App Profile: Solar Eclipse Timer
Android / Games / Puzzles
Solar Eclipse Timer
Installs:
Rating:
3.81
Total Reviews:
551
Top Countries:
US, CA, GB
< $5k
/mo
< 5k
/mo
Reviews: What People Think About Solar Eclipse Timer
ecash67
Rating: 4/5
Like other users, this app didn’t work as hoped during the 2024 eclipse.
The location and timing were correct. I received notifications for C1 and C4, temperature observations, and wildlife observations. I did not get any notifications for shadow bands, which I was most interested in seeing, or Bailey’s Beads, C2, or C3 - arguably the most interesting events! My attention was divided between 1) trying to figure out why the notifications weren’t coming through, & 2) trying to watch for the events without the prompts - instead of just observing & experiencing my first (and quite possibly only) total eclipse of my life.
Before posting this review, I read others to see if anyone else had the same issues. One user said that the app won’t send notifications while you’re using your cell phone camera. D’oh!!! That was most likely my problem.
That is not the app’s fault, but as the other user mentioned, it would have been *extremely helpful* to have this emphasized in the pop-up that appears when you open the app, a la “THE SET APP WILL NOT SEND NOTIFICATIONS WHILE CAMERA APP IS IN USE. USE A SEPARATE DEVICE FOR THE SET APP IF CELL CAMERA WILL BE USED.”
The app sounds like it’s great when it works, but if it doesn’t, you’re kinda hosed. Now I’ll have to wait decades for redemption, but it’s more likely civilization will collapse (making this app pointless), and/or I’ll die first. Oh well!
RGP002
Rating: 5/5
Like many others, I saw the app and Dr Telepun with Destin on SED, and downloaded immediately. I didn't do a ton of advance work, but did familiarize myself with the functionality for thirty minutes and a few practice runs, and corrected the times for lunar limb profile at my location. I don't know how difficult that would be to integrate into the app, but allowing the calculation to occur as an option within the app would be nice -- although there are websites that do most of the heavy lifting on the calculation now anyway. On the day of the eclipse, I used a Bluetooth earbud to hear the vocal cues, and kept my eyes in the sky (and my kids). Great app, very accurate with the times once corrected -- which was very easy to do. Helpful verbal reminders, too.
I found the app very easy to use, and sufficiently comprehensive if a bit utilitarian. But as an engineer, utilitarian is as much a complement as comprehensive is. You might not confuse the GUI for a pretty Apple produced piece of software, but it's every bit as functional as one.
I was in Chile earlier this year -- and having an app like this at least makes me think about wanting to go back for the eclipse in 2019. Good work to the developer and team. Apps like this are the fantastic part about the smartphone world we live in.
heltemes
Rating: 5/5
This app, simply put, changed the eclipse for not just me, but everyone around us. Nobody knew what times things were going to happen and nobody knew about the things like shadow bands and Purkinje effect. But because of this app, the voice prompts helped everyone and it was just amazing. Thank you for making this app and thank you for letting Destin plug it for you.
Update- Everyone, almost all of these negative reviews are from people who didn’t bother getting to know the app first. Honesty, that’s on them. This is a once in a lifetime experience for most of us. So many people planned everything so perfectly. Why would you NOT poke around the app you plan to use to guide you through before the moment of truth? I had a hiccup with the app, but it was my own fault. Luckily, I fixed it. The app worked perfectly. And this “hidden paywall” thing is annoying me, too. People, it’s $2. TWO DOLLARS. If that bothers you so much, again, for a once in a lifetime experience, then that’s on you.
The developed of this app invested so much time, money, and effort into making this app on top of his already very busy schedule and people just whine about it. The app will function perfectly if YOU take the time to learn how to use it.
About Solar Eclipse Timer
The Solar Eclipse Timer app was developed by me, an expert eclipse chaser and eclipse educator, to help people get the most enjoyment out of observing and photographing a total solar eclipse. It's a free download to test and learn the features with an in-app purchase of only $1.99 to buy the 2024 eclipse. Equal to the cost of a single pair of eclipse glasses and just as important!
The app's unique feature is that it announces the countdowns to the contact times out loud. It makes announcements to remind you to observe interesting eclipse phenomena like temperature changes, lighting changes, animal behavior, shadow bands, umbra approach, and more. It tells you when it is safe to take your glasses off and when to put them back on. There are spoken reminders for the MAX eclipse, looking for planets and stars, and observing the horizon. You won't miss a thing because I become your personal eclipse astronomer, talking you through the eclipse!
It is so easy to use! Basically a "Two Tap Setup." Get into the path; 1 Tap to Geolocate. 2. Tap to Load the Contact Times. That's it! The app geolocates to find your position in the path and then calculates your precise contact times. It does not require internet access to do this. You are now timing the eclipse with me as your personal astronomer guide!
In collaboration with Fred Espenak (Mr. Eclipse), there is a new feature for 2024 called Photographer's Mode. In this mode, all spoken announcements are about the eclipse timing relative to the contact times. There are only three other essential reminders: two remove your solar filters, max eclipse, and replace solar filters. This mode was designed specifically for eclipse photographers.
#1 ECLIPSE TIMING APP It was the #1 eclipse timing app used during the 2017 total solar eclipse that crossed the United States. It was used successfully for solar eclipses in 2019, 2020, 2021, and, most recently, 2023, in Australia. It was featured in Sky and Telescope Magazine in 2002, 2003, 2017, and 2022.
FREE DOWNLOAD TO TEST AND ONLY $1.99 FOR THE 2024 ECLIPSE
Know its benefits for Eclipse Day. Watch a built-in app tutorial that explains all of the app's functions. Watch a built-in eclipse observation site practice session to hear the app working during an eclipse!
