AsterScope Support

The transparent stargazing planner for iPhone and iPad.

Contact us: qixiaobing54673@gmail.com
We respond within 48 hours on weekdays.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Dark Sky tab shows "The operation couldn't be completed" — what's wrong?

AsterScope needs location permission to rank nearby dark-sky sites by distance. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → AsterScope and allow "While Using the App".

Why is my Tonight Score low?

Tap the radar chart on the Plan tab. Each of the five axes (Sky, Moon, Dark, Gear, Targets) has a remediation hint explaining which pillar is pulling the score down and what you can do about it.

How do I connect my GoTo telescope?

Open Settings → Telescope control → Connect mount guide. AsterScope supports LX200 (TCP/IP), Celestron NexStar, INDI, and ASCOM Alpaca over your local network. Make sure your mount and phone are on the same Wi-Fi.

Is there a subscription?

No. AsterScope is a paid app with no monthly or yearly subscription. The App Store purchase includes the core planning, weather, sky, AR, and observation log tools. Optional one-time in-app purchases add Extended and Pro Deep Sky catalogs.

I bought Pro on my old phone — how do I restore it on a new device?

Open Settings → AsterScope Pro → Restore purchases. Make sure you're signed into the same Apple ID you used originally.

Why are some deep-sky objects locked?

AsterScope's App Store purchase includes the Core catalog: planets, Moon, bright stars, and popular Messier objects. Extended and Pro Deep Sky catalogs are optional one-time catalog upgrades.

Can I use AsterScope offline?

Yes. Before heading out, tap Plan → Prepare 72h offline pack. This caches weather, events, dark-sky sites, and catalog data so the app works with zero signal in the field.

Why does the Sky chart look crowded?

Open the Chart & display drawer at the bottom of the Sky tab and toggle off Constellation lines, Equatorial grid, or adjust limiting magnitude to reduce label density.

How do I enable Red Light Night Mode?

Open Settings → Appearance → Night mode (red palette). This protects your dark adaptation during observing sessions.

AsterScope asked for Notifications — what are they used for?

Only for sky-event alerts you explicitly opt into: meteor shower peaks, Moon phases, planetary conjunctions, occultations, satellite passes, and solar transits. You control the lead time per event type.

Privacy

AsterScope does not collect personal data. Location is used only on-device to compute your tonight plan. Session logs are stored locally. No account required. No tracking SDKs. No advertising.

See the full Privacy Policy.

Data Sources and Credits