Polar Scope Align Pro - Reviews, Revenue and Downloads - Apple App Store

Description

Apart from the most reliable app for polar alignment (with or without a polar scope), PS Align pro has become the astronomer's swiss-army knife with all the tools added over the years. Remember, all features & updates are free forever, the only in-app purchases are donations (tip jar).

Polar Scope Align will calculate the position of Polaris or σ Octantis in your Polar Scope reticle for your location (using your phone's GPS or manually), allowing a quick and accurate polar alignment. It is one of the few programs that are accurate in lower latitudes by correcting for atmospheric refraction (so expect results to agree only with precise software and not most simplistic "polar align" apps - see the "Accuracy" section in help for details). In the settings you can select the polar scope reticle that matches your own, from a vast collection:
iOptron old & new, Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen PF-L/Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users. If you have one not included, just ask the developer to add it!

Feature list:

-Accurate calculation of Polaris or Sigma Oct for any date and location, including effect of atmospheric refraction (and annual aberration, nutation). Most other apps do not perform precision calculations, so please only compare app readings to accurate sources (USNO, scientific software etc).
-Use device time/date/location, or enter your own, or pick from online & offline world databases via the Location Manager.
-Approximate daytime / no polarscope polar alignment tool. Great for visual use, solar imaging (inc. eclipses) and even limited short focal length astrophotography. Now with sun shadow calibration for more accuracy!
-Laser / Hop Align for nighttime alignment using a calibration star for obstructed or not visible polar star, or for improving laser align.
-Full app in red-color (or alternative green, white) night mode - tools switchable to daytime view.
-Deep Space Object (DSO) Database with 22000+ objects from several catalogs (Messier, Caldwell, NGC, IC, Herschell 400, Sharpless 2, Barnard), along with stars (Yale Bright Star) & planets. Search, apply filters, sorting, download DSS color images for all items, or get help finding them with your non-goto telescope with the Push-To function.
-Connect to and control WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts.
-Over 30 calculators useful for observing and astrophotography, from eyepiece magnification and field of view, to imaging resolution and reducers.
-Xasteria: World astro-weather report based on multiple sources, including 7Timer.
-Solar Eclipse Calculator / Simulator
-Water vapor satellite images.
-List of visible ISS and bright satellite passes.
-Moon phase & lunar Calendar with solar/lunar rise/set and twilight times.
-Wizard to calculate your reticle centering offset and correct or compensate for it.
-Zoomable reticle view and customized routines & tools: Alt-az alignment error display for mounts that calculate it after star alignment (e.g. iOptron iEQ45, CEM60), polar alignment when your scope is not in zero position (for mounts like iOptron ZEQ/CEM on which you can always access the polar scope), remember zero position on Celestron / Skywatcher / Orion etc reticles.
-Bubble level (using either gyro or accelerometer) and Compass heading, as well as magnetic declination reading.
-GPS accuracy & elevation data.
-Red/White/LED light.
-Dimming slider.
-iOptron, NexStar and Meade LX200 Star Lists.
-Support for iPhone & iPad from iOS 9 (and iPod Touch, except tools that require the compass).

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In-Apps

Tip 1x

£0.89

Tip 4x

£3.49

Tip 10x

£8.99

Screenshots

User Rating

4.89 out of 5

83 ratings in United Kingdom

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Ratings History

Reviews

Fantastic

This just works, no ads or nagging, brilliant

Great polar alignment app

Good layout, informative and easy to use.

Indispensable!

Absolutely brilliant app. Makes polar alignment of my equatorial mount an absolute doddle compared to what it used to be. The developer is very helpful too, I had made my own polar scope using low cost lenses and reticle from eBay. I enquired about adding my reticle and a couple of weeks later it was included but with extra features I hadn’t even considered. Stop struggling with the ( vague ) instructions from your telescope mount manual and get this app, I guarantee you won’t regret it. You can even use the daytime alignment feature to get your mount a hairs width from perfection while waiting for nightfall. And there’s a host of other tools.

simple

Thanks for an easy to use app

This is what an app should be like!

I am a very, very amateur astronomer. I could easily use the free version of this app which would have everything I need. But even the free version was so useful, I felt the urge to at least buy the app for all the fantastic features that are available. I can’t fault this app! Now I have it, I don’t know how I ever managed to set up my scope without it!! Thank you for making this app who ever you are!

A Review

All is good

What a find!

A comprehensive Astronomy app at a very affordable price. The push to feature is excellent for Dobs and is able to get most objects into a 32mm field of view eyepiece. Easy to mount phone on the Dob using a suction phone holder.

Packed full of information

I’ve just downloaded the app and first impressions are that it is packed full of information. From Polar alignment to weather forecasting and other very useful information. The paid-for version is inexpensive and no longer have annoying adverts at the bottom. I can highly recommend it.

An outstanding app for any astronomer

I have been using the pro version of this app for several years now and I have to say that it is by far the best app for astronomy. The attention to detail incorporated is unbelievable. A few years ago I asked if the polarscope for the Astrotrac could be added, lo and behold I was testing that new version within just weeks of my request. The functions available are too numerous to mention and of course I cannot speak about accuracy of other polar scopes but for my needs this app has proven to be by far the best. I have another function I would like to discuss with the developer and I’m sure he will listen to this suggestion as he did the last. All in all an outstanding application. David Holdaway Amateur astronomer/ Astrophotographer

Must have Astro app

The goto and hop facility is excellent, especially if you only have a tracker. For me it was the only reason for getting an iPhone.

Store Rankings

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Category Rankings

Chart	Category	Rank
Top Paid	Australia Utilities	21
Top Paid	United Kingdom Utilities	24
Top Paid	France Utilities	28
Top Paid	Czechia Utilities	40
Top Paid	Canada Utilities	80

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