive astronomical database
- Telescope and camera control
- Augmented reality sky view
- Time travel simulation
- Event finder
- Image import and basic editing
- Night vision mode
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SkySafari 8 Pro sets a new standard for mobile astronomy. Built on the most complete astronomical database ever put on a phone, it delivers unmatched accuracy, powerful observing and planning tools, seamless telescope and Alpaca camera control, and a beautifully refined interface. Whether you're exploring from your backyard or planning an all-night session, SkySafari 8 Pro gives you the clarity, precision, and reliability that serious observers depend on. What’s New in Version 8 + UI Themes - Customize your experience with five new UI color themes. Instantly change the look of the app with a fresh visual palette. + ASCOM ALPACA Camera Support - Connect and control ALPACA-compatible astronomy cameras directly from SkySafari. + SmartEye Support - Seamless integration with SmartEye for enhanced imaging workflows. + Image Gallery - Import your own images from AstroBin, FITS files, local storage, URLs, or an ALPACA camera. Includes basic editing tools. + Plate Solving - Quickly plate-solve imported images and place them directly onto the sky chart. + Lunar Surface Outlines - Explore the Moon like never before with detailed outlines for maria, craters, mountains, and more. + Appulses in Events Finder - Find precise moments when the Moon or planets pass close to the Pleiades, other planets, or stars of a chosen magnitude. Also includes transit and occultation search capabilities. + Rotatable FOV Indicator - Rotate the field of view to any angle - perfect for matching your camera orientation. + Observing Conditions (Premium) - Get observer-focused hourly forecasts, including best viewing windows, seeing index, and sky quality metrics. If you're new to SkySafari 8 Pro, here’s what you can do: + Point & Identify - Hold your device to the sky and instantly identify stars, constellations, planets, satellites, and more. + Travel Through Time - Simulate the sky up to 5 million years backward or forward. Animate meteor showers, conjunctions, eclipses, and other events. + Telescope Control - Control your telescope and manage your observing sessions with advanced planning and logging tools. Supports ASCOM ALPACA, INDI, and StarSense Explorer. + Events Finder - Use the powerful search engine to find upcoming astronomical events visible from your location - tonight or far into the future. + Cloud Sync (Optional) - Securely back up observing data to LiveSky and access it across your devices or through LiveSky.com. + Augmented Reality (AR) Mode - View the sky with an AR overlay for an immersive experience. + Night Vision Mode - Preserve dark-adapted vision while you observe. + Orbit Mode - Leave Earth behind and fly through the solar system. + Galaxy View - See where deep-sky objects lie within the Milky Way. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.livesky.com/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Luminos at $19.99 against SkySafari 8 Pro's $34.99. Luminos also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). SkySafari 8 Pro's advantage is chart position (#32 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, 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
Luminos costs $19.99 and SkySafari 8 Pro $34.99 up front. SkySafari 8 Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Luminos asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Luminos against 4.7 for SkySafari 8 Pro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 808 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Luminos's written reviews are positive against 50% of SkySafari 8 Pro's.
Luminos ships an update every 2 weeks, SkySafari 8 Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Luminos | SkySafari 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 — better | $34.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.7 (808 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 808 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #32 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 930 MB | 2.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Wobbleworks LLC | Simulation Curriculum Corp. |
Customer experience
Luminos
SkySafari 8 Pro
Bugs and requests
Luminos
Reported bugs
4 issues- Motion tracking and compass not working properly
- Saved telescope settings erased after updates
- Slow response times and location detection issues
- Inconsistent behavior when tapping on objects
Requested features
8 requests- Add historical constellations
- Integrate national borders when searching
- Include exoplanets information
- Improve motion tracking and orientation
- Add observation forecast based on weather conditions
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- Provide automatic sky rotation to match the real-time view
- Enhance moon surface details and shadows
- Add ability to center on objects while in orbit mode
SkySafari 8 Pro
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Luminos
No in-app purchases
SkySafari 8 Pro
- SkySafari Premium Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- SkySafari Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year






