OrbitalAtlas

OrbitalAtlas is a mobile + web app that helps people find genuinely dark, accessible, and safe places to stargaze and do astrophotography. It combines light-pollution layers with terrain, horizon obstructions, moon phase, cloud forecasts, and on-the-ground access data (gates, parking, hours, permits). Users can save “spot cards” with exact coordinates, best shooting directions, seasonal Milky Way visibility, and gear notes. The app also flags common failure points—private property, frequent fog pockets, wind exposure, and local enforcement risk—so users don’t waste a night driving. Community submissions are allowed but heavily structured (required photos, access notes, and timestamped conditions) to avoid low-quality spam. Realistically, this won’t beat generic map apps on navigation; it wins by preventing wasted trips and making planning reliable for night-sky outings.