Cloud cover
Know the exact hours the sky opens — Stella reads cover hour-by-hour, not as one daily average.
StellaKnow what’s worth the drive tonight
NewIntroducing Stella Destinations
Know what’s worth going outside for tonight.
Stella reads the sky for you — clarity, moonlight, darkness, and the targets worth chasing — then turns it into one plan: where to go, when the window opens, and what to point at.
Also oniPadMacApple WatchCarPlay
328+DARK-SKY DESTINATIONS
53COUNTRIES MAPPED
1–9LIVE BORTLE LAYER
Moonlight
12%sets 11:04
Nearest dark site
Bortle 238 min
Aurora watch
Kp 5active
Interactive 3D Model
TonightGreat night
79Tonight score
Best window9:32 PM – 1:48 AM
Clouds8%
TransparencyAbove avg
SeeingGood
Moon12% · 11:04
Tonight score & best window Bortle dark-sky map Live Activities & alerts Point-and-identify AR 14 bookable stays
Built on trusted sky data
- NASA
- NOAA SWPC
- Celestrak
- The Space Devs
- DarkSky International
- Open-Meteo
How it works
From couch to clear sky in three steps.
Stella turns a pile of forecasts into one decision — then takes you from the verdict to the dark site to the stars themselves.
- 1
Check tonight's score
Open Stella and one number tells you if the sky is worth it — clouds, transparency, seeing, moonlight, and darkness, weighed together.
- 2
Find your dark site
The Bortle dark-sky map shows the darkness near you and routes you to the closest genuinely dark spot — parks, reserves, and observing sites.
- 3
Point & identify
Raise your phone and the AR sky map names the stars, planets, and satellites overhead — then drops into a full planetarium to explore.
Real-time sky intelligence
Everything that decides whether tonight is worth it.
Cloud cover, transparency, seeing, moonlight, darkness, smoke, and wind — Stella reads every signal an experienced observer checks, weighs them together, and hands you the one answer that matters: the window worth going out for.
Joshua Tree, CA · tonightSample sky reading
87Sky scoreExcellent — worth the drive
Best viewing window9:42 PM – 1:18 AM
Cloud cover4%clearing now
TransparencyAbove avg
Seeing3.5 / 5steady
Moon12%sets 11:04
DarknessBortle 2SQM 21.8
Smoke / hazeNone
Wind6 mphSW
Temp / dew48°Fdew 39°
Transparency
How clear the high air is — the line between faint galaxies and a washed-out, milky sky.
Seeing
Atmospheric steadiness for crisp planets, fine lunar detail, and splitting tight double stars.
Moon impact
Illumination, rise, and set folded into one true darkness window — not just a phase icon.
Bortle & SQM
Compare darkness anywhere on the 1–9 Bortle scale, with measured SQM where we have it.
Smoke & haze
Wildfire smoke and aerosols that quietly ruin a sky a plain ‘clear’ forecast calls fine.
Wind & temperature
Plan comfort, dew, and whether your mount will track steady — or shudder on every gust.
Best viewing window
Stella’s answer, not just the data: the exact hours tonight that are actually worth being out.
Stella reads every one of these live for wherever you are — and turns them into one answer.
Download on theApp StoreTonight, live
See tonight for your own sky.
This isn’t a mockup — Stella computes real moonlight, the astronomical darkness window, and your nearest dark site for any spot on Earth. Pick a place:
Tonight atCherry Springs, PA
Real moonlight & darkness math for tonight — exactly what Stella runs in your pocket.
Tonight score…
–out of 100
Best moon-free windowMoon up most of the night
Moonlight–
Moon-free dark–
Darkness–
Nearest dark site–
This is a taste. Your full plan — live alerts, the dark-sky map, and your nearest sites — lives in the app.
Download on theApp StoreTonight, simplified
The whole night, sequenced into a plan.
Stella folds forecasts, moonlight, sky darkness, and celestial events into one clear timeline — so you know exactly when to set up, when to shoot, and when to call it.
- 7:48 PMSunsetgolden hour ends
- 8:31 PMNautical twilightthe first stars appear
- 9:17 PMAstronomical darknesstrue dark begins
- 10:42 PMMilky Way core risesthe galactic center clears the horizon
- 11:10 PMClouds clearcover drops below 10%
- 12:03 AMBest viewing window best windowdarkest, clearest, and moon-free
- 1:25 AMMoonrisecontrast slowly fades
Plan the night
Every signal that decides a night, read in one glance.
