Great app for planning Milky way shots.

David Woodyatt

David Woodyatt

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David Woodyatt
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I came across the below site after stumbling over a youtube video about it. I've had a bit of a play and it appears to be a very clever app for forecasting Milky way shots. I have no affiliation with the company just thought I would post a link as it may be of use to some people. Anyone had any experience for using it long term?

http://www.photopills.com
 
Shame it's crapple only (or appears to be.)
 
True that it needs an android app, but it does work brilliantly on a Apple device. Ive started to plan out astro shots at locations I want to shoot over a year out. Fingers crossed when the time comes I get a cloudless night
 
Yep I use that - its not cheap but it is petty good especially for locating the Milky Way. Other apps will do it but this is best for the MW as it doesn't show all the other constellations and stuff.
 
I've been using the app for while, it's not cheap but it's not expensive for all that it contains. It was recommended by Elia Locardi a while back so thought I'd give it a go and it comes in quite handy.
 
How does it compare to the dark / night mode on the TPE app, which also now shows the position of the Milky Way? Has anyone used both?
 
sarahhj said:
How does it compare to the dark / night mode on the TPE app, which also now shows the position of the Milky Way? Has anyone used both?
Click to expand...

Where is night mode on TPE? I can't find it anywhere. Running latest version too. Not that impressed with TPE so far to be honest - must be missing something.
 
Too dear when there are programmes like TPE and Stellarium which do the job just as well although I see that TPE isn't free any more.
 
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JulesP said:
Where is night mode on TPE? I can't find it anywhere. Running latest version too. Not that impressed with TPE so far to be honest - must be missing something.
Click to expand...

Where the date is shown on the top bar you will see a sun icon to the left of the date. Tap that and it opens a new window and you can select night mode.
 
Gaz J said:
Where the date is shown on the top bar you will see a sun icon to the left of the date. Tap that and it opens a new window and you can select night mode.
Click to expand...

Is this just on the IOS version?

I have the Android app and don't think it has a night mode (but would love to be wrong)
 
Gaz J said:
Where the date is shown on the top bar you will see a sun icon to the left of the date. Tap that and it opens a new window and you can select night mode.
Click to expand...

Ok so I've found that now but can you do a virtual reality with it and use the camera to see what's in front of you?
 
JulesP said:
Ok so I've found that now but can you do a virtual reality with it and use the camera to see what's in front of you?
Click to expand...

No idea. I use stellarium and find it far easier to see what's around the location I want to go to.
 
JulesP said:
Ok so I've found that now but can you do a virtual reality with it and use the camera to see what's in front of you?
Click to expand...

Ahh - no, I don't think you can do that in TPE. Ok, I might check out Photopills then. I got my first iOS device about 8 months ago so it wasn't previously available to me. It does sound like it has some tricks unavailable elsewhere. (y)
 
sarahhj said:
Ahh - no, I don't think you can do that in TPE. Ok, I might check out Photopills then. I got my first iOS device about 8 months ago so it wasn't previously available to me. It does sound like it has some tricks unavailable elsewhere. (y)
Click to expand...
That explains why I couldn't find it then:)
Most handy function in my view - just point the camera at the sky and it shows this sort of view of the Milky Way
 
Gaz J said:
Too dear when there are programmes like TPE and Stellarium which do the job just as well although I see that TPE isn't free any more.
Click to expand...

If it's only the night part of the app you're interested in maybe, but it has quite a few other things included which makes it reasonable for what it is.
 
This app is a bit expensive as one user mentioned above it's cost £7.99. also please let me know either this app work for all type of photography? also please tell me Is this just on the IOS version?
 
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I use it on my iPad and iPhone etc it's a very useful tool especially if your in a more polluted area when you can't always see the Milky Way with the naked eye, but know you'll be able to pull it out with the appropriate processing, plus many of the other features are handy also
 
Jase said:
If it's only the night part of the app you're interested in maybe, but it has quite a few other things included which makes it reasonable for what it is.
Click to expand...

I watched the video but it doesn't inspire me to pay up and hope that I find a use for what it can do. May be handy to have these features in one app but I haven't seen anything in it that can't be achieved by using other sources and once you're using something that does the job for you the incentive to change isn't there. Also not enough reviews on the APP store to form a general opinion.

Maybe if there was a trial version.
 
Another vote for the free Stellarium.

Dave
 
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