Dark Skies: Astrophotography

Nathan Stryker

In-app purchases

About this app

Dark Skies is a focused astrophotography planner built to answer one practical question: is tonight worth shooting?
Find darker places, compare upcoming nights, and turn forecasts, Moon conditions, darkness, and astronomy data into a clear plan for Milky Way, Moon, meteor, star, and night-landscape photography.
DISCOVER DARKER PLACES
Explore satellite-measured light and nearby campgrounds to find locations that may offer better shooting conditions.
Review:
• Measured light
• Distance
• Facility type
• Managing agency
• Nearby campground options
Satellite-measured light is not the same as sky quality, and nighttime access can vary. Dark Skies gives you useful planning evidence while reminding you to verify access and local conditions before traveling.
KNOW WHAT TONIGHT OFFERS
Tonight gives you a clear Night Plan with:
• A simple nightly score
• Your recommended shooting window
• Moon illumination and timing
• Suggested celestial targets
• Lens guidance
• Weather and dew-risk notes
• A quick comparison with stronger upcoming nights
FIND YOUR BEST NIGHTS
Best Nights scores upcoming opportunities so you can quickly see which nights are worth planning around.
Compare:
• Usable darkness
• Cloud cover
• Moonlight
• Shooting-window timing
• Weather conditions
• Atmospheric proxies
• Concise forecast guidance
STAY READY IN THE FIELD
Field Mode provides a red-on-black display designed for use under the night sky, with:
• Live countdowns
• Current darkness conditions
• Moon and Galactic Core status
• Offline sky and Moon timing
• Quick access to sky guidance and exposure tools
• A screen that stays awake while you shoot
PLAN THE SHOT
Dark Skies includes focused tools for DSLR, mirrorless, and film photographers:
• Milky Way and Galactic Core planning
• AR sky guidance for framing night-sky photos
• Moon phase, rise, set, and visibility tools
• Meteor shower activity and peak timing
• Astronomical twilight and dark-window timing
• Nightly weather forecasts with cloud details
• Star exposure calculator
• Balanced and NPF-based exposure guidance
• Maximum shutter-speed guidance to reduce unwanted star trails
• Custom camera and lens profiles
• Saved shooting locations
• Android widgets
• Offline Moon, Milky Way, and darkness timing
SIMPLE BY DESIGN
Dark Skies is built for photographers who want an answer, not another dashboard full of data.
• Free to download
• No ads
• No account required
• Privacy-first design
• Optional Pro features available
Whether you are planning your first night landscape, scouting a Milky Way composition, chasing a meteor shower, or deciding which destination is worth the drive, Dark Skies helps you spend less time comparing data and more time shooting.

What’s new

Dark Skies 5.1.2 brings a smoother, more reliable night-planning experience to Android.
Check tonight’s astrophotography conditions, moonlight, cloud cover, twilight and dark-sky windows with fewer interruptions and better overall stability.
Plan the shot. Find the dark. Get outside.