It has been quite a while since I have posted about astronomy and astrophotography. With yet another – holiday this time – weekend near the new Moon with cloudy skies, I thought it would be a good idea to write about the astronomy software I use for planning, general viewing, and imaging.

This first software post will focus on iOS applications. Future ones will cover the PC software I use. There are several iOS applications that I find very useful.

Darkness is a great app that gives you Sun and Moon rise/set times, Moon phase, and all the key twilight numbers. It is good to know astronomical twilight as that is when you can really start observing or imaging.

SkySafari is a very high-quality planetarium app for the iPad and iPhone / iPod. I use the standard version for basic object location but they also have enhanced versions that have features like telescope control. They also have Andriod versions.

Star Walk is very cool planetarium program that you can hold up to the sky and it will orient the image to show what you are looking at.

Emerald Sequoia has many interesting time-related apps. I find Observatory interesting for seeing where the Sun, Moon, and planets are on any day and time and Time which gives you exactly accurate time by contacting NTP servers.