Pricing — NightSim

Plans

ANNUAL.BILLING
Base features
Included in every plan
No matter which catalog you choose.
What's up tonight, this week & this month
Lunar cycle tracker
Public gallery & social feed
Public profile & progress
Equipment tracking
Night Simulator VR Sync
$2.99/mo CAD
Most Popular
$5.98/mo if separate
$4.99/mo CAD
Best Value
$11.96/mo if separate
$7.99/mo CAD
$17.94/mo if separate
$11.99/mo CAD
Explorer
Observer
Stargazer
Astronomer
Sky Journal
Messier
Caldwell
Moon Atlas
Solar System
Sky Journalincluded
Messier
Caldwell
Moon Atlas
Solar System
✓ 2 catalogs selected
Sky Journal
Messier
Caldwell
Moon Atlas
Solar System
Sky Journal
Messier
Caldwell
Moon Atlas
Solar System
NGC Top 1,500
  • Messier catalog (110 objects)
  • 2 images per object
  • * All base features included
  • Messier catalog (110 objects)
  • Caldwell catalog (109 objects)
  • Sky Journal included
  • 5 images per object
  • * All base features included
  • 5 images per deep sky object
  • 20 images per solar system object
  • 10 images per Sky Journal category
  • Sky Journal included
  • * All base features included
  • NGC Top 1,500 (curated)
  • 10 images per deep sky object
  • 20 images per solar system object
  • 10 images per Sky Journal category
  • Sky Journal included
  • * All base features included
Billed annually
$35.88
Billed annually
$59.88
You save
$11.88
Billed annually
$95.88
You save
$47.64
Billed annually
$143.88
You save
$71.40
Annual billing · Cancel anytime

Pick your catalog. Start your journey.

Start with a single catalog at $2.99 and upgrade as your kit grows. Every plan includes What's Up Tonight, the community gallery, equipment tracking, and Night Simulator VR Sync.

Catalogs
Messier110 OBJECTS · CHARLES MESSIER, 1774

Compiled to help comet hunters avoid confusion, the Messier catalogue became the definitive guide to deep-sky observing. All 110 objects are accessible in a small telescope from mid-northern latitudes.

AllGALAXYNEBULAGLOBULAR CLUSTEROPEN CLUSTERPLANETARY NEBULASUPERNOVA REMNANTASTERISM
Season:AllSpringNOWSummerAutumnWinter
M1
Crab Nebula
Supernova RemnantTaurus
M2
M2
Globular ClusterAquarius
M3
M3
Globular ClusterCanes Venatici
M4
M4
Globular ClusterScorpius
M5
M5
Globular ClusterSerpens
M6
Butterfly Cluster
Open ClusterScorpius
M7
Ptolemy Cluster
Open ClusterScorpius
M8
Lagoon Nebula
NebulaSagittarius

Included in every plan

FEATURE.PREVIEW
TonightMar 19 · Dusk 8:42 PM → Dawn 5:58 AM
45.5°N · Clear
🌒
Waxing Crescent · 14%
Sets 10:34 PM · Low interference tonight
New
Cres
Qtr
Gib
Full
M42
Orion Nebula
↓ 1:44 AM
M45
Pleiades
↓ 12:58 AM
M1
Crab Nebula
↓ 1:49 AM
M35
Open Cluster
↓ 3:12 AM
M31
Andromeda Galaxy
↓ 11:58 PM
M104
Sombrero Galaxy
↑ 11:04 PM
M3
Globular Cluster
↑ 10:58 PM
Included in every plan

Know what's in the sky before you set up

NightSim calculates rise and set times for every object in your catalog based on your location. See tonight's best targets sorted by altitude, filter by type or season, and track the lunar phase to plan your best dark window.

Real-time rise/set times for your location
Lunar phase calendar with interference forecast
This week & this month views for session planning
Seasonal filter to find what's up across months
Included in every plan

Your images. Your progress. Your story.

Every NightSim account comes with a public profile page where your logged images, catalog progress, and completed challenges are on display. Follow other astronomers, share your milestones, and build your imaging portfolio over time.

Shareable public profile with your catalog progress
Follow/follower system to connect with other observers
Observation history tied to each catalog object
Completed challenge badges (Marathon, Circuit & more)
DA
darren_astro
@darren_astro · Observer · Joined Feb 2024
47
Objects
312
Images
28
Followers
14
Following
Messier Progress47 / 110
Recent Observations
M1
M1
M8
M8
M31
M31
M42
M42
M45
M45
M57
M57
M78
M78
M104
M104
M42 Orion Nebula
M42 · Orion Nebula · 45min Ha
DA
darren_astro
Mar 12, 2026
Follow
M42
Orion Nebula
NebulaOrion
Equipment
ScopeWilliam Optics GT71
CameraZWO ASI2600MC
MountSky-Watcher HEQ5
Exposure45 min · Ha filter
47💬 8
@sky_hunter Incredible detail on the trapezium!
@astronova What was your sky rating?
Included in every plan

A gallery built for astronomers

Every image you log is tied to its catalog object — not just floating in a feed. Browse the community gallery, explore what others have captured of the same objects, and build your own portfolio image by image.

Image detail popup with full equipment & capture data
Community feed sorted by object, catalog, or date
Likes, comments, and follow system built in
Your images displayed on your public profile page
Included in every plan

Your catalog. Inside the headset.

Night Simulator VR Sync connects your NightSim catalog to your Meta Quest headset. Browse your logged objects, review your images in a full-sky environment, and plan your next session from inside a virtual observatory — all in sync with your account.

Full catalog access inside Night Simulator VR
Browse your logged images in immersive 3D space
Star field and object placement based on your location
Syncs automatically with your NightSim account
Night Simulator
45.5°N · 73.6°WMar 19 · 9:41 PM
M42
Alt 62°
My Catalog · Messier
M42Orion Nebula
M45Pleiades
M1Crab Nebula
M31Andromeda Galaxy
M35Open Cluster
Progress
47 / 110
Synced with NightSimdarren_astro

FAQ

COMMON.QUESTIONS
How does billing work?

All plans are billed annually — the monthly price shown is the per-month equivalent of your yearly charge. For example, the Explorer plan is $35.88 charged once per year ($2.99 × 12).

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Cancel from your account settings and your access continues until the end of the annual billing period you've paid for. No cancellation fees.

Are prices in CAD?

Yes, all prices are in Canadian dollars. International customers will see the equivalent in their local currency at checkout.

What happens to my images if I cancel or downgrade?

Your images stay in the system. You keep read access to everything already uploaded — you can still view and download your photos. New uploads are paused until you re-subscribe.

Can I switch catalogs after I subscribe?

You