SolarDial Support

Does SolarDial need the internet? No. Every sun time is computed on your device using the NOAA solar equations, so SolarDial works without a connection. The only network request is the one that verifies a SolarDial Pro purchase or restore.

Do I have to share my location? No. Location is entirely optional. You can add any place by name from the built-in city list, or by typing in coordinates and a UTC offset. The "Use my location" button reads a single fix only when you tap it.

How accurate are the times? SolarDial uses the standard NOAA solar-position model, accurate to about a minute for sunrise and sunset at typical latitudes. Times near the poles (midnight sun or polar night) are reported as having no sunrise or sunset, which is correct for those days.

What are golden hour and blue hour? Golden hour is the warm-light window when the sun is low (roughly −4° to +6° above the horizon); blue hour is the cooler window just below that (roughly −6° to −4°). SolarDial lists both, morning and evening, for the place you've chosen.

How does the shadow-length tool work? The shadow-length tool is part of SolarDial Pro. On the Dial tab, set an object height and scrub the time of day. SolarDial computes the shadow length from the sun's altitude (shadow = height ÷ tan(altitude)). When the sun is at or below the horizon there is no defined shadow.

How do I restore SolarDial Pro? SolarDial Pro is a one-time purchase. On a new or reset iPhone, open Settings in the app and tap Restore Purchase while signed in with the Apple Account you bought it with.