Cedar Aim vs AstroFinder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cedar Aim
This app connects to a specialized finder device to help you precisely locate celestial objects with your telescope. It uses star pattern recognition for real-time position detection and provides intuitive guidance for fast object finding. Enjoy seamless operation without an internet connection.
- Real-time telescope position detection
- Fast star pattern recognition
- Intuitive directional guidance
- Comprehensive celestial object database
- Works with any telescope mount
- Completely local operation
- Seamless wireless connection
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Cedar Aim™ is the companion mobile app for the Hopper™ electronic finder from Clear Skies Astro. Cedar Aim helps you point your telescope precisely towards any celestial object with ease. How It Works Cedar Aim connects to your Hopper device, which captures real-time images of the sky where your telescope is pointed. By matching star patterns, Cedar Aim instantly determines your telescope's exact position in the sky. Choose your target object and follow the guidance on your mobile device to move your telescope precisely to your selection. Key Features • Real-time telescope position detection through fast star pattern recognition • Intuitive directional guidance system for fast object location • Access to comprehensive celestial object database including Messier, NGC, IC, and planetary targets • Works with any telescope mount - no motorization required • Completely local operation - no internet connection needed during use • Seamless wireless connection to your Hopper device Perfect For • Amateur astronomers seeking efficient object location • Stargazing sessions with family and friends • Astronomy educators and club outreach events • Anyone who wants to spend more time observing and less time searching Requirements • Hopper™ electronic finder device (sold separately by Clear Skies Astro) • Telescope (any mount type - no motorization required) • iOS device with GPS and WiFi capability • Clear view of the night sky Cedar Aim eliminates the frustration of traditional star-hopping by providing precise, automated guidance to thousands of celestial objects. Whether you're hunting down faint galaxies or showing Saturn to curious children, Cedar Aim ensures you'll find your targets quickly and confidently. Experience the future of visual astronomy with Cedar Aim and Hopper— where technology meets the timeless wonder of stargazing.
AstroFinder
Transform your iPhone into a telescope finder without motors or alignment stars. It identifies star patterns in real-time, displaying your aim on a red-on-black chart with a guiding arrow. Find planets, deep sky objects, and more, all while running offline.
- Real-time telescope pointing
- Plate-solving star identification
- Night-vision friendly interface
- Offline operation
- Finds planets, deep sky objects, and stars
- Alt-azimuth and equatorial modes
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**AstroFinder turns your iPhone into a plate-solving push-to finder for any telescope — no motors, no alignment stars, no setting circles.** Clamp your phone beside the scope. AstroFinder takes a short exposure of the real sky, identifies the star pattern the way a research plate-solver does, and repeats about once a second — so you always know exactly where you're pointed. A red-on-black star chart shows your aim live, and a simple arrow guides you onto whatever you want to see. **Find anything** • Planets, Sun and Moon — sorted by what's up right now • Deep sky by catalog number — Messier, NGC, IC, and more, on a keyboard-free keypad • Named stars and showpiece double stars • "Best this month" — well-placed showpieces for your location, tonight, nearest to where you're already aimed **Built for the eyepiece** • Fully night-vision friendly: red on black, dimmable below the phone's own minimum • Alt-azimuth mode for Dobsonians (no field rotation) or equatorial mode for tracking mounts • Tap any object on the chart for details, then push-to it • Optional constellation lines, labels, and progressive zoom as you close in • Works in portrait or landscape, at any mounting angle **How it works** AstroFinder mounts alongside your telescope and syncs to your eyepiece in seconds. From then on, the chart and all guidance are aligned to your scope's actual aim. Everything runs on-device — no internet needed under the stars. A one-month free trial gives you a full new-moon cycle to try it. Subscription then renews yearly; cancel anytime. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.santangeli.net/astrofinder/privacy Clear skies.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cedar Aim at none against AstroFinder's 1. Cedar Aim also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. AstroFinder sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per year. Cedar Aim asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Cedar Aim against 5.0 for AstroFinder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cedar Aim | AstroFinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 90 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Clear Skies Astro LLC | Peter Santangeli |
Customer experience
Cedar Aim
AstroFinder
In-app purchases
Cedar Aim
No in-app purchases
AstroFinder
- AstroFinder Yearly1 Month trial$12.991 Year





