Smart Telescope Planner

Major update: corrected planner timing, smart telescope windows, richer target filters, PWS weather, Quick Ref, and refreshed Help.

BigSky Planner helps smart telescope users prepare an observing session before they head outside.

Save observing locations, select a smart telescope setup, filter a bundled target database, and build a timed plan for the night. Target cards show planning details including magnitude, object type, first view time, duration in view, azimuth, and altitude.

Plan for tonight or a future date. Define one or more Clear Sky viewing openings and filter targets by catalog, object type, magnitude, time, azimuth, and altitude. Checked targets remain available while changing object types, making it easier to build a plan containing nebulae, clusters, galaxies, and other objects.

The planner organizes observation windows, helps avoid overlapping target times, and supports saving, reopening, printing, and sharing plans. Quick Ref provides a compact field list with each target's name, first view time, azimuth, and altitude.

Key features:

• Save and reuse observing locations
• Select a smart telescope setup
• Plan for tonight or a future observing date
• Filter by catalog, object type, magnitude, time, azimuth, and altitude
• Define multiple Clear Sky viewing openings
• Build mixed object-type plans without losing checked targets
• View target duration and telescope-specific capture guidance
• Schedule observation windows and handle after-midnight sessions
• Save, reopen, print, and share plans
• Use a compact Quick Ref report at the telescope
• Review illustrated in-app Help
• Use adaptive iPhone and iPad layouts with light and dark modes

BigSky Planner is a planning companion. It does not control a telescope or replace a telescope manufacturer's app.