Version 2.2 Available Now! Here’s what’s new:
NEW FEATURES
- Multiple Locations Support. Easily see rise/set times for your favourite locations.
BUG FIXES
-FIXED: Moon Compass orientation displayed incorrectly upon startup (iPad only).
-FIXED: Dates displayed incorrectly when using non-Gregorian calendars.
Q: What iPhone OS Versions does it run on?
A: The latest version runs on iOS 3.1.3 and later (including iOS 3.2, 4.x, and 5.x). MoonPhase runs on iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads of all hardware versions. Please note that not all features are available on all hardware models.
Date, Time, and Locations
Q: How do I change the Date/Time?
A: On the Moon tab, just tap on the date button. This brings up the date and time chooser. Or swipe up to increase day/down to decrease day. On the Calendar tab, double tap on a date.
Q: What timezone are the times in?
A: Starting with Version 1.4, the time zone used defaults to your iPhone’s/iPod touch’s time zone. You can override the time zone offset from the Location Tab.
Q: Do you support 24h time format? Do you support AM/PM time format?
A: Yes! But not simultaneously. MoonPhase uses your iPhone’s Region setting to format dates and times. On your iPhone, look here: Settings->General->International->Region Format and here: Settings->General->Date and Time(24-Hour Time option)
Q: How do you go to the previous New or Full Moon?
A: Scroll back over 30 days and then Fast Forward to the next New or Full Moon.
Q: What does the Fast Forward to Clock icon on the Date selector mean?
A: Fast Forward to Now (present date and time).
Q: How do I set my location manually?
A: To set your location manually, tap the blue Detail disclosure button on the Location you want to change (or create a new one). Tap on the Geographic Coordinates button. Then tap on the map. Zoom in on the map for more precise setting. If you want to dial in the exact longitude or latitude, press the “adjustments” button and rotate the thumb wheels to dial in your desired coordinates. The left one is for Latitude and the right one is for Longitude. Don’t forget to set the correct time zone for your custom location.
Glossary of Ephemeris Terms
Q: From where is the Azimuth measured?
A: With Version 1.3 onward, Azimuth is measured in degrees East from North. It is a true heading (not magnetic).
Q: Wait, what *is* Azimuth, and all those other terms on the Ephemeris page?
A: Yeah, they can be a bit strange at first. Here are some *basic* explanations and links in wikipedia for more detail.
- UTC: It is a reference to Coordinated Universal Time and can be roughly thought of as the time at Greenwich, England (or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)). UTC forms the basis for many calculations and many astronomical tables list the times in UTC so it’s handy to have it displayed.
- Julian Day: Yet another time scale. This one tries to have consistency over long periods of time and is used in most calculations.
- Distance: This is the distance between the center of the earth and the center of the moon.
- Right Ascension / Declination: (coordinates to locate an object on the celestial sphere). Right Ascension can be thought of as longitude in this system and Declination can be thought of as latitude. MoonPhase shows the geocentric Right Ascension and Declination (i.e., measured as if you were in the center of the earth and looking out).
- Azimuth / Altitude: (coordinates to locate an object in the sky) Azimuth measures the angle from some fixed “direction”. As of version 1.3, MoonPhase measures Azimuth in degrees East from North. Altitude measures the angle from the horizon (at sea level). Positive values mean above horizon, negative values mean below horizon.
- Lunation: The amount of time between successive New Moons.
- Moon Age: The amount of time since the last New Moon.
whew, now for something lighter…
Eclipses
Q: Does the eclipse indicator mean that I will see an eclipse?
A: Not always, well, honestly, probably not. It depends on what kind of eclipse it is, and if solar, how it projects across the Earth, and the weather. It’s always the weather.
Q: If I can’t see the eclipse, why tell me about it?
A: Well, it’s happening and you may be interested in knowing more about it, travelling to see it, etc.
Q: Why doesn’t MoonPhase give me more details on eclipses?
A: Well, stay tuned for future releases. This is an interesting topic!
Werewolf Warning and The Howl
Q: When does the Werewolf Warning activate?
A: The werewolf warning sounds under these conditions:
- The warning option is on: Settings -> “Werewolf Warning: ON”
- MoonPhase’s selected date+time is within 12 hours of the full moon (up to 12 hours before or after a full moon)
- The app displays either the Moon tab or the calendar tab
- The device’s volume is set sufficiently high
- The device’s mute is disabled (i.e., ringer is on)
You can test the howl by jumping to a full moon day (either by changing date or double tapping on the full moon date in the calendar).
Q: Can I get The Howl as a ringtone?
A: Absolutely! See here: The Howl