Comparison

StarTeller vs AstroNav SkyDial

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

Head to head
About

StarTeller

This app helps astrophotographers plan their imaging sessions by providing detailed visibility data for over 15,000 deep-sky objects. It calculates rise, peak, and set times, and offers features like custom horizons and telescope framing previews.

Highlights
  • 15,000+ deep-sky objects
  • Detailed visibility data (rise, peak, set times)
  • Custom horizon and telescope framing
  • Interactive sky map with AR mode
  • Moon and planet tracking
  • Offline visibility calculations
Features
Read full description

Introducing StarTeller for iOS: your personal guide to the night sky, built for astrophotographers who refuse to miss a shot. StarTeller takes the guesswork out of planning your next imaging session. With a catalog of over 15,000 deep-sky objects at your fingertips, you'll know exactly when each target rises, peaks, and sets, down to the minute, so you can make every clear night count. Whether you're chasing faint nebulae, distant galaxies, or glittering star clusters, StarTeller tells you the best night to image each object from your exact location. See how long each target will be above the horizon, check its coordinates, and preview reference images, all before you ever step outside. Built as a planning companion for your telescope rig, StarTeller helps you build a session plan around what the sky is actually offering tonight. No more scrolling forums or cross-referencing almanacs. Just open the app, pick your targets, and know exactly when to shoot them. All visibility calculations run on your device with precise astronomical math, no internet required. Reference images load online, or download them in Settings for offline use. No AI-generated answers, just deterministic astronomy math that works anywhere, including dark sites with no signal. StarTeller Features: - 15,000+ deep-sky objects across the Messier, NGC, IC, SH2, Barnard, Caldwell, Lynds, Melotte, and other catalogs - Full visibility data for every object: rise, peak, and set times, altitude arc, observing duration, nights visible per year from your location, magnitude, angular size, and coordinates in J2000 or JNow - Real reference photos for every target, so you know what you're aiming at before you set up - Search by object name, catalog ID (e.g. M42, NGC 6992), or constellation; filter and sort by type, catalog, altitude, size, and best date - Interactive sky map for any location and date, with constellation lines, star names, object paths, and an altitude grid - Altitude timeline: scrub through the night and watch any object's arc update in real time, on any night past or future - Telescope framing: save your scope and camera (focal length, reducer or Barlow, sensor size, or a direct field of view) and see exactly how a target frames up before you shoot - Custom horizon: trace your real skyline through the camera and StarTeller factors your trees and rooftops into every visibility calculation - Astronomical darkness: civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight, plus the exact dark window for tonight - Moon planning: phase, illumination, moonrise and moonset, angular size, and the next new and full moon dates - All seven planets tracked in real time, with rise, set, and peak times from your location - Set and save unlimited locations easily by using GPS, map pin, or manual coordinate entry, and keep your targets in a dedicated favorites view - AR sky mode: point your phone at the sky to align the map with the real night above you - Night vision red mode to preserve your dark adaptation in the field - Core planning works fully offline; optional image downloads for complete offline use Free includes the complete Messier catalog (110 objects) and access to all app features. Upgrade to StarTeller Pro to unlock all 15,000+ objects across NGC, IC, SH2, Barnard, Caldwell, Lynds, Melotte, and additional catalogs. Whether you're a seasoned astrophotographer or just getting started with your first telescope, StarTeller puts the entire night sky on your schedule. The sky is waiting. Show up ready.

About

AstroNav SkyDial

Visualize celestial movements in real-time with a dynamic dial showing the sun, moon, and planets. Explore upcoming astronomical events and plan your stargazing sessions.

Highlights
  • Real-time sun and moon tracking
  • Planetary movement visualization
  • Interactive sky dial
  • Event feed for stargazing opportunities
  • 48-hour forecast slider
  • Zodiac constellation identification
Features
Read full description

Track the sun, moon moving above you in real time with solar and moon rise / set. AstroNav keeps track of planetary movement as the day progresses, highlighting the sun, moon, planets, and zodiac constellations. Drawn as a single living dial, AstroNav shows that "now" is always a moment under the stars. PLAY THROUGH THE DAY Tap play and watch your day unfold — the sun climbs and sets, the moon rises, the light shifts hour by hour, each event lighting up as it passes. Or slide through a 48-hour window and jump to any date to see where the sun, moon, and planets will be. The dial, the light, and the sky move with you. WHEN TO LOOK UP The events feed knows when the sky is worth stepping outside for — the clear, dark, moonless windows best for stargazing, alongside full moons, meteor showers, conjunctions, equinoxes, and more. No alerts, no nagging; it's simply there when you open it. INTERACTIVE SKY DIAL Quickly identify celestial bodies overhead based on your current time and estimated position. Prepare your star sights before twilight. Privacy Policy: https://timespaceatlas.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

StarTeller4 screens
AstroNav SkyDial4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: StarTeller at 9 against AstroNav SkyDial's 2. On price, rating, review sentiment 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. StarTeller sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and AstroNav SkyDial sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for StarTeller against 5.0 for AstroNav SkyDial. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StarTeller ships an update every 2 weeks, AstroNav SkyDial every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
StarTeller versus AstroNav SkyDial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarTellerAstroNav SkyDial
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size178 MB108 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeryhelion LLCTimespace Atlas, LLC

Customer experience

StarTeller

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AstroNav SkyDial

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

StarTeller

One-time1
  • StarTeller Pro$9.99
2 purchases

AstroNav SkyDial

Subscriptions1
  • AstroNav Pro Annual$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • AstroNav Pro (Lifetime)$9.99

Questions

Is StarTeller free?
StarTeller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AstroNav SkyDial free?
AstroNav SkyDial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, StarTeller or AstroNav SkyDial?
StarTeller and AstroNav SkyDial are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 9 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do StarTeller or AstroNav SkyDial have ads?
Neither StarTeller nor AstroNav SkyDial shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StarTeller or AstroNav SkyDial?
StarTeller ships an update every 2 weeks, and AstroNav SkyDial every 3 weeks. Most recently, StarTeller was updated on November 5, 2026 and AstroNav SkyDial on October 31, 2026.

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