Atomic Spectra vs Dark Sky Meter Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Atomic Spectra
This reference app provides detailed information on strong line atomic emission spectra within the visible range. Users can search for elements by name, symbol, or atomic number and inspect individual spectra lines. It offers interactive features to visualize and navigate spectral data.
- Visible range spectra (380-740nm)
- Search by element name, symbol, or atomic number
- Sort by name, symbol, or spectra line count
- Inspect individual spectra lines
- Interactive spectrum visualization
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Reference app for Strong Line Atomic Emission Spectra in the visible range of 380-740nm. Can search by element name, symbol, or atomic number. Sort by name, symbol, or count of spectra lines. Drill down to an element and inspect the individual spectra lines. Tap on the line to show it in the spectrum; tap on the spectrum to scroll to that line.
Dark Sky Meter Pro
This app uses your iPhone's camera to measure sky brightness, providing scientific readings for light pollution. Track measurements, compare sites, and plan stargazing with cloud forecasts and astronomical data.
- Sky brightness measurement (SQM, Bortle, NELM)
- Device-specific calibration
- Save and sync measurements locally
- Export data to CSV
- Cloud forecast for planning
- Sky quality map comparison
- Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase data
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Dark Sky Meter Pro turns your iPhone’s camera into a sky brightness meter. Point at the night sky to get scientific readings in SQM (magnitudes per square arcsecond) and Bortle scale, plus NELM (naked-eye limiting magnitude) and an estimate of visible stars—so you can track light pollution and compare sites. Measure One-tap measurement: cover the lens for a dark frame, then point at the sky. Results in seconds. Device-specific calibration (zero point) for better accuracy; optional FOV setting (default 20° for SQM-style comparison). Readings include location and time for your records. My Data Save measurements locally and, with Sign in with Apple, sync across your devices. Export to CSV for analysis or sharing. Review history with SQM, Bortle, NELM, and location. Clouds Simple cloud forecast for your location so you can plan when to go out. Map See your (and optionally others’) measurements on a map to compare sky quality by place. Info Sunrise, sunset, and darkness window; moon phase, moonrise, and moonset for your location. Built for stargazers, astrophotographers, researchers, and anyone curious about light pollution and dark skies. No extra hardware—just your iPhone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Atomic Spectra at 100% against Dark Sky Meter Pro's 0%. Atomic Spectra also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). Dark Sky Meter Pro's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 19 months) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Atomic Spectra costs $1.99 and Dark Sky Meter Pro $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Atomic Spectra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Atomic Spectra's written reviews are positive against 0% of Dark Sky Meter Pro's.
Atomic Spectra ships an update every 19 months, Dark Sky Meter Pro every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Atomic Spectra | Dark Sky Meter Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 2.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #194 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jim Haungs | DDQ |
Customer experience
Atomic Spectra
Dark Sky Meter Pro
In-app purchases
Atomic Spectra
No in-app purchases
Dark Sky Meter Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Atomic Spectra free?
Is Dark Sky Meter Pro free?
Which has better reviews, Atomic Spectra or Dark Sky Meter Pro?
Do Atomic Spectra or Dark Sky Meter Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Atomic Spectra or Dark Sky Meter Pro?
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