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The Photographer's Ephemeris for Android

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Editors’ Review

Download.com staff

The Photographer's Ephemeris, by Crookneck Consulting, is a planning tool that helps outdoor photographers predict natural light and celestial positions for any location. It uses a map-centered interface plus a celestial calculator to show azimuths, altitudes, and event times for chosen dates and places. The app surfaces timing and directional data so photographers can scout lighting scenarios in advance. It targets landscape, travel, and architectural shooters who depend on precise on-location light forecasts.

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The app draws directional lines and position markers directly on map tiles so photographers can inspect sightlines before arriving. Colored lines mark sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset, and a thin line shows the sun's current bearing. The interface supports multiple map styles, including Satellite and Terrain, letting users compare photographic sightlines against real-world imagery. The app requires Google Maps and Google Play Services for map rendering on Android devices.

Map overlays translate celestial geometry into on-the-ground sightlines

Elevation-aware math refines when light becomes visible behind terrain

The tool compensates for observer height, surrounding elevation, and atmospheric refraction to calculate when the sun or moon will appear above a horizon feature. It also computes shadow lengths to scale and reports twilight in civil, nautical, and astronomical phases. Moon phase percentage and illumination data are available for lunar planning, which helps schedule shoots that depend on moonlight or precise shadow timing.

Calculations work offline, but map tiles and advanced visuals need connectivity

Sun and moon position calculations run without a data connection, while map displays and elevation lookups rely on an active connection or cached tiles. Open map types can be cached for later use. The app benefits from a device magnetometer for map auto-rotation and a stable connection for high-resolution map styles. Milky Way–specific visualizations are limited in the classic Android build compared with the developer's 3D and web versions.

Made for location-focused professionals, with a short learning curve for serious hobbyists

The map-first workflow serves as a digital scout that aligns calendar planning with place-based sightlines, and automatic time zone and daylight saving detection removes manual offset calculations for international shoots. Although the app rewards careful planning more than quick point-and-shoot work, photographers who regularly schedule shoots outdoors gain direct practical value from its precise, place-specific timing and direction information.

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The Photographer's Ephemeris 0/1

  • Pros

    • Map overlays show sun and moon bearings directly on satellite and terrain tiles
    • Elevation compensation and scale shadow calculations improve timing accuracy
    • Calculations run offline; select map tiles can be cached for later use

  • Cons

    • Requires Google Play Services and Google Maps for full map rendering
    • Milky Way visualization is limited in the classic Android build
    • Relies on device magnetometer for map auto-rotation and orientation

Bottom Line

A precise Android planning companion best suited to photographers who plan shoots in advance

Available for Android and developed by Crookneck Consulting, The Photographer's Ephemeris pairs location-aware calculations with map overlays, a combination cited by National Geographic and Outdoor Photographer. That reception underlines its suitability for creators who plan complex outdoor shoots; casual photographers who prefer quick, in-camera timing aids may find the map-based approach more detailed than they need.

Icon of program: The Photographer's Epheme…

The Photographer's Ephemeris for Android

Download now

Used The Photographer's Ephemeris for Android?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
1.7.7
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Android
Operating System
Android 9.0
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
1,161
Downloads Last Week
4
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Developer’s Description

By Crookneck Consulting
The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) helps to plan outdoor photography shoots.

The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) helps to plan outdoor photography shoots.

TPE is a map-centric sun and moon calculator: see how the light will fall on the land, be it day or night, for almost anywhere on earth. Our Android app provides all the basic functionality you need to plan sun and moon photography.

Ideal for landscape, nature, travel and outdoor photographers, TPE's map-based approach means you can search for any place name on the planet or position the map pin exactly where you want it.

Advanced features include: automatic time zone and elevation detection, correction for atmospheric refraction and height above the horizon. You can even determine when the sun or moon will be visible from behind nearby hills and mountains.

Five map types are offered, including two topographic maps, ideal for landscape and nature photographers. Open Street Map and Open Cycle Map Topographic offer automatic offline support: any tiles you view are automatically cached for offline use.

Key features:

- Time and direction of sunrise and sunset

- Time and direction of moonrise and moonset

- Phase of the moon and % illumination

- Times of civil, nautical and astronomical twilight

- Graphical display on a map (Standard, Satellite/Hybrid, Terrain, Open Street Map, Open Cycle Map Topographic)

- Rotate and tilt the map for the optimal view

- Compass-based auto-rotation of the map

- Movable map pins - drag and drop the pin exactly where you need it

- Search for locations by place name or enter coordinates directly

- Save any location you want - no fixed lists

- All features available in both portrait and landscape mode

- Does not require network connection for rise/set time, azimuths and sun/moon position

Advanced features:

- Automatic time zone detection for any location on earth

- Determines elevation above sea level

- View azimuth and altitude of sun/moon for any time of day/night

- Distance, bearing and elevation angle between any two points

- Import and export locations to/from KML

- Offline use with Open Street Map and Open Cycle Map Topographic maps

- Light pollution map overlay

Geek features:

- Find when the sun/moon will appear from behind a hill

- Compensation for atmospheric refraction

- Compensation for elevation above the horizon

Note:

- This app has a limited feature set relative to its iOS equivalent: please review this listing carefully to ensure that the features you need are included prior to purchasing

- Maps and elevation-based calculations require a data connection to function (execpt for Open Street Map and Open Cycle Map Topographic, which are cached to your device automatically)

- Locations outside ±80' latitude (very far north and south) are unsupported

- Map auto-rotate requires a compatible device (with magnetometer and accelerometer)

- Requires that you have Google Play Services and Google Maps installed on your device. Most devices already have both installed. TPE will prompt you to install these if they are missing.

End user license agreement: http://photoephemeris.com/android-eula

Please visit http://photoephemeris.com/support#android_support if you have any trouble installing Google Play Services.

TPE for desktop has been a favorite of photographers around the world for years. Now you can carry it with you.

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