Dark Skies: Astrophotography

Plan better nights. Find darker places. Know when it is worth heading out.

Dark Skies is a focused night-photography planner built to answer one practical question: is tonight worth shooting?

See tonight’s best shooting window, compare the next 14 nights, plan around the Milky Way, Moon, meteors, weather, and darkness, then keep the essential tools ready when you arrive.

FIND DARKER PLACES

Explore a satellite-measured light map and discover nearby campgrounds from the federal recreation catalog. Compare measured light, distance, facility type, and managing agency before deciding whether a destination may be worth the drive.

Measured light is not the same as sky quality, and nighttime access can vary. Dark Skies gives you useful planning evidence while clearly reminding you to verify access and local conditions before traveling.

KNOW WHAT TONIGHT OFFERS

Tonight turns complex forecast and astronomy data into a clear Night Plan with:

• A simple nightly score

• Your recommended shooting window

• Moon illumination and timing

• Suggested celestial targets

• Practical lens guidance

• A quick comparison with stronger upcoming nights

FIND YOUR BEST NIGHTS

Best Nights scores the next 14 nights so you can quickly identify promising opportunities instead of comparing forecasts one day at a time.

Review cloud cover, darkness, Moon conditions, atmospheric proxies, and a concise forecast summary designed for photographers.

PLAN THE SHOT

Prepare for Milky Way, Galactic Core, Moon, meteor, landscape, and general night-sky photography with tools including:

• Milky Way and Galactic Core planning

• AR sky guidance

• Moon phase, rise, set, and visibility tools

• Meteor shower outlooks

• Astronomical twilight and dark-window timing

• Nightly weather forecasts

• Star exposure calculator

• Balanced and Sharper exposure modes

• DSLR, mirrorless, and film camera support

• Custom camera and lens profiles

TAKE IT INTO THE FIELD

Field Mode keeps essential timing and tools available in a red-on-black interface designed for use under the night sky. Apple Watch support helps you check key information without pulling out your phone.

SAVE THE PLACES THAT MATTER

Save observing locations, choose your active shooting spot, compare locations, and keep planning information synchronized across your Apple devices with iCloud.

Dark Skies also includes widgets and smart alerts so strong shooting conditions are easier to catch.

BUILT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS, NOT DATA ANALYSTS

Dark Skies is simpler than an all-purpose photography planner. It turns forecasts, astronomy, and location data into practical decisions about where to go, when to shoot, and what to photograph.

• Free to download

• No ads

• No account required

• Privacy-first design

• Optional Pro features available

Spend less time comparing data and more time under the sky.