---
schema_type: "SoftwareApplication"
entity_type: "Mobile Application"
app_name: "Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker"
developer_entity: "Vito Technology"
bundle_id: "com.vitotechnology.Ephemeris"
app_store_id: "1488277219"
category: "Tools"
primary_platform: "ios"
primary_monetization: "Subscription"
offline_capable: false
market_region: "US"
platforms: "iOS & Android"
app_last_updated: "2025-05-03"
report_date: "2026-07-30"
last_verified: "2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z"
report_version: "1.0.9"
total_reviews: 2580
overall_rating: 4.1
sentiment: "Mixed"
sentiment_score: 55
confidence: "high"
confidence_score: 0.8
top_praise_theme: "High-fidelity astronomical data provides precise planning tools for astrophotography and celestial observation sessions"
top_complaint_theme: "Aggressive subscription paywalls during onboarding prevent users from evaluating core functionality before committing to payment"
review_sample_size: 87
total_review_count: 87
analyzed_review_count: 72
data_age_days: 27
momentum_velocity: "zombie"
intelligence_version: 3
nemesis: "PhotoPills"
competitor_count: 11
tags: ["tools", "subscription", "mixed sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "landscape,", "nature,", "astrophotographers"]
canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/ephemeris-sun-and-moon-seeker"
license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0"
content_version: "v2"
---

# Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker Intelligence Report

## TL;DR {#tldr}

- **Category**: Tools · Subscription
- **Signal**: Rating 4.06 · Sentiment Mixed
- **Recent focus**: Aggressive subscription paywalls during onboarding prevent users from evaluating core functionality before committing to payment (top complaint) · High-fidelity astronomical data provides precise planning tools for astrophotography and celestial observation sessions (top praise)

> **TL;DR:** Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker is a tools app by Vito Technology, rated 4.06/5 by 2.6K users, with Mixed user sentiment (55/100), available on iOS & Android.
>
> **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence.

<!-- speakable-start -->
> **Key Insight:** Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker shows Mixed sentiment (4.06/5 from 2.6K reviews) - users praise high-fidelity astronomical data provides precise planning tools for astrophotography and celestial observation sessions but report issues with aggressive subscription paywalls during onboarding prevent users from evaluating core functionality before committing to payment.
<!-- speakable-end -->

## Quick Facts

| Fact | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Rating** | 4.06/5 (2.6K reviews) |
| **User Mood** | Mixed |
| **Category** | Tools |
| **Developer** | Vito Technology |
| **Pricing** | Subscription |
| **Platforms** | iOS & Android |
| **Confidence** | High (0.8/1.0) |
| **Data Age** | 27d |

## Metadata & Market Performance
- **Publisher:** Vito Technology
- **Category:** Tools
- **Target Audience:** Landscape, nature, and astrophotographers who need to plan shoots based on precise celestial positioning.
- **Platforms:** iOS & Android
- **Version Reviewed:** 1.0.9
- **Report Date:** 2026-07-30
- **Signal Count:** 87 reviews analyzed
- **Confidence:** High (0.8/1.0)
- **App Store ID (iOS):** 1488277219
- **Bundle ID:** com.vitotechnology.Ephemeris
- **Google Play ID:** com.vitotechnology.Ephemeris
- **Performance Trend:** Declining
- **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-07-30
- **Short Description:** Sunrise and Sunset Times Tracker, Golden & Blue Hour, Twilight, Milky Way Finder

<!-- section:executive-snapshot -->
## Executive Snapshot
**What it is:** Ephemeris is a celestial planning tool for photographers that provides Sun, Moon, and Milky Way tracking via AR and 3D compass on iOS and Android.
**Why users hire it:** Photographers use the app to predict exact lighting conditions for shoots, removing the cognitive cost of manual celestial calculations.
<!-- /section:executive-snapshot -->

<!-- section:features -->
## App DNA (Features & Intent)
- **[Differentiator] AR Live View:** Visualizes celestial paths in real-time. Revenue: Premium-tier gate for professional planning.
  * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features.
- **[Standard] 3D Compass:** Tracks celestial object paths. Revenue: Retention tool for recurring planning.
  * *User Intent:* Users want visibility into their own performance and progress.
- **[Differentiator] Time Machine:** Predicts celestial positions for any date. Revenue: Premium-tier gate for long-term scheduling.
  * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features.
<!-- /section:features -->

<!-- section:market-position -->
## Market Position {#market-position}

Ephemeris maintains a 3.6-star rating on Android and 4.57-star on iOS, reflecting a split in user satisfaction [1, 2]. The lack of map integration limits its position against rivals that offer terrain-aware planning tools.
<!-- /section:market-position -->

## Monetization Strategy
- **Model:** Subscription
- **Tiers:** Free tier with limited access, Auto-renewable subscription with 7-day free trial
- **Analysis:** Monetization relies on a subscription model that gates advanced planning tools behind a recurring monthly payment.