WORKS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS
The app does its calculations internally. It does not require cell service or an internet connection to work. It only requires a GPS signal or manually entering GPS coordinates for the calculations to occur.
I PROVIDE THE TWO BEST TOOLS FOR ECLIPSE PREPARATION!
The Solar Eclipse Timer app is coordinated with my solar eclipse preparation book, "Eclipse Day - 2024 and More! How to enjoy, observe, and photograph a total solar eclipse." This unique book has its chapters organized by the progression of the eclipse on eclipse day, and the chapters also follow the sequence of announcements by the app. See my website, www.solareclipsetimer.com, for more information about the book.
OTHER FEATURES
Partial Eclipse Timing Mode - It can also time the eclipse as a partial eclipse if you are not in the path of totality. It displays your maximum percent coverage and then continuously shows the progress of the eclipse. The announcements are altered to be appropriate for your maximum eclipse percentage.
This app Is Ad Free! This app DOES NOT track user data in any form.
ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION DURING THE PARTIAL PHASES OF A SOLAR ECLIPSE! OR EVEN WHEN IT IS BRIGHT! NOT DOING SO CAN CAUSE EYE DAMAGE!
We are NOT liable for misuse of the app causing inaccurate timing or the lack of eye safety precautions during the observation of a solar eclipse.
The "glasses off" and "glasses on" statements are guides based on the calculated contact times. The timing can be affected by your phone's clock and the shape of the shadow due to the edge of the lunar limb. Use the Adjust buttons for Lunar Limb variation times adjustments. Glasses should be ON if it's bright!
The app's unique feature is that it announces the countdowns to the contact times out loud. It makes announcements to remind you to observe interesting eclipse phenomena like temperature changes, lighting changes, animal behavior, shadow bands, umbra approach, and more. It tells you when it is safe to take your glasses off and when to put them back on. There are spoken reminders for the MAX eclipse, looking for planets and stars, and observing the horizon. You won't miss a thing because I become your personal eclipse astronomer, talking you through the eclipse!
It is so easy to use! Basically a "Two Tap Setup." Get into the path; 1 Tap to Geolocate. 2. Tap to Load the Contact Times. That's it! The app geolocates to find your position in the path and then calculates your precise contact times. It does not require internet access to do this. You are now timing the eclipse with me as your personal astronomer guide!
In collaboration with Fred Espenak (Mr. Eclipse), there is a new feature for 2024 called Photographer's Mode. In this mode, all spoken announcements are about the eclipse timing relative to the contact times. There are only three other essential reminders: two remove your solar filters, max eclipse, and replace solar filters. This mode was designed specifically for eclipse photographers.
#1 ECLIPSE TIMING APP It was the #1 eclipse timing app used during the 2017 total solar eclipse that crossed the United States. It was used successfully for solar eclipses in 2019, 2020, 2021, and, most recently, 2023, in Australia. It was featured in Sky and Telescope Magazine in 2002, 2003, 2017, and 2022.
FREE DOWNLOAD TO TEST AND ONLY $1.99 FOR THE 2024 ECLIPSE
Know its benefits for Eclipse Day. Watch a built-in app tutorial that explains all of the app's functions. Watch a built-in eclipse observation site practice session to hear the app working during an eclipse!
WORKS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS
The app does its calculations internally. It does not require cell service or an internet connection to work. It only requires a GPS signal or manually entering GPS coordinates for the calculations to occur.
I PROVIDE THE TWO BEST TOOLS FOR ECLIPSE PREPARATION!
The Solar Eclipse Timer app is coordinated with my solar eclipse preparation book, "Eclipse Day - 2024 and More! How to enjoy, observe, and photograph a total solar eclipse." This unique book has its chapters organized by the progression of the eclipse on eclipse day, and the chapters also follow the sequence of announcements by the app. See my website, www.solareclipsetimer.com, for more information about the book.
OTHER FEATURES
Partial Eclipse Timing Mode - It can also time the eclipse as a partial eclipse if you are not in the path of totality. It displays your maximum percent coverage and then continuously shows the progress of the eclipse. The announcements are altered to be appropriate for your maximum eclipse percentage.
This app Is Ad Free! This app DOES NOT track user data in any form.
ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION DURING THE PARTIAL PHASES OF A SOLAR ECLIPSE! OR EVEN WHEN IT IS BRIGHT! NOT DOING SO CAN CAUSE EYE DAMAGE!
We are NOT liable for misuse of the app causing inaccurate timing or the lack of eye safety precautions during the observation of a solar eclipse.
The "glasses off" and "glasses on" statements are guides based on the calculated contact times. The timing can be affected by your phone's clock and the shape of the shadow due to the edge of the lunar limb. Use the Adjust buttons for Lunar Limb variation times adjustments. Glasses should be ON if it's bright!
File size: 131494912
Launched countries: BRUSAUCACNFRDEGBITJPKRRUDZAOARATAZBBBYBEBMBGCLCOCRHRCZDKDOECEGSVFIGHGRGTHKHUINIDIEILKZKEKWLBLTLUMOMGMYMXNLNZNGNOOMPKPAPEPHPLPTQAROSASGSKSIZAESLKSECHTWTHTNTRUAAEUYUZVEVNBOKHEELVNIPYMZYEBHCYMTBJBFCGJOLAMLSNTZUGZW
Minimum OS version: 12.0
Release Date: 1486994894000
Published by Foxwood Astronomy, LLC.
Website url: http://www.solareclipsetimer.com
Publisher country: US
