ISS Detector vs Seestar App

ISS Detector helps users find visible International Space Station passes and predict satellite passes for their location. For each upcoming ISS pass, it gives the local start time, direction, highest altitude, and duration, and can notify users minutes before the pass begins. It checks the local forecast and indicates when clouds may prevent a sighting. Premium features add tracking for Starlink, Hubble, rocket bodies, planets, comets, and amateur radio satellites; amateur radio tracking includes transmitter information and Doppler shift calculations. Users can share sightings on social media. ISS Detector says it combines information from NASA, Heavens-Above, the Minor Planet Center, and yr.no weather. It is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, and web. The free plan includes ads and in-app purchases; ISS Detector Pro costs $17.99, paid once and includes all extensions with no ads. Its privacy policy says location calculations happen on-device and precise location is not stored on the maker’s servers. Google Play says data can’t be deleted.

Seestar App controls Seestar telescopes and supports astronomical observation and imaging. Its Stargazing mode can find and focus on celestial objects, track them, and capture and process images automatically. The app also offers Scenery, Solar, and Lunar modes; solar and lunar targets can be tracked automatically, while Scenery provides manual direction control and autofocus. SkyAtlas supports searching celestial targets, viewing basic information, and one-tap GoTo alignment. The Home tab includes a gallery, shooting plans, and post-processing tools, alongside telescope settings, firmware updates, and battery and storage information. The maker says the app works with all Seestar models. For the S30 Pro, listed capabilities include a catalogue of 80,000+ deep-sky objects and 600,000+ stars, scheduled observing, remote control, and mosaic stitching. The S50 connects to a mobile device over its own Wi-Fi without internet, though internet is needed for first activation, accounts, data loading, Square features, and updates. The app is free and listed for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.