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Solar Compass app for iPhone and iPad


4.6 ( 9456 ratings )
Photo & Video Navigation
Developer: Brian Halpin
2.99 USD
Current version: 2.2, last update: 3 years ago
First release : 27 Apr 2013
App size: 18.33 Mb

Solar Compass is a sun position tool that graphically predicts the position (Azimuth, Elevation) of the Sun at any time of day for any date, at any location. It also displays sunset, sunrise and twilight phases.

Solar is an ideal tool for photographers, film and location scouting, cinematographers, solar position paneling, gardening, architecture, real estate and anyone working with natural light.

Use Solar to:

- Predict the exact position of the sun throughout the day.
- Plan for Golden Hour.
- Determine the sun path and every sunrise & sunset throughout the day or year.
- Observe the Summer & Winter Solstice paths for any location overlaid on maps.
- Set alerts for sunrise, sunset and golden hour.

Main Features:

- Solar compass: This mode represents the position of the sun on the compass dial, and shows the azimuth & elevation positions. The compass or sun can be rotated manually to display the exact time the sun will be at a specific position in the sky. It also rotates automatically throughout the day.
- Sun Tracker: View the daily sun elevation path.
- Sun Phases Screen: Tap on the tracker to display information on the day and twilight times (Civil, Nautical & Astronomical).
- Interactive Map: Displays the current direction of the sun, sunrise & sunset overlaid on Apple maps. Use the time machine slider to move the sun through the day. Also displayed are the summer and winter solstice sun paths. Panning the map will estimate local time and current sun position for that location.
- Magnetometer mode: This activates the devices compass to indicate the true direction of the sun, along with the location of sunrise or sunset.
- Calendar mode. Displays the day length, sunrise and sunset times for each month.
- Sunrise and Sunset times for each city.
- Display key information about the day such as length of the day, countdown until sunrise/sunset.
- Choose from thousands of locations that can be added to your favorites or detect current location via GPS.
- Tap date to change date.
- Swipe the date to advance by one day or one month.
- Double tap the compass to return sun/compass to the current position.
- Solar notifications for various phases of the sun.
- Offline usage (Excludes Map View). Solar compass works without a network connection. It uses astronomical algorithms to calculate the exact position of the suns azimuth and elevation to the exact degree.

Please Note: Solar uses the devices compass, and is therefore influenced by faraday cages (Metal enclosures in buildings or vehicles).