Cloud cover, transparency, seeing, moonlight, darkness, and forecast confidence — Stella weighs them together so you never drive two hours for a sky that was never going to cooperate.
Verdict
Great night — go.Tonight
One score that answers “is it worth it?”
Stella blends every condition into a single Tonight score and the exact window it’s clearest — so the decision takes a glance, not a spreadsheet of forecasts.
- Hour-by-hour clarity, transparency & seeing from astronomy-grade forecasts
- Moonrise, moonset & illumination folded into darkness
- The exact best observing window highlighted for you
Vega · mag 0.03
Identify
Point at the sky. Stella names what you’re seeing.
Raise your phone and the AR sky map labels stars, planets, constellations, and the satellites passing overhead in real time — then drops into a full planetarium when you want to explore.
- Stars, planets, satellites & constellations named in real time as you point
- See what’s rising next and why tonight is worth it
- Save objects to your observing plan and use AR at star parties
Point, plan, and get the verdict — it all happens in Stella.
Download on theApp StoreDark-Sky Map
Find darker skies before you leave the driveway.
Dark-sky parks, reserves, observatories, and astro-stays — plus rocket-launch viewing sites and planetariums — on one live map. Switch to the Bortle darkness view, find dark skies near you, filter by category, then tap any pin for details.
Real dataBuilt on the live night sky
A hundred billion stars — and the few worth chasing tonight.
Stella models the real sky overhead: the stars, planets, satellites, meteor showers, and dark-sky places above you right now — then tells you what’s actually worth going outside for. Tap a landmark to explore it in 3D.
Built for the field
Everything the night needs, in your pocket.
Live Activities & alerts
Lock-screen and Dynamic Island timers for the clear window, moonset, and ISS passes — plus alerts the moment a great night lines up.
Satellites & launches
Track ISS and Starlink passes, freshly launched satellites, and visible flares with exact times and directions to look.
Sky-event calendar
Meteor showers, eclipses, conjunctions, comets, and lunar phases — all on a calendar tuned to your location.
Astrophotography tools
Capture workflows for the Moon, planets, timelapses, and the night sky — with seeing windows and exposure guidance.
Offline field packs
Pair targets, gear, filters, and timing into one pack that works when there's no signal at the dark site.
Saved sites & trips
Keep your spots, routes, stays, and observing logs in one place — and bring the whole plan with you.
Why Stella
Five apps’ worth of night, in one.
Planetarium, forecast, dark-sky map, event almanac, and imaging tools — most apps do one well. Stella ties them into a single decision: go, or don’t.
| Capability | ✦ Stella | SkySafari | Clear Outside | Stellarium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One “is it worth it?” Tonight verdict | — | ◐ | — | |
| Astronomy-grade hourly forecast (cloud, seeing, transparency) | — | — | ||
| Dark-sky map with Bortle layer & drive routing | ◐ | — | — | |
| Point-and-identify AR + full planetarium | — | |||
| Live Activities, widgets & smart alerts | — | ◐ | — | |
| Curated dark-sky stays & trip planning | — | — | — | |
| Telescope & mount control + plate-solving | — | ◐ | ||
| Eclipse & event local circumstances | ◐ | — | ◐ |
◐ = partial / lighter version. Comparison reflects each app’s primary focus as of 2026; capabilities vary by version and tier. Stella is not affiliated with or endorsed by the other apps.
Astrotourism
Every way to chase the night sky.
Stella plans the whole spectrum of astrotourism — dark-sky travel and camping, remote and public observatories, rocket launches, eclipses, workshops, and the star party down the road. One place to find it, time it, and go.
Dark-sky stays
Observatory hotels, aurora lodges, and astrofarms where the night sky is the whole point.
Camping & glamping
Pitch a tent or a sky-dome under the Milky Way at certified dark-sky campgrounds.
Remote observatories
Book time on serious telescopes in the planet's darkest, clearest places.
Observatories & planetariums
Guided public nights, domes, and star theatres near you and on the road.
Rocket launches
Catch a launch light up the sky — Stella tracks the schedule, window, and where to watch.
Eclipses & celestial events
Plan trips around totality, meteor peaks, conjunctions, and oppositions.
Workshops & courses
Hands-on astrophotography and observing with people who know the sky.
Local star parties
Find gatherings and guided observing nights happening near you.
Aurora chasing
Follow the Kp forecast to the lights — and the lodges built to watch them.
Milky Way season
Know exactly when and where the galactic core rises, wherever you are.