<!-- section:sentiment -->
## 🟡 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 72 of 87 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment}
- **Overall Rating:** 4.06/5
- **Platform Split:** iOS 4.6/5 (1.2K ratings) | Android 3.6/5 (1.4K ratings)
- **Overall Sentiment:** Mixed

### Top Praises
- **High-fidelity astronomical data provides precise planning tools for astrophotography and celestial observation sessions**
- **Modern visual interface and 3D globe rendering create an engaging experience for astronomy enthusiasts**

### Top Complaints (Impact Areas)

- **Aggressive subscription paywalls during onboarding prevent users from evaluating core functionality before committing to payment**

<!-- /section:sentiment -->
<!-- section:swot -->
## SWOT Analysis {#swot}

**Core Strengths:**
- High-fidelity astronomical data provides precise planning tools

**Growth Levers:**
- Integration of a map layer for terrain alignment


<!-- /section:swot -->
## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes}

Ephemeris has entered a zombie development state, with a 0.5-point rating decline and the emergence of specific user demands for map-based terrain alignment.

**Overall trend**: Declining
**Compared at**: 2026-07-30

### High-impact changes
- **[Declined] Rating Decline** (sentiment)
- **[Declined] Development Stagnation** (positioning)

### Medium-impact changes
- **[Added] New Weakness and Threat** (swot)
- **[Added] New Complaint Themes** (sentiment)

<!-- section:rivals -->
## Rivals Landscape {#rivals}

> Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals.

### Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker vs PhotoPills - Top Rival
- **[PhotoPills](https://marlvel.ai/apps/photopills)** by PhotoPills S.L.: The industry standard for photography planning, offering identical AR, 3D compass, and Milky Way tracking features.

### Contenders (Strong Challengers)
- **Lumy** by Nandakumar S: Focuses on the aesthetic and timing aspects of golden/blue hours with a premium user experience.
- **Alpenglow: Sunset Forecast** by Alexander Baretta: Competes for the landscape photographer's attention by predicting the quality of sunrises and sunsets.
- **SolarWatch Sunrise Sunset Time** by Linebreak: Provides AR visualization and detailed solar data for outdoor planning.
- **LightTrac** by Waterfall Ent: A long-standing tool for finding the perfect light conditions for any location.

### Peers (What They Do Better)
- **Stellarium Mobile - Star Map** by Stellarium Labs: Essential for the astrophotography segment of the user base to plan night sky shots.
- **SkySafari** by Simulation Curriculum Corp.: Professional-grade sky simulation used by serious astrophotographers for planning.
- **Windy.com** by Windyty, SE: Often used alongside ephemeris apps to check cloud cover and visibility for planned shoots.
- **Clear Outside** by First Light Optics: A niche weather app specifically for astronomers and astrophotographers.

### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative)
- **Shadowmap** by Shadowmap Technologies: Innovative 3D visualization of shadows in real-time, directly competing with the 'shadow ratio' feature.
- **Lumos: Sun and Moon Tracker** by V Some: A modern, clean alternative for tracking celestial paths using AR.

<!-- /section:rivals -->
<!-- section:whats-new -->
## What's New

- **Latest (v1.0.9, 1 years ago):** Maintenance update addressing minor bugs and performance stability.
<!-- /section:whats-new -->

<!-- section:momentum -->
## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum}

- Ships maintenance updates only.
- No major features in 15 months.

> **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 453 days since last update

<!-- /section:momentum -->

<!-- section:so-what -->
## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what}

Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker is a tools app.
With a 4.06/5 rating from 2.6K reviews, it shows mixed user reception.

