My Solar Compass is an iPhone tool for capturing solar alignments and calculating historical celestial events for heritage sites and landscapes.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Researchers and history buffs use the app to investigate the intentional orientation of ancient buildings toward solstices and equinoxes, removing the need for manual historical astronomical calculations.
For Heritage enthusiasts, travelers, researchers, and history buffs interested in archaeoastronomy.
What does it look like?
Key features
Calculates solar azimuths for any date between 500 AD and the present using the IAU 2006 formula.
Adjusts calculation logic for structures built before 500 AD by focusing on observable celestial events.
Cross-references solar alignments with historical saints' and feast days.
How much does it cost?
The $5.99 one-time purchase model provides full access to all features, including cloud storage, without recurring subscription fees.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
My Solar Compass has entered a zombie state, with no new feature builds or updates released in the last 241 days. The development momentum has effectively ceased, as the app has not seen a single update in over eight months. Given the lack of activity, there is no evidence of ongoing support or maintenance for the platform.
Who built it?
Adventuring B.V.
3 apps tracked · Education
My Cosmic Compass
Bee VisionUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads thrilled. Users appreciate discovery of connections between ancient sites and celestial events provides a compelling historical research experience.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Discovery of connections between ancient sites and celestial events provides a compelling historical research experience
1 of 1 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for My Solar Compass
How's the Education market?
My Solar Compass occupies a niche in the Education category, targeting specialized research users rather than the mass market. The $5.99 price point positions the app as a premium utility for enthusiasts who require historical accuracy beyond what free, general-purpose compass tools provide.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
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Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for My Solar Compass
Where is it heading?
The archaeoastronomy market remains a specialized niche where accuracy and historical data integrity outweigh the need for frequent feature drops. My Solar Compass is well-positioned to retain its core research audience as long as the underlying astronomical formulas remain accurate, though the lack of community features leaves the door open for a more social-focused rival.
- The 241-day release gap indicates a stable, maintenance-focused posture rather than active expansion, which limits the risk of regression-prone updates.
The SWOT
- IAU 2006 formula integration provides research-grade accuracy for historical archaeoastronomy research.
- Ancient Site Mode focuses on observable celestial events to bypass modern calendar limitations.
- Fieldwork documentation features could be expanded to include social sharing for heritage research communities.
Next best moves
Audit user-requested features because the 8-month development silence risks churn among power users → maintain research-grade utility
The counter-intuitive read
The 8-month development silence is a feature, not a bug…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The app's competitive positioning shifted from a neutral maintenance-mode observation to a defensive framing that highlights research-grade accuracy as a barrier to entry. No functional product changes occurred, as the app remains in a 241-day development silence.
Bottom line
The research-grade accuracy of the historical solar calculations provides a defensible barrier against casual astronomy apps, but the current maintenance-mode cadence risks losing the research-enthusiast segment to more active, community-driven platforms.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is My Solar Compass accurate for ancient sites like Stonehenge?
Does My Solar Compass require an internet connection?
How does My Solar Compass compare to free compass apps?
What is a free alternative for basic solar tracking?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated