Support & Contact

How do I add an observation photo?

1. Go to the "Catalogs" tab
2. Select a catalog (Messier, Caldwell, NGC, or Solar System)
3. Tap on a celestial object
4. Tap the "+" button to add a photo from your gallery
5. The capture date will be automatically extracted from EXIF metadata

Is my data saved in the cloud?

No. All your data stays exclusively on your device. AstroCollect doesn't store anything in the cloud and doesn't require an account. Your photos and observations are stored locally in your iPhone/iPad's Application Support directory.

To backup your data, use the Export function in Settings. This will create a ZIP file that you can save wherever you want (iCloud Drive, AirDrop, etc.).

How do I transfer my observations to another device?

1. On the source device, go to Settings → Export
2. Tap "Export all observations"
3. Share the created ZIP file via AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or email
4. On the target device, open the ZIP file with AstroCollect
5. Choose "Merge" (add) or "Replace" (overwrite existing data)

Does the app record my GPS location?

No, by default. AstroCollect never requests access to your location. GPS coordinates from photos are NOT extracted by default.

If you want to record where you took your photos (for example, an observation site), you can enable "Save location data" in Settings. This is entirely optional. Even when enabled, your coordinates stay on your device and are never transmitted.

Why is my photo's date incorrect?

AstroCollect uses a hierarchy of sources to determine the capture date:

1. PHAsset creationDate - Creation date in the Photos library
2. EXIF DateTimeOriginal - Original shooting date
3. PNG tEXt metadata - For screenshots and edited images
4. Current date - If no metadata is available

If the date is incorrect, it's probably because the photo's EXIF metadata is missing or incorrect. This often happens with screenshots or images downloaded from the Internet.

How do I search for a celestial object?

In a catalog's detail view, use the search bar at the top. The search is case-insensitive and accent-insensitive. You can search by:

• Object name (e.g., "Andromeda", "Orion")
• Catalog number (e.g., "M31", "NGC224")

You can also filter results by status (all/observed/unobserved).

What is the app's price?

$2.99 / €2.99 (one-time purchase). AstroCollect v1.0 contains:

• No additional in-app purchases
• No ads
• No subscriptions
• Full access to all features

Which catalogs are included?

AstroCollect v1.0 includes 4 astronomical catalogs:

• Solar System - 10 objects (planets, Moon, Sun)
• Messier Catalog - 110 objects (galaxies, nebulae, clusters)
• Caldwell Catalog - 109 objects (complement to Messier)
• NGC Catalog (selection) - 85+ most popular objects

New catalogs and NGC expansion (towards 7,840 complete objects) are planned for future versions.

Does the app work offline?

Yes, 100% offline. All features work without an internet connection:

• Browse catalogs
• Add/remove photos
• Search and filter
• Export/Import
• Space backgrounds embedded locally

Can I contribute or suggest features?

Absolutely! We're always happy to hear your suggestions. Send us an email at astrocollect@teissonniere.eu with your ideas, comments, or bug reports.

Check out our roadmap to see features planned for upcoming versions.