Plan any of it — dark-sky trips, launches, eclipses, star parties — in Stella.
Download on theApp StoreStella Destinations
Sleep where the sky is the main attraction.
A curated catalog of observatory hotels, aurora lodges, astrofarms, and dark-sky stays — each tagged with its Bortle class, telescope access, and best months, with sources kept honest.
AllObservatoryTelescopeCampingGuidedAuroraDarkSky Approved
★ Stella PickBortle 1
NamibRand, Namibia
andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Onsite observatory in the Namib Desert
$2,400 / night est.
Explore 
ObservatoryBortle 1
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Explora Atacama
Atacama astronomy hotel with a private observatory, Meade 16-inch telescope, and guided sessions
$770 / night est.
Explore 
Dark-Sky LodgeBortle 1
Northern Territory, Australia
Longitude 131
Luxury Uluru desert stay with Table 131 dining under the Milky Way and Red Centre sky interpretation
$2,600 / night est.
Explore 
AuroraBortle 4
South Iceland, Iceland
Hotel Ranga
Dedicated observatory hotel in South Iceland
$600 / night est.
Explore 
TelescopeBortle 1
Canterbury, New Zealand
Aoraki Mt Cook Lodge / The Hermitage
Aoraki hotel stay paired with Big Sky Stargazing guides and high-powered telescope experiences
$900 / night est.
Explore 
AuroraBortle 2
Lapland, Finland
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Iconic Finnish Lapland glass igloos
$520 / night est.
Explore Browse by region
Find your dark sky.
Curated collections of observatory hotels, aurora lodges, and dark-sky stays — grouped by where the night sky is the whole reason to go.
AfricaAstro-safari lodges
Namib dark skies, Karoo observatories and Big-Five sleepouts under the southern Milky Way.
South AmericaAtacama & salt-flat skies
Atacama observatories and Uyuni salt-flat reflections of the Milky Way.
AustraliaOutback observatory lodges
Red-centre dark skies and glass-roof stays beneath the Magellanic Clouds.
New ZealandSouthern-sky & glass-roof stays
The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve and glass-roof cabins under the southern sky.
EuropeObservatory & aurora stays
From Canary-island observatories to Nordic aurora lodges.
Canada
Starlight & aurora stays
Dark-Sky Preserves and northern lodges sitting under the auroral oval.
China
Observatory hotels
High-plateau observatories and stargazing resorts across China.
Learn
Learn at an observatory
Public observatories, planetariums and visitor centers with real stargazing programs.
Events, workshops & star parties
The sky keeps a calendar. So does Stella.
Meteor showers, eclipses, oppositions, and the dark-sky gatherings worth planning a trip around — each with the timing, the place, and the sky score, so you arrive on the right night under the right sky.
Aug 122026Eclipse
Total Solar Eclipse
Iceland · N. Spain
Totality crosses the 2026 path — Stella maps dark-sky lodging right along the centerline.
Aug 12–13AnnualMeteors
Perseids Peak
Northern Hemisphere
Up to 100 meteors an hour from a dark site, with the best rates after midnight.
Dec 13–14AnnualMeteors
Geminids Peak
Worldwide
The year's most reliable shower — bright, slow, colorful meteors from a clear, dark sky.
All yearGatherings
Star Parties
Stella destinations
Curated dark-sky gatherings and guided observing nights — find one near a stay you love.
SeasonalWorkshops
Astro Workshops
Bortle 1–2 sites
Hands-on astrophotography and observing sessions with gear, guidance, and pristine skies.
MonthlyPlanets
Oppositions & Conjunctions
Your sky
Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars at their brightest, plus close planetary pairings — timed to your location.
Year-roundLaunches
Rocket Launches
Cape Canaveral · more
Watch a launch light up the sky — Stella tracks the schedule, the window, and the best viewing spots.
When brightComets
Bright Comets
Worldwide
When a comet flares into naked-eye range, Stella tells you when, where, and how dark you need to go.
Eclipse Catalog (2024–2035)
Solar & Lunar Eclipse Calendar
Track total, annular, hybrid, and partial eclipses worldwide. NASA greatest-eclipse timing and global path tracking — complete with central durations and visibility corridors.
43 eclipses match your filters
Aug 12, 2026UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
65°N, 25°W; Sun alt 26°; width 294 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: northern North America, western Africa, Europe. Total path: Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain.
Aug 28, 2026UpcomingPartial
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
9°S, 63°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →eastern Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa
Feb 6, 2027UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
31°S, 48°W; Sun alt 73°; width 282 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: South America, Antarctica, western and southern Africa. Annular path: Chile, Argentina, Atlantic.
Feb 20, 2027UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
10°N, 15°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
Jul 18, 2027UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
22°S, 121°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific
Aug 2, 2027UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
26°N, 33°E; Sun alt 82°; width 258 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Africa, Europe, Middle East, western and southern Asia. Total path: Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia.
Aug 17, 2027UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
12°S, 108°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Pacific, Americas
Jan 12, 2028UpcomingPartial
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
23°N, 61°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa
Jan 26, 2028UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
3°N, 52°W; Sun alt 67°; width 323 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: eastern North America, Central and South America, western Europe, northwest Africa. Annular path: Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, Spain, Portugal.
Jul 6, 2028UpcomingPartial
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
23°S, 86°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
Jul 22, 2028UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
16°S, 127°E; Sun alt 53°; width 230 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Southeast Asia, East Indies, Australia, New Zealand. Total path: Australia, New Zealand.
Dec 31, 2028UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
23°N, 108°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific
Jan 14, 2029UpcomingPartial
Partial Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
64°N, 114°W; Sun alt 0°
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: North America, Central America.
Jun 12, 2029UpcomingPartial
Partial Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
67°N, 66°W; Sun alt 0°
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Arctic, Scandinavia, Alaska, northern Asia, northern Canada.
Jun 26, 2029UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
23°S, 50°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East
Jul 11, 2029UpcomingPartial
Partial Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
64°S, 86°W; Sun alt 0°
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: southern Chile, southern Argentina.
Dec 5, 2029UpcomingPartial
Partial Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
68°S, 136°E; Sun alt 0°
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: southern Argentina, southern Chile, Antarctica.
Dec 20, 2029UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
23°N, 19°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
Jun 1, 2030UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
57°N, 80°E; Sun alt 55°; width 250 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Europe, northern Africa, Middle East, Asia, Arctic, Alaska. Annular path: Algeria, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Russia, northern China, Japan.
Jun 15, 2030UpcomingPartial
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
23°S, 82°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
Nov 25, 2030UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
44°S, 71°E; Sun alt 67°; width 169 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: southern Africa, southern Indian Ocean, East Indies, Australia, Antarctica. Total path: Botswana, South Africa, Australia.
Dec 9, 2030UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
22°N, 21°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
May 7, 2031UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
18°S, 59°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa
May 21, 2031UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
9°N, 72°E; Sun alt 79°; width 152 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Africa, southern Asia, East Indies, Australia. Annular path: Angola, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, southern India, Malaysia, Indonesia.
Jun 5, 2031UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
21°S, 176°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →East Indies, Australia, Pacific
Oct 30, 2031UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
15°N, 121°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas
Nov 14, 2031UpcomingHybrid
Hybrid Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
1°S, 138°W; Sun alt 72°; width 38 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Pacific, southern US, Central America, northwest South America. Hybrid path: Pacific, Panama.
Apr 25, 2032UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
14°S, 131°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific
May 9, 2032UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
51°S, 7°W; Sun alt 20°; width 44 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: southern South America, southern Africa. Annular path: south Atlantic.
Oct 18, 2032UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
10°N, 71°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia
Nov 3, 2032UpcomingPartial
Partial Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
70°N, 133°E; Sun alt 0°
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Asia.
Mar 30, 2033UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
71°N, 156°W; Sun alt 11°; width 781 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: North America. Total path: eastern Russia, Alaska.
Apr 14, 2033UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
9°S, 72°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
Sep 23, 2033UpcomingPartial
Partial Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
72°S, 121°W; Sun alt 0°
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: southern South America, Antarctica.
Oct 8, 2033UpcomingTotal
Total Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
6°N, 167°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas
Mar 20, 2034UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
16°N, 22°E; Sun alt 73°; width 159 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Africa, Europe, western Asia. Total path: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China.
Apr 3, 2034UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
5°S, 75°E
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
Sep 12, 2034UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
18°S, 73°W; Sun alt 67°; width 102 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Central America, South America. Annular path: Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil.
Sep 28, 2034UpcomingPartial
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
1°N, 44°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa
Feb 22, 2035UpcomingPenumbral
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
9°N, 133°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →eastern Asia, Pacific, Americas
Mar 9, 2035UpcomingAnnular
Annular Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
29°S, 155°W; Sun alt 64°; width 31 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: Australia, New Zealand, south Pacific, Mexico, Antarctica. Annular path: New Zealand, Pacific.
