Dark Sky Meter
100+
Downloads
Everyone
info
About this app
Dark Sky Meter turns your phone into a sky quality meter. Point your camera at the night sky to measure how dark it is, using the same scale as professional astronomy instruments.
How it works:
1. Cover your camera lens and capture a dark frame
2. Point the camera straight up at the sky and capture a sky frame
3. Get your results instantly
What you get:
- SQM value in magnitudes per square arcsecond (mag/arcsec²)
- Bortle scale rating (1-9) for your location
- Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude (NELM)
- Estimated number of visible stars
The app uses your phone's RAW camera sensor data for accurate readings — the same approach used by dedicated sky quality meters. Results are saved with your GPS location so you can track sky quality over
time and across different sites.
Adjustable calibration lets you fine-tune the zero point to match a reference meter for maximum accuracy.
Ideal for amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, dark sky advocates, and anyone curious about light pollution in their area.
Requires a phone with RAW camera capture support.
How it works:
1. Cover your camera lens and capture a dark frame
2. Point the camera straight up at the sky and capture a sky frame
3. Get your results instantly
What you get:
- SQM value in magnitudes per square arcsecond (mag/arcsec²)
- Bortle scale rating (1-9) for your location
- Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude (NELM)
- Estimated number of visible stars
The app uses your phone's RAW camera sensor data for accurate readings — the same approach used by dedicated sky quality meters. Results are saved with your GPS location so you can track sky quality over
time and across different sites.
Adjustable calibration lets you fine-tune the zero point to match a reference meter for maximum accuracy.
Ideal for amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, dark sky advocates, and anyone curious about light pollution in their area.
Requires a phone with RAW camera capture support.
Updated on
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About the developer
DDQ B.V.
norbert@pocket.science
Kloosterweg 1
6412 CN Heerlen
Netherlands
+31 45 203 1008