<!-- speakable-start -->
> **Bottom Line:** Integrating map-based visualization would address the primary friction point preventing the app from serving as a complete field-planning tool. Prioritizing this feature would unlock higher retention among casual photographers who currently rely on external mapping applications.
<!-- speakable-end -->

**Best for:** Landscape, nature, and astrophotographers who need to plan shoots based on precise celestial positioning.

<!-- section:pm-actions -->
### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves)

- [ ] [INVEST] Ship map-based visualization because users request it to align celestial events with terrain → increase retention
<!-- /section:pm-actions -->

<!-- section:outlook -->
### Outlook: Mixed

The photography planning market is consolidating around integrated, terrain-aware tools. Ephemeris remains exposed due to its lack of map integration and stalled release cadence, which will erode its user base as rivals with faster update cycles capture the casual segment.

- 🔴 Stalled development cadence (no major releases in 15 months) leaves the app vulnerable to rivals that offer integrated terrain-aware planning.
- 🔴 Aggressive subscription gating during onboarding drives negative sentiment, which compounds the churn risk already visible in user requests for better tutorials.
<!-- /section:outlook -->

<!-- /section:so-what -->

<!-- section:metrics -->
## Key Metrics Summary

| Metric | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Overall Rating | 4.06/5 |
| Total Reviews | 2.6K |
| Sentiment | Mixed (55/100) |
| Confidence | High |
| Pricing Model | Subscription |
| Platforms | iOS & Android |
| Key Features | 3 analyzed |
| Trend | Declining |
| Outlook | Mixed |
<!-- /section:metrics -->

## Competitor Comparison

| App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Ephemeris: Sun and Moon Seeker** (this app) | 4.06/5 | Mixed | Vito Technology |
| [PhotoPills](https://marlvel.ai/apps/photopills) | 4.7/5 | Excited | PhotoPills S.L. |
| [권한 관리자 - 권한, 보안, 검사, 관리, 허가](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--774) | N/A/5 | N/A | krow |
| [원패스](https://marlvel.ai/apps/net-scjpeter-onpass) | 3.1/5 | N/A | onesolution |
| [타자연습](https://marlvel.ai/apps/it-is-an-app-that-helps-you-easily-learn-to-type-o) | N/A/5 | N/A | High Soft |
| [마케팅엔 - 키워드분석, 연관키워드 검색](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--979) | N/A/5 | N/A | DEVMECA |

## Company Profile
- **Developer:** Vito Technology
- **Website:** [https://vitotechnology.com](https://vitotechnology.com)
- **Social:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/rapanuistargazing)

## Data Sources & Links
- **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ephemeris-moon-and-sun-seeker/id1488277219?uo=4)
- **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitotechnology.Ephemeris&hl=en&gl=us)
- **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://vitotechnology.com)
- **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews.

## Related Intel Reports
- [*PhotoPills*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/photopills) (PhotoPills S.L.) · 4.7/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment
- [*권한 관리자 - 권한, 보안, 검사, 관리, 허가*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--774) (krow) · N/A Rating
- [*원패스*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/net-scjpeter-onpass) (onesolution) · 3.1/5 Rating
- [*타자연습*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/it-is-an-app-that-helps-you-easily-learn-to-type-o) (High Soft) · N/A Rating
- [*마케팅엔 - 키워드분석, 연관키워드 검색*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--979) (DEVMECA) · N/A Rating
- [*120 FPS Booster - FPS Unlocker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-fpsbooster-gamebooster) (kenT3) · 3.8/5 Rating
- [*2Accounts - Helper*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/2accounts-helper) (2Accounts) · 3.5/5 Rating
- [*4D TOTO SG Lottery Results*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-totosg) (The JPMoreGain Project) · N/A Rating
- [*4g lte only mode: Wifi tools*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/fourg-fiveg-ltemode-speed-test-tools-wifi) (Appy Creators) · 4.5/5 Rating
- [*5GCtrl-For huawei CPE*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-trex-bookmarkspss) (trex11) · 4.1/5 Rating

## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}

### Is Ephemeris good for beginner photographers?

Users report the interface is complex and lacks tutorials, making it difficult for non-expert users to operate the compass and settings.

### Does Ephemeris include map-based planning?

No, the app currently lacks a map layer, which users note forces them to switch between multiple applications to align celestial events with terrain.

### Is the subscription required to use the app?

The app uses a subscription model to gate advanced planning tools, and users report that the onboarding flow prompts for a trial immediately.

## Methodology {#methodology}

This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline:

1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps.
2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks.
3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes).
4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category.
5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights.

- **Confidence Score:** 0.8/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality)
- **Reviews Analyzed:** 87
- **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata
- **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform
- **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence.
- **Report Age:** 27 days since last refresh

---
© 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ephemeris-sun-and-moon-seeker)
Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.