A great app designed to optimize your viewing of Tuesday's total solar eclipse has rocketed to the top of the App Store. With over 140,000 lifetime downloads across iOS and Android, the simply named “The Eclipse App” provides cloud forecasts, a guide to exactly when totality will occur in your exact location, information about local events, and more. , provides a complementary experience for observing astronomical phenomena. , parks and observation decks in your area.
The app itself is a collaboration between The Planetary Society, an independent space interest group, and The Eclipse Company, a technology company founded around the time of the Great American Eclipse in 2017 to help more people witness a total solar eclipse. Born out of a partnership.
Image credit: Eclipse app
The companies first announced an easy-to-use solar eclipse map to help people find viewing spots for the annual eclipse on October 14, 2023.
The Eclipse app, released in February in the US and Canada, currently makes money through in-app purchases that allow users to pay $3 for a livestream. It had about 9.8 million paying users as of Monday, according to data from app intelligence company Appfigures. The app began its rise on the App Store late Sunday, gaining 35,000 downloads on the App Store and beginning to climb the charts. Google's estimates are delayed by several days, so the total number of downloads is likely well over 140,000 at this time, the company said.
The app is currently ranked #1 in its category (Travel) and #9 overall in the US App Store, and #8 in its category on Google Play.
Additionally, the app appears to be gaining traction through organic search rather than through Apple Search Ads campaigns.
According to Appfigures, reviews on the App Store are mostly positive, with 40 5-star reviews and 22 1-star reviews. Consumer dissatisfaction with the Android version appears to be even greater.
The company promises that the app will offer the ability to explore U.S. states and Canadian provinces in a path of totality, as well as explore community events in search states. Plus, a timer lets you know when the moment of totality is exactly where you are, so you can put on your eclipse glasses and watch your watch. You can also check the local weather forecast, subscribe to local events, and check out other local points of interest. Parking information for various events is also posted.
How to observe a solar eclipse just in case
If you can't see the eclipse directly or don't have special glasses, check out NASA's official livestream below.