Sun Surveyor Lite, by Adam Ratana, is a location-based planning tool that predicts and visualizes solar and lunar positions for photography and outdoor work. It shows precise timing for sunrise, sunset, golden and blue hour through a detailed ephemeris and an interactive Time Machine slider. The app highlights twilight windows, shadow estimations, and solstice paths, aimed at photographers, filmmakers, architects, and planners who need reliable light scheduling on a mobile device.

What is Sun Surveyor Lite used for?

You use the app to translate astronomical data into on-the-ground planning information, primarily via a 3D Compass that overlays solar and lunar paths on your device orientation. That visual overlay helps you align shots, predict sightlines, and judge where the sun will cross the scene, which is useful when you scout a location or sketch lighting for an outdoor shoot.

What timing and spatial outputs does the app provide?

The app supplies a formal ephemeris with exact times for sunrise, sunset, the golden hour, and the blue hour, plus twilight breakdowns. It lists:

• Civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight timings
• Solstice and equinox path visualizations
• Shadow ratio calculations that estimate shadow length and projection throughout the day

These outputs let you plan shoots, site visits, or panel orientation with concrete temporal markers.

How does the interface support field planning and scouting?

The interface centers on interactive controls that let you move time and observe changing light conditions, notably the Visual Time Machine slider that animates the sky position for any chosen date. Core functions work offline, so you can scout without a data connection, and the compass compensates for magnetic declination to align readings to true north, which keeps field measurements trustworthy.

Is the app aimed at casual users or professionals?

The tool targets planners who need dependable solar information rather than a broad consumer photo editor. It serves photographers, filmmakers, architects, solar professionals, and outdoor schedulers with focused planning capabilities. The Lite package omits certain map-based and augmented visual layers found in the higher-tier release, so you trade extended situational context for a lighter, locally functional planning toolkit.

A focused entry point for planners who value timing and precision

If you need a dependable, accuracy-first planning tool on Android, this is a practical gateway that helps you schedule shoots and site work with confidence. The app’s long development history and standing among photographers support its use as a planner’s companion; expect a compact, purpose-driven tool that gets you from scouting to shoot day with predictable results.