Unlocking the Wonders of the Night Sky with iSkyMatch App: A Smartphone-Based Astrophotography Companion

A Smartphone-Based Astrophotography Companion for Reliable Photon Estimation

Abstract

Smartphone-based astrophotography is rapidly emerging as an accessible tool for astronomical observation. However, variability in imaging parameters such as exposure time, lens aperture, light intensity, and optical distance significantly affects reproducibility and photometric accuracy. Preliminary experimental colour-standardisation data obtained using an iPhone 4 camera demonstrated that brightness correction using a standardised parameter reduced variability dramatically. Imaging of 16 colours from Red-Violet across 50 varying optical conditions produced a standard deviation of approximately 3.42 after standardisation, compared to 33.18 without correction. Similarly, across all 16 colour standards, the mean standard deviation decreased from 37.12 to 4.87, confirming improved reproducibility. Statistical analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel to calculate mean RGB values, standard deviations, error percentages, and post-hoc power estimation (power > 95%, α = 0.05, β ≈ 0.05). The iSkyMatch smartphone application (Version 1.0) integrates this colour-brightness standardisation methodology to enhance astrophotographic imaging and enable photon-percentage estimation for observational astronomy. The app facilitates deep-sky imaging, astrometry, photometry, variable star monitoring, aurora capture, comet tracking, and eclipse imaging using smartphone-telescope assemblies. This paper presents the operational framework, methodology, and preliminary performance outcomes of the iSkyMatch system as a portable astrophotography companion.