The Astro PM companion app puts your rigs in your pocket: imaging systems, targets, nightly progress, weather, and remote control of NINA – anywhere you have signal. It is available for both Android and iPhone, and the two versions are identical in features and layout.
Getting the App #
The app is free on both stores and connects to the same account as your desktop Astro PM license – there is nothing extra to buy and no separate sign-up.
- Android: open Google Play, search for Astro PM, or use the Google Play button below.
- iPhone: open the App Store, search for Astro PM, or use the App Store button below.
Install it the same way as any other app. When it first opens it will ask you to pair with your desktop – that step is covered in the next article of this guide.
Requirements #
- Android 8.0 (Oreo) or newer.
- iPhone running iOS 15 or newer. The app is built for iPhone; it will run on an iPad in compatibility mode but is not laid out for it.
- A copy of Astro PM desktop with an active license (trial or paid) – the phone app shows what the desktop has synced to the cloud, so it has nothing to display until the desktop has been set up.
- An internet connection on the phone. Wi-Fi at the observatory is not required; the app talks to the Astro PM cloud, not directly to your imaging PC.
Permissions #
The app asks for the camera only to scan the pairing QR code shown by the desktop app. On both Android and iPhone the prompt appears the first time you tap Scan; if you decline, you can still pair by typing the sync code manually. No other sensitive permissions are requested – the app does not use your phone’s GPS (site coordinates come from the desktop), does not read your contacts or photos, and does not track you.
If you declined the camera and want to scan later: on Android go to Settings > Apps > Astro PM > Permissions; on iPhone go to Settings > Apps > Astro PM and turn on Camera.
Updates #
Updates arrive through the store you installed from. Both stores update automatically by default; if you have turned that off, check Google Play or the App Store for a new Astro PM version after each desktop release. The phone app is versioned separately from the desktop app and plugin, so it is normal for the numbers not to match.
What It Looks Like #
The screenshots below are from the Android version; the iPhone version looks the same apart from the system status bar and navigation.
