Name: Lumara: Sun & Moon Live Viewer
Author: Beeswax Pat

Question 1

Is Lumara really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Lumara is completely free with no premium tier, no in-app purchases, and no ads. All features are available to everyone.

Question 2

Is Lumara available on iPhone or iPad?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lumara is live on the App Store as a universal iPhone and iPad app, and on Google Play for Android. Same features on both platforms, completely free.

Question 3

Does Lumara track my location?

Accepted Answer

No. Lumara never requests GPS permission. You choose a city from a list of 200+ worldwide locations, and that selection is stored only on your device. It is never transmitted anywhere.

Question 4

Where does the solar imagery come from?

Accepted Answer

All solar imagery comes directly from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the ESA/NASA SOHO spacecraft. Images are updated approximately every 15 minutes and are public domain.

Question 5

How accurate are the moon phases?

Accepted Answer

Lumara uses Jean Meeus's Astronomical Algorithms for moon phase calculations — the same methods used by professional observatories. Phase illumination, rise/set times, and positions are accurate to within minutes.

Question 6

Do I need internet to use Lumara?

Accepted Answer

Moon phase calculations work completely offline — no internet needed. Solar imagery and space weather data require an internet connection since they are fetched live from NASA servers.

Question 7

What are solar wavelengths?

Accepted Answer

Different wavelengths of light reveal different layers and temperatures of the Sun. Lumara shows 12 wavelengths from NASA's SDO, ranging from the visible surface (5,000 K) to extreme flare plasma (10 million K). Each wavelength is like a different lens revealing hidden solar activity.

Question 8

What is a coronal mass ejection (CME)?

Accepted Answer

A coronal mass ejection is a massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. CMEs can cause geomagnetic storms on Earth, producing aurora and potentially affecting satellites and power grids. Lumara tracks CMEs in real-time via NASA's DONKI database.

Question 9

Can I see the far side of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The Lumara app includes a far-side toggle that shows NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imagery of the Moon's far side — the hemisphere permanently facing away from Earth.

Question 10

How often is the solar imagery updated?

Accepted Answer

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captures images approximately every 12 seconds across multiple wavelengths. The latest images available on the SDO website (and in Lumara) are updated roughly every 15 minutes.

Question 11

What is the Kp index?

Accepted Answer

The Kp index measures geomagnetic activity on a 0-9 scale. Values of 5 or higher indicate a geomagnetic storm (G1-G5 scale). Lumara shows geomagnetic storm data from NASA's DONKI service so you can track when aurora might be visible at your latitude.

Question 12

Who builds Lumara?

Accepted Answer

Beeswax Pat — a U.S. Army veteran and indie developer. One person, no funding, no tracking deals. Bug reports and feedback welcome at beeswaxpat@gmail.com.

The Sun

The Moon

Solar Timelapse

Live Earth

Recent Space Weather Events

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The Cosmos at a Glance

The Sun

The Moon

Space Weather

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