Nightfall Atlas
Getting started
On first launch, pick your city (or type coordinates), your level, the myth traditions you like and the hour you usually step outside. Tonight then shows a sky score and up to three constellations to look for. Open one, follow the star-hop steps outside, and tap “I saw it” when you find it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my sky score low on a clear evening?
The score covers the dark hours, not twilight. Cloud later in the night, low cloud, high humidity, haze or a bright Moon above the horizon all lower it. Open “Hour by hour” to see the best hour.
I can't find a constellation that is listed.
Give your eyes 15–20 minutes away from screens and lights, turn on Red Light mode and start from the anchor star in the guide. Faint constellations need a dark site; in a city, begin with the ones marked Easy.
What does Red Light mode do?
It turns the whole interface into dim, monochrome red, which disturbs your eyes' dark adaptation far less than white or blue light. Toggle it with the red dot on the horizon bar, or in Settings.
How do I read the Sky chart?
The circle is your whole sky: the edge is the horizon and the centre is straight overhead. Face the direction shown at the bottom (south by default in the northern hemisphere) and hold the chart up. Drag the time slider to see later in the night; tap a figure to open it.
Do I need location access or the internet?
No location access is ever requested. Choose a city or enter coordinates. Everything except the cloud forecast and official Moon times works offline, and the last ones received are saved.
Troubleshooting
- No forecast: check your connection and tap Retry on Tonight. If you are offline, darkness and Moon are still computed on the device.
- Times look wrong: make sure the right place is selected in Settings → Your place. Places entered as coordinates use your phone's time zone.
- No sound: sounds follow the in-app setting and your phone's silent or sound mode. Night ambience on the Sky chart plays only while sounds are on.
- The app looks wrong after an update: close and reopen it, or restart your phone.
Your data: export, reset and deletion
Open Settings → Your data. “Export as JSON file” saves everything you have entered; “Clear saved forecasts” removes cached weather and Moon responses; “Erase all data” removes your journal, sightings, goal, read myths, place and settings after a confirmation. Deleting the app removes all of its data as well.
Accessibility
Every control is a labelled button that works with screen readers, the sky chart figures are listed as buttons with direction and height, and reduced motion (in your phone's settings or the app's) replaces slides and drawing animations with simple fades. Tell us about anything that gets in your way.
System requirements
A smartphone with a recent system version. Designed for portrait use, one-handed.
Feedback and feature requests
Planets, meteor showers and more star-lore traditions are on the roadmap. Send ideas, corrections to a myth or a star position, or stories from your own culture's sky to the address above.