Aug 19, 2035UpcomingPartial
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Zenith Coordinates
12°S, 17°W
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East
Sep 2, 2035UpcomingDon’t missTotal
Total Solar Eclipse
Greatest Point / Width
29°N, 158°E; Sun alt 68°; width 116 km
Visibility & Central Path
View details →Visible: eastern Asia, Pacific. Total path: China, Korea, Japan, Pacific.
Featured Stays on the 2026 Totality Path
Book a night under the path of totality for the August 12, 2026 Solar Eclipse.
Get detailed eclipse centerline interactive path maps, cloud-forecast adjustments, and countdown alerts in the Stella app.
Download on theApp StoreNext launches
Catch a rocket light up the sky.
The next launches around the world — Stella tracks the schedule and the slips, and points you to the closest place to watch.
Jun 2709:00 UTC
Pegasus XL | Swift Boost Mission
Northrop Grumman Space Systems · Pegasus XL — Air launch to orbit
Jun 2814:00 UTC
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 17-40
SpaceX · Falcon 9 — Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Jun 2902:25 UTC
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Sirius SXM-11
SpaceX · Falcon 9 — Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Jun 2905:00 UTC
South Korean ADD Solid-Fuel SLV | Demo Flight
Agency for Defense Development · South Korean ADD Solid-Fuel SLV — Sea Launch
Jun 3000:00 UTC
Electron | Ten Owl Of Ten (StriX Launch 10)
Rocket Lab · Electron — Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Jun 3000:00 UTC
Electron | The Grain Goddess Provides (iQPS Launch 7)
Rocket Lab · Electron — Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Track every launch live — schedule, slips, and your nearest viewing spot — in Stella.
Download on theApp StoreAurora watch
Is tonight a night for the lights?
Live geomagnetic activity from NOAA — Stella watches the Kp index and pings you the moment the aurora comes within reach of your sky.
Current Kp3.3ActiveHigh latitudes only — the Arctic, Scandinavia, and Alaska.
Next 24 hours3-day peak: Kp 3.7 · Fri, Jun 26
Get an aurora alert the moment the Kp climbs over your sky — in Stella.
Download on theApp StoreOverhead now
See the Space Station fly over you.
The ISS crosses the sky like a bright, silent star. Stella works out exactly when it passes your spot — here’s the next few, computed right in your browser.
Find the ISS over your location.
Track the ISS live, with a heads-up before every bright pass — in Stella.
Download on theApp StoreStella Certified
A badge you can trust the sky behind.
Anyone can call a hotel a “dark-sky stay.” Stella Certified means it was independently checked for real darkness, real sky access, and a real way to book — so the night actually delivers.
✦Stella
Certified92/100
Certified92/100
Each property scores 0–100 across darkness, access, and booking confidence.
What it takes to earn it
- Verified darknessA measured SQM reading or a confirmed Bortle class — not a marketing claim.
- Real sky accessAn on-site telescope, observatory, or a genuinely unobstructed horizon.
- Guided programsA resident astronomer or scheduled observing — someone who knows the sky.
- A real booking pathYou can actually reserve it, with the sources kept honest.
- Honest seasonalityBest months and moonless windows published up front, not buried.
Alerts & Live Activities
Never miss a clear window.
Stella watches the forecast, the Moon, and the sky for you — then pings your lock screen the moment the night turns worth it, and counts the window down live in the Dynamic Island.
Sky 87 · clearing
Friday, June 1211:48
✦ Stellanow
Best window openingJoshua Tree · clear until 1:18 AM
9:42 PMopens in 14 min
Alerts that earn the buzz
- Clouds clearing at 10:40 PM
- Moon sets in 36 minutes
- Milky Way visibility improving
- Aurora watch upgraded — Kp 6
- ISS pass in 12 minutes — look SW
- Joshua Tree has a 92% sky score tonight
- Meteor shower peak begins after midnight
Live Activities & Dynamic Island
Sky-score countdownClear-sky windowMoonset countdownEclipse countdownAurora probabilityEvent itinerary
Smart alerts and Live Activities are part of Stella Pro.
Get the alert the moment your sky turns worth it.
Download on theApp StoreLoved under the stars
Stargazers don’t guess anymore.
From first-time skywatchers to deep-sky imagers — Stella turns a pile of forecasts into one confident decision.
I used to check four different forecast apps before driving out. Now I open Stella, see the Tonight score, and just go — or stay home without the regret.
