Location Lists Now in TPE Web
TPE Web gains Lists: organise saved locations into distinct lists with customised descriptions, icons and colours, synchronised to your account.
The Photographer’s Ephemeris
Sunlight. Moonlight. Starlight. Precision planning app for outdoor photographers.
New Moon Simulator now available!
Looking to plan your Moon photography for the coming month? Try the new Moon Simulator in TPE Web.
Don’t miss the moment.
The best alignments are rare. The optimal light quickly fades.
Know where to be.
See exactly how the Sun, Moon, and more will rise, set, and move at your location.
Visualise the shot.
See light direction, shadows, and sightlines.
“Head and shoulders above the crowd is The Photographer’s Ephemeris. Odd name, great app.”
“One of the most useful apps for any nature photographer.”
Understand natural light
TPE is especially designed for photographers working with natural light. If you’re shooting landscape, wildlife, architecture, property, weddings, or natural‑light portraits, TPE will tell you everything you need to know about sunlight, moonlight and starlight.
- See the exact direction of sunrise and sunset on the ideal map for your location. Follow the changing direction of the Sun throughout the day as you adjust the selected time.
- Choose the dates you're interested in. Whether your trip is tomorrow or ten years from now, you can check light conditions in the past, present and future.
- The timeline includes key celestial events of the day, including rise, set, civil, nautical and astronomical twilight times, golden hour, moon phase events, new‑moon visibility and more.
Night or Day
Planning night photography? TPE has what you need: rise and set of the Galactic Centre, a 3D visualisation of the band of the Milky Way, meteor showers, and more. Our iOS app includes major stars, asterisms, and lunar eclipses, so you can plan the perfect ‘blood supermoon’ shot.
- TPE tells you when astronomical twilight ends, when the Moon is new, and when the Galactic Centre, the most photogenic part of the Milky Way, will rise; this is essential data for planning night photography.
- To achieve the perfectly composed Milky Way shot, you'll want to know how the band of stars will stretch across the sky. TPE gives you a 3D representation showing the orientation of the arch of the Milky Way, ideal for visualising your shot.
- See details of upcoming major meteor showers and more. Our iOS app shows lunar and solar eclipse information, plus positions of major stars and asterisms, such as the 'Teapot'.
3D Maps and Augmented Reality
When 2D isn’t enough, TPE includes 3D maps and AR to help you visualise and plan more effectively. Evaluate the angle of light or the position of the Sun, Moon, or Milky Way using our advanced tools.
- TPE for iOS includes AR (augmented reality), so you can see the Sun, Moon and Milky Way overlaid directly on your device's camera feed, ideal for scouting future shots on location, or getting perfectly lined up just before full moonrise.
- On desktops or laptops where AR is not available, TPE Web includes a 3D Celestial Sphere with visual search to hunt down the perfect alignment.
- For the ultimate 3D photo planning, use TPE 3D, a unique mobile app for iOS, to see a three‑dimensional map of the landscape lit by realistic directional light and shadows – perfect for landscape photographers composing photos with mountains or hills.
Latest News
View all →New Seeing and Transparency Forecasts
Seeing and Transparency, along with light pollution and smoke, are two of the most important considerations for astrophotographers when deciding where and when to plan a shoot. We’re pleased to be offering new Seeing and Transparency forecasts with Photo WX™ , our weather service for photographers.
Introducing Photo WX™ – Weather for Photographers
We’re delighted to introduce Photo WX, our new weather service for photographers. Access tailored weather maps and forecasts directly from the site today.
Recent Articles
View all →12 August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Mallorca
Will you see it? There’s much discussion about visibility of TSE2026 across Mallorca. Authorities recommend the north‑west coast for best sunset views.
A Better Lunar Eclipse Map
Lunar eclipse maps can be hard to read — often more so than solar maps. Our improved map for 3 March 2026 clarifies viewing zones, local times and phases.
Total Lunar Eclipse Coming up on 3 March
The last total lunar eclipse until the very end of 2028 – nearly three years away – occurs just a few days from now: 3 March 2026. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to photograph it if you can.
Playing ‘what if’ with the weather for the August 2026 total eclipse
We’re approaching the 12‑month countdown to the 2026 total solar eclipse, which most viewers will see from either Iceland or Spain. It’s always interesting to ask, ‘What if we had the same weather on the day of the eclipse as we’re seeing this year?’
Key Weather Forecasts for Night Photography
When planning a night photography or astrophotography shoot, the weather is a critical factor. It’s not just the obvious factors, such as the absence of rain and cloud; many other elements conspire to create or prevent great conditions.
Architectural Photography, Part 5: Natural Light
Lighting is a critical aspect of architectural photography and something you should plan for in advance. Depending on the circumstances of your project, you may be able to pick and choose your time freely (e.g. personal projects, planning future travel), to exercise some choice within a finite time window…