Choose a visible body, then center the reticle on its real position and hold the phone steady during the countdown.
Never stare at the Sun or use binoculars, a telescope, or another optical magnifier for alignment.Live alignment
Point the top of your phone toward the scene. Bearings use true north.
Move the camera and subject pins on the map first.Local and private
Save a camera position, subject direction, date, time, and map style for later.
App guide
Golden Hour Planner helps you plan exactly where the Sun and Moon will appear for any location, date and time. You can plan on the map and then verify the alignment through the live AR camera.
Open the Map screen.
Move the camera pin to where you plan to stand.
Move the subject pin onto the building, mountain, landscape or object you want to photograph.
The line between the pins shows the shooting direction and distance.
Use the location button to move the camera pin to your current GPS position.
Pinch with two fingers to zoom. Twist two fingers to rotate the map. Tap the north-arrow button to return the map to north-up.
The lines always use true geographic bearings, even when you rotate the map.
Thin yellow and orange lines show sunrise and sunset for the selected date. Thin light-blue and dark-blue lines show moonrise and moonset.
The thicker yellow and blue lines show the exact Sun and Moon direction at the selected time. Drag the timeline and these two live lines move.
A dashed live line means the body is below the geometric horizon. Turn on Show Sun/Moon size in Layers to display its real apparent width.
In Layers, turn on Extend lines behind camera. Move the camera pin along the extended line while keeping the subject pin fixed.
Open the planning menu, choose Shadow, and enter the object's height in meters.
The purple subject pin represents the object casting the shadow. A dark line starts at that pin and points directly away from the Sun.
Move the timeline to see the shadow change direction and length. A low Sun creates a long shadow; a high Sun creates a short one.
The calculation assumes level ground and direct sunlight. Nearby terrain, buildings, trees, clouds, and local ground slope are not simulated.
Selected day
Position the plan
Search for an address, landmark, mountain, park, or decimal coordinates.
Search runs only when you press Search.
Search results © OpenStreetMap contributors
Map appearance
Travel through light
Camera to subject
Projected heights assume camera and subject ground are level. Terrain elevation is not yet included.
Composition search
Find dates when the selected body follows the camera-to-subject direction at the height you want.
Search uses astronomical geometry and a level camera/subject plane. Check terrain and access on location.
Return to this setup
Planner preferences
Sky AR
For best accuracy, calibrate the compass away from cars, railings, magnets, and large metal structures. AR positions are planning guides, not survey measurements.