The best-window timing is scary accurate. It told me the clouds would break at 9:40 and they broke at 9:38. We caught the whole Milky Way core.
Point the phone up and it names everything. My kids are obsessed, and honestly so am I. The planetarium is gorgeous.
The dark-sky map alone is worth it. Found a Bortle 3 site 40 minutes away that I never knew existed.
Live Activities for the clear window and moonset are exactly what I wanted. It's like a flight tracker, but for the sky.
Plate-solving and the imaging planner moved my whole rig workflow into one app. The Ultra tier earns its keep.
Pricing
Start free. Go deeper when the sky pulls you in.
Stella is free to plan tonight. Pro and Ultra unlock the full forecast depth, the dark-sky map, and serious imaging tools.
Free
$0
Free forever
Everything to decide on tonight.
- Tonight score & best window
- 3-day conditions forecast
- AR identify & planetarium
- Saved sites & observing log
Most popular
Pro
$39.99/ yearSave 16%
Just $3.99/mo, billed annually
For the regular stargazer.
- Everything in Free
- 10-day & hourly astronomy forecasts
- Dark-sky map with Bortle layer & routing
- Live Activities, alerts & widgets
- Stella Destinations & offline field packs
Ultra
$99/ yearSave 8%
Just $8.99/mo, billed annually
For astrophotographers & rigs.
- Everything in Pro
- Telescope & mount workflows
- Plate-solving & imaging planner
- Advanced camera & capture tools
- Priority new-feature access
Compare every feature
| Feature | Free | ProMost popular | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan the night | |||
| Tonight score & best window | |||
| Conditions forecast | 3-day | 10-day | 10-day + hourly |
| Dark-sky map with Bortle layer & routing | – | ||
| Live Activities, alerts & widgets | – | ||
| Know the sky | |||
| AR identify & planetarium | |||
| Best targets tonight | |||
| Satellites, launches & sky events | |||
| Stella Destinations & offline field packs | – | ||
| Saved sites & observing log | |||
| Capture & telescopes | |||
| Camera capture workflows | Basic | Full | Full |
| Telescope & mount workflows | – | – | |
| Plate-solving & imaging planner | – | – | |
| Advanced camera & exposure tools | – | – | |
| Priority new-feature access | – | – | |
Save up to 43% — subscribe on the web.These are web prices. In the App Store, Pro is $6.99/mo and Ultra $11.99/mo. Join here and your membership unlocks in the app automatically.
Join on the webFAQ
Questions, answered.
Is Stella free?
Yes. The Tonight score, best observing window, a 3-day conditions forecast, AR identify, the planetarium, and your saved sites are all free, forever. Pro and Ultra unlock deeper forecasts, the dark-sky map, alerts, and imaging tools.
What's the difference between Pro and Ultra?
Pro is for the regular stargazer — 10-day and hourly astronomy forecasts, the dark-sky map with the Bortle layer and routing, Live Activities, alerts, widgets, Destinations, and offline field packs. Ultra adds the serious imaging stack: telescope and mount control, plate-solving, an imaging planner, and advanced capture tools.
Why is the web price cheaper than the App Store?
Subscribing on the web skips the app-store fee, so we pass the savings on — up to 43% off. Your membership unlocks automatically in the app the next time you open it; nothing extra to set up.
How accurate is the Tonight score?
Stella blends astronomy-grade cloud, transparency, and seeing forecasts with precisely computed moonlight and the astronomical-darkness window for your exact location. Like any forecast it isn't a guarantee, but it's tuned to answer one question well: is tonight worth the drive?
Does it work without signal at a dark site?
Yes. Offline field packs bundle your targets, timing, gear, and the night's plan so the essentials work when there's no signal. The AR sky map and planetarium also run from on-device ephemeris.
Can I control my telescope and camera?
On the Ultra tier, yes — Stella includes mount and telescope workflows, plate-solving to confirm where you're pointed, an imaging planner, and advanced camera and capture tools.
What devices does Stella run on?
iPhone and iPad, with companion experiences on Apple Watch, Mac, and CarPlay — so the plan follows you from the couch to the car to the field.
Where does Stella's sky data come from?
From trusted public sources — NASA, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center for aurora, Celestrak and The Space Devs for satellites and launches, plus astronomy-grade weather and dark-sky datasets — all combined into one plan.
Tonight is either worth it, or it isn’t.
Stella tells you which — and exactly where to go when it is.