Comparison

Luminos Map vs Celestial Navigator

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

Head to head
About

Luminos Map

This app provides precise global data on sun and moon positions, sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset times. It features an interactive map and time-chart for easy visualization of celestial paths and seasonal shifts, with offline calculations for current location.

Highlights
  • Real-time Sun/Moon data
  • Sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times
  • Celestial path visualization
  • Global location search
  • Twilight data
  • Moon phase information
Features
Read full description

Enhance your outdoor adventures with Luminos Map: Twilight Nav Tool. Curious about Sunrise, Sunset, Moonrise, and Moonset times? This app has you covered. Discover precise Sun and Moon positions, plus upcoming twilight, anywhere globally. Its stunning time-chart and interactive map make rich data accessible and intuitive. Explore how sunrise/sunset times shift across seasons with customizable dates. Access real-time Sun/Moon info for any worldwide location, beyond just your current spot. Play with the map feature—tap ‘Map’ to navigate globally for detailed celestial data. Data updates automatically; switch to chart view for location specifics and refresh. Time zones adjust seamlessly to your chosen location, ensuring accuracy. Features of Luminos Map: Twilight Nav Tool: - Real-time Sun/Moon, sunrise/sunset, and moonrise/moonset data - Rise/set locations for Sun/Moon on any day - Exact Sun/Moon paths at specific times - Landscape capture tips (e.g., sunset, milky way) - Altitude and azimuth details - Solstice and equinox dates for any year - Moon phase info (name/days) - New and full moon dates - Twilight data (official, civil, nautical, astronomical) - Select locations via search or manual latitude/longitude input; adjust date/time/zone as needed. - Apple Watch users enjoy automatic location detection. Note: Calculations are offline, but internet is required for updates and searches. Offline mode supports current location data with location services on. Terms of use: https://mapnitude.com/terms-of-service ## Subscriptions ## "Luminos Map: Twilight Nav Tool" is completely free to use with all features. You can subscribe to this application to remove ads. Device subscriptions are available in these plan and will renew automatically each month, six months or year, unless cancelled. (Per month) - $0.99 (Per six-months) - $4.99 (Per year) - $8.99 Pricing shown is for the United States store. Pricing in other stores will vary. Payment for subscriptions will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase or by clicking the “Purchase / Manage Subscription. Auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. Subscription cannot be cancelled during the active subscription period More information: https://mapnitude.com/distance Privacy policy: https://mapnitude.com/privacy-policy Terms of use: https://mapnitude.com/terms-of-service

About

Celestial Navigator

This app assists with celestial navigation training by providing a perpetual almanac, star finder chart with animation, and tools for calculating lines of position and meridian passages. It can utilize device sensors for real-time chart positioning, though a marine sextant is still required for actual navigation.

Highlights
  • Perpetual almanac
  • Animated star finder chart
  • Line of position calculation
  • Meridian passage calculation
  • Real-time sensor integration
  • Celestial object data
Features
Read full description

Celestial Navigation Calculator with - perpetual Almanac - star finder chart with animation. Use phone sensor for altitude. - calculation of lines of position ( intercept/delta ) - celestial object data - meridian passage calculation - running fix support - astronomical position calculations with two or more altitude observations - Hipparchus 150 star catalog - World chart with lines and position Program can be set to use device's sensors (gyro, compass) to position the star finder chart in real time. Capture celestial object approximate altitude. Correct Altitude with a Marine Sextant reading (not included). You still need a marine sextant to do celestial navigation, but the phone sensors may be used for training. Software for iPhone and iPad, with the same features. e-book with manual and celestial navigation tutorial.

Screenshots

Luminos Map4 screens
Celestial Navigator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Luminos Map at 4.6 against Celestial Navigator's 2.0. Luminos Map also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (68% vs 43%). Celestial Navigator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Luminos Map sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Celestial Navigator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Luminos Map holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Luminos Map has 297 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Luminos Map's written reviews are positive against 43% of Celestial Navigator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Luminos Map ships an update every 3 weeks, Celestial Navigator every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Luminos Map versus Celestial Navigator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuminos MapCelestial Navigator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (297 ratings) — better2.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews67.9% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings297 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 9 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMapnitude Company LimitedOmar reis

Customer experience

Luminos Map

All ratings297 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral3.7%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral8.9%
Negative23.2%

Celestial Navigator

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

Bugs and requests

Luminos Map

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes seconds after losing
  • App crashes on launch
  • Popup in Thai, no English option
  • Does not update on Apple Watch
  • Useless on Apple Watch
Show 6 more
  • Displayed only 5 of 8 sun times on Watch
  • Won't open to your location
  • Appearance of Chinese letters
  • Failure to launch to your location
  • Does not save last location
  • App crashed from the beginning in Jun 17, 2017 update

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add Azimuth for sun/moon
  • Add option to remove ads
  • Add city search feature
  • Add input for coordinates
  • Add new moon date and time
Show 3 more
  • Regain previous features (city press for sunrise/sunset)
  • Add future time projections
  • Lock position button on map

Celestial Navigator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Luminos Map

Subscriptions3
  • Plus Upgrade$0.991 Month
  • Plus Upgrade$5.496 Months
  • Plus Upgrade$9.991 Year
None

Celestial Navigator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Luminos Map free?
Luminos Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Celestial Navigator free?
Celestial Navigator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Luminos Map or Celestial Navigator?
Luminos Map is rated higher. Luminos Map averages 4.6 out of 5 from 297 ratings, while Celestial Navigator averages 2.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Luminos Map or Celestial Navigator have ads?
Luminos Map shows ads; Celestial Navigator does not.
Which is updated more often, Luminos Map or Celestial Navigator?
Luminos Map ships an update every 3 weeks, and Celestial Navigator every 9 months. Most recently, Luminos Map was updated on September 28, 2026 and Celestial Navigator on August 12, 2026.

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