Starstone Software and Imaging
The Lunartic Inordinately fond of the Moon

Get to know
the Moon.

A world of craters, mountains, and lunar seas is waiting in that familiar light overhead. Explore it with The Lunartic—a detailed lunar atlas and observing companion for iPhone and iPad.

Purchase on theApp Store Explore the app Support & FAQ

For iPhone and iPad · Requires iOS / iPadOS 18.6 or later · Family Sharing

The Lunartic showing Santbech crater selected with its coordinates, lunar terrain, date and time, and app controls
A detailed lunar atlasSurface maps and elevation from LRO data
Find your bearingsFeature search, flip, and mirror controls
Explore through timeFollow changing daylight and libration
Private by designStarstone collects no app data

For the love of the Moon

Every crater is a place.

I built The Lunartic for people who keep coming back to the Moon. It is a companion for learning your way around, following a curiosity, or putting a name to something you just noticed through the telescope.

Drag across the landscape, zoom in for a closer look, and double-tap a feature to learn about it. The maps draw on Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imagery and elevation data.

Find a familiar landmarkSearch craters, mountain ranges, and lunar seas by name. Locate the Apollo landing sites and explore the landscape around them.
Match your telescopeFlip and mirror the atlas to suit your eyepiece. Add a latitude/longitude grid or show the terminator, the boundary between lunar day and night.
Put time in motionChoose a date, step forward or backward, or play through the Moon's changing appearance and the subtle wobble called libration.
Plan an observing sessionSet your observer location, then check phase, illumination, rise and set times, altitude, and other lunar observing information.

Real views from the app

From the whole Moon
to the smallest curiosity.

Explore on your iPhone or spread out across an iPad. These screenshots show the app's own maps, feature information, and observing controls.

The Lunartic on iPad showing the lunar Apennines, craters, a latitude and longitude grid, date and time, and app controls
A closer look at the landscapeThe Apennine mountains and surrounding craters on iPad, with the latitude/longitude grid, date and time, and app controls in view.
Copernicus highlighted on the lunar map with its name origin, size, and coordinates
Meet CopernicusDouble-tap a feature to see its name, origin, dimensions, and coordinates.
Lunar Calendar showing September 2026, date and time wheels, rise, transit, and set times, and monthly phase events
Find your next night outBrowse the lunar calendar, choose a date and time, and check the Moon's phase and observing times.
Lunar Time controls over the Moon's surface with one-hour steps, playback, pause, and Reset
Watch the light changeStep or play through time while keeping the lunar terrain in view.

Your first look around.

Start in Settings → Observer Location to choose your observing site. You can replay the guided tour at any time through Settings → Help.

  1. 01
    Drag and pinch

    Drag to move around the map. Spread two fingers to zoom in; pinch to zoom out.

  2. 02
    Inspect a feature

    Press and hold for the reticle, or double-tap a feature to open its information.

  3. 03
    Search the Moon

    Tap the magnifying glass and enter a name, such as Copernicus. Choose a result to explore it.

  4. 04
    Choose your time

    Tap the date once for the calendar, or double-tap it for Lunar Time's step and playback controls.

Product support

Frequently asked questions.

Need a hand? Email support@starstonesoftware.com with your device model, app version, and the steps that led to the problem.

Which devices are supported?

The Lunartic is designed for iPhone and iPad, with iOS 18.6 or iPadOS 18.6 or later. See the App Store listing for current compatibility and pricing.

How do I change the date and get back to now?

Tap the map's date once to open Lunar Calendar. Choose your date and time, then tap Use selected date to apply both. Double-tap the date to open Lunar Time, where you can step or play backward and forward. Tap Pause to stop playback or Reset to return to the current time. Reset view in the View menu only resets the view.

How do I match the view through my telescope?

Open the hamburger menu for View options. Flip up/down and Left/right mirroring are separate controls; use them to match your optical setup. You can also toggle the latitude/longitude grid, change the terminator display, or choose Reset view.

Which location and time zone does the app use?

Open Settings → Observer Location to use your current device location when available, pick a site on the map, or enter coordinates manually. Topocentric uses your observer location for the view; Geocentric gives an observer-independent chart view.

Under Date & Time Preferences, Local (device) means your device's time zone, even if you choose an observing site elsewhere. Choose UTC to work in Universal Time.

Why can't I find or select a feature?

Check the spelling and try All instead of Visible hemisphere. The latter filters by the current viewing geometry, not whether a feature is sunlit. Read the status beside the result: a feature facing away from the observer may be unavailable for selection. “Always Earth Side” does not mean always illuminated.

How do I show terrain shadows?

Open Settings → General Settings → Enable Shadow Generation (experimental). Stop moving or zooming the map and allow time for the shadows to appear. This optional calculation takes extra time and is separate from the View menu's Terminator display, which shows the boundary between lunar day and night.

Why did the date and time disappear?

General Settings includes Fade out date and time on main map with an adjustable delay. Manipulate the map to bring the date and time back, or turn that setting off to keep them visible.

Does Starstone collect my location or app data?

No. Starstone collects no data from The Lunartic. Your observing location is used on your device to calculate information such as rise and set times and parallax. You can enter it manually, and the app does not log your location in the background. See the privacy statement for details.

Can my family share the purchase?

Yes. The App Store listing supports Apple's Family Sharing for up to six family members when Family Sharing is enabled.

The Lunartic · Available now

See a familiar Moon
with fresh eyes.

Purchase The Lunartic for iPhone and iPad on the App Store.

Purchase on theApp Store