Astro Locator FAQs

  • Instructions
  • Today Widget
  • Alert: Location Services Authorisation
  • Alert: Location Services Access
  • Compass & Elevation Frozen
  • Does Astro Locator use True North
Polaris (Northern):

Use Astro Locator to find North and check that there is uninterrupted visibility of Polaris and the target and the targets trajectory during the night.

Level mount using Astro Locator by holding iPhone on top of the mount and adjusting legs. (By placing the iPhone or iPad with Astro Locator on the mount, it is possible to level it by using Astro Locator as a spirit level, i.e. the elevation reading would always want to be 0)

Roughly align mount North using Astro Locator by holding iPhone against the side of the mount. (By placing the iPhone with Astro Locator along the OTA, you can then align the OTA to point north, (when the compass is at 0 / N).)

Using Astro Locator by resting iPhone on top of and in line with the OTA, adjust elevation to match latitude. (Resting the iPhone on the OTA, raising the elevation until the elevation matches the latitude value (at which point the horizontal guide line in the centre will be centred).

Polaris should now be visible in the polarscope where fine adjustments can be made for imaging or if visual only this will be near enough for pretty accurate go-to’s.

Sigma Octantis (Southern):

Use Astro Locator to find South and check that there is uninterrupted visibility of Sigma Octantis and the target and the targets trajectory during the night.

Level mount using Astro Locator by holding iPhone on top of the mount and adjusting legs.

Roughly align mount South using Astro Locator by holding iPhone against the side of the mount.

Using Astro Locator by resting iPhone on top of and in line with the OTA, adjust elevation to match latitude.

Sigma Octantis should now be visible in the polarscope where fine adjustments can be made for imaging or if visual only this will be near enough for pretty accurate go-to’s.

The Today Widget provides a quick look at the current Sunrise / Sunset and Astro Twilight information.

Tapping the information icon will launch the app.

To enable the Today Widget:-

1) Access the Today Widget screen on your device.

2) Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Edit

3) Add the Astro Locator Today View Widget to the Today View by tapping the green + button to the left of it.

4) You can arrange the order of Today Widgets by tapping and holding the three lines to the right of any active today widgets and dragging widgets up or down.

5) Tap Done at the top right of the screen.

Note: Today widget is only available in iOS 8 and later.

Astro Locator requires authorisation to access your location in order to function.

Please enable in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Astro Locator.

Astro Locator requires access to Location Services.

Please enable Location Services in Settings > Privacy.

Astro Locator requires iPhone Compass Calibration to be enabled.

If the Compass & Elevation indicators within Astro Locator appear frozen, then please enable Compass Calibration in Settings:

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services (at the bottom of the list), and then Enable Compass Calibration (this is the default).

Yes. Astro Locator uses True North.

If you need further help, please contact us via the contact option within the app. This will include data which helps us when answering your question.Thanks.