The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE): Your Essential Tool for Outdoor Photography


The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) is a powerful tool designed to assist photographers in planning their outdoor shoots effectively. This map-centric sun and moon calculator allows you to visualize how light will interact with the landscape, whether it's day or night, almost anywhere on Earth.

Why Choose TPE?


Ideal for landscape, nature, travel, and outdoor photographers, TPE offers a unique map-based approach. You can easily search for any location on the planet or position the map pin exactly where you want it, making it incredibly user-friendly.

Advanced Features


TPE is packed with advanced features that enhance your photography planning:



  • Automatic time zone and elevation detection

  • Correction for atmospheric refraction and height above the horizon

  • Determine visibility of the sun or moon from behind nearby hills and mountains

Map Types


Five different map types are available, including:



  1. Standard Map

  2. Satellite/Hybrid Map

  3. Terrain Map

  4. Open Street Map

  5. Open Cycle Map Topographic


The Open Street Map and Open Cycle Map Topographic options offer automatic offline support, caching any tiles you view for offline use.

Key Features


TPE provides a comprehensive set of features:



  • Time and direction of sunrise and sunset

  • Time and direction of moonrise and moonset

  • Phase of the moon and % illumination

  • Times of civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight

  • Graphical display on a map

  • Rotate and tilt the map for an optimal view

  • Compass-based auto-rotation of the map

  • Movable map pins - drag and drop the pin where needed

  • Search locations by address, place name, or coordinates

  • Save any location you want - no fixed lists

  • All features available in both portrait and landscape mode

  • No network connection required for rise/set times, azimuths, and sun/moon positions

Additional Advanced Features


For those looking for even more functionality, TPE includes:



  • Automatic time zone detection for any location on Earth

  • Elevation above sea level

  • View azimuth and altitude of the sun/moon for any time of day/night

  • Distance, bearing, and elevation angle between two points

  • Import and export locations to/from KML

  • Light pollution map overlay

  • Reverse geocoding of coordinates

  • Support for what3words three-word addresses (more info)

Geek Features


For the tech-savvy user, TPE offers:



  • Determine when the sun/moon will appear from behind a hill

  • Compensation for atmospheric refraction

  • Compensation for elevation above the horizon

Important Notes



  • This app has a limited feature set compared to its iOS equivalent. Please review this listing carefully before purchasing.

  • Maps and elevation-based calculations require a data connection (except for cached maps).

  • Locations outside ±80° latitude are unsupported.

  • Map auto-rotate requires a compatible device (with magnetometer and accelerometer).

  • Requires Google Play Services and Google Maps installed on your device.

For the end user license agreement, visit: http://photoephemeris.com/android-eula


If you encounter any issues installing Google Play Services, please visit: http://photoephemeris.com/support#android_support

Carry TPE with You


For years, TPE for desktop has been a favorite among photographers worldwide. Now, with the mobile app, you can take this essential tool wherever you go!