Comparison

Moon Phase Photo Maps vs Lunar Eclipse Guide

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

Head to head
About

Moon Phase Photo Maps

Explore detailed lunar maps based on actual photos, highlighting prominent features, especially along the terminator. Customize layers to reveal seas, craters, and smaller details for observers of all levels. Search for specific lunar features and adjust orientation for your viewing needs.

Highlights
  • Actual Moon phase photographs
  • Prominent features marked and named
  • Detailed maps for different observer levels
  • Customizable detail layers (seas, craters, faults)
  • Adjustable image orientation (North/South up)
  • Mirror-reversed map option
  • Searchable feature names
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Not just a Moon Map! Rather a series of actual photos of the phases of the Moon with prominent features marked and named. This makes it easy to identify features on the Moon as you are seeing them as they really are, not as an idealized representation on a map. Each Map gives priority to features on the terminator (the line between day and night on the Moon), as the low sun angle makes them stand out more. As craters recede from the terminator they become less prominent and are generally not indicated. Opening screen shows the current Moon - navigate to other phases by swiping to each side then tap to reveal the detailed map of each phase. Layers can be added or removed depending on your requirements: * For beginning observers using binoculars, just the names of seas can be revealed in Latin or English. * For telescope users, the names of craters and other major features can be revealed. * For advanced telescope users, an extra layer reveals smaller details such as Faults (F), Rilles (R) and Valleys (V). Overall Features: * 30 images of the Moon, 18 of the waxing moon, the Full Moon and then 11 of the waning Moon (there are less of these as they generally occur in the morning hours and are less often observed). * Images can be shown North up or South up depending on telescope settings and location. * Maps can be shown mirror reversed if required for your telescope orientation. * Search for major feature names of waxing and waning Moon.

About

Lunar Eclipse Guide

Plan and experience solar and lunar eclipses with detailed information, simulations, and observation tools. Discover past and future events, view visibility maps, and receive timely notifications.

Highlights
  • Eclipse calendar
  • Observing from any location
  • Eclipse simulation
  • World map with eclipse path
  • Visibility gradation map
  • Best observation places
  • Notifications
Read full description

Eclipse Guide is a comprehensive and easy-to-use app for observing solar and lunar eclipses. It provides all information you need to experience and understand any eclipse of the past and the future. ***From the developers of famous astronomical app Star Walk, winner of the Apple Design Award 2010, loved by more than 20 million users around the world*** Main features: ● Eclipse calendar with the list of solar and lunar eclipses of the past and the future. ● Observing eclipses from the user's location, from any other place, or from the best location for observation. ● Eclipse simulation with the play button to get a visual representation of the celestial event from its beginning to the end. ● World map showing the eclipse path accompanied by the info about the sun coverage and the moon altitude. ● The map illustrating the gradation of eclipse visibility. ● The list of best places for eclipse observations. ● Eclipse phases, timelines, and other core information. ● Notifications about solar and lunar eclipses. ● Share the information about eclipses with friends. The app is not limited to upcoming eclipses only - you can choose any eclipse you want to learn about and view it at home or worldwide. Advanced features:* ● Audio guide with voice notifications won’t let you miss the desired solar or lunar eclipse. It will accompany your eclipse observation process providing comments on all the stages of the phenomenon. ● Fullscreen informative maps show the visibility of an eclipse and its path. Use them to pick a good location for your eclipse observation. Zoom in and out, check the eclipse visibility for any location. ● Star spotter simulates the sky at your observing location. Find out whether the eclipse will be visible from the selected location. Quickly identify and view solar and lunar eclipses in the sky. The Star Spotter feature won't work for the devices that are not equipped with digital compass. *Advanced features should be purchased separately (via In-App Purchase). Remember: Looking directly at the Sun can cause serious eye damage or blindness. Never look at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection. Questions or suggestions for improvements: support@vitotechnology.com We are looking forward to your feedback. Get ready for the next eclipse with Eclipse Guide!

Screenshots

Moon Phase Photo Maps4 screens
Lunar Eclipse Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Moon Phase Photo Maps at none against Lunar Eclipse Guide's 1. Moon Phase Photo Maps also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (67% vs 42%). Lunar Eclipse Guide's advantage is ratings volume (786 vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 16 months). On device support and iOS requirement 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

Moon Phase Photo Maps costs $2.99 and Lunar Eclipse Guide $1.99 up front. Lunar Eclipse Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Moon Phase Photo Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lunar Eclipse Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lunar Eclipse Guide has 786 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Moon Phase Photo Maps's written reviews are positive against 42% of Lunar Eclipse Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Moon Phase Photo Maps ships an update every 16 months, Lunar Eclipse Guide every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Moon Phase Photo Maps versus Lunar Eclipse Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMoon Phase Photo MapsLunar Eclipse Guide
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.3 (4 ratings)4.6 (786 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better42.1% of reviews
Number of ratings4786 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#142 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB239 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAstrovisualsVito Technology Inc.

Customer experience

Moon Phase Photo Maps

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

Lunar Eclipse Guide

All ratings778 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive42.1%
Neutral9.2%
Negative48.7%

Bugs and requests

Moon Phase Photo Maps

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Lunar Eclipse Guide

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Incorrect eclipse visibility information
  • Simulation stops at GMT midnight
  • Localisation issues
  • Crashes during use

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more future eclipses
  • Allow custom location saving
  • Implement landscape mode
  • Expand date range for historical eclipses
  • Add ability to scrub timeline

In-app purchases

None

Moon Phase Photo Maps

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Lunar Eclipse Guide

One-time1
  • Advanced Eclipse Calendar$0.99

Questions

Is Moon Phase Photo Maps free?
Moon Phase Photo Maps costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lunar Eclipse Guide free?
Lunar Eclipse Guide costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Moon Phase Photo Maps or Lunar Eclipse Guide?
Lunar Eclipse Guide is rated higher. Moon Phase Photo Maps averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Lunar Eclipse Guide averages 4.6 from 786 ratings.
Do Moon Phase Photo Maps or Lunar Eclipse Guide have ads?
Lunar Eclipse Guide shows ads; Moon Phase Photo Maps does not.
Which is updated more often, Moon Phase Photo Maps or Lunar Eclipse Guide?
Moon Phase Photo Maps ships an update every 16 months, and Lunar Eclipse Guide every 3 months. Most recently, Moon Phase Photo Maps was updated on November 6, 2026 and Lunar Eclipse Guide on November 6, 2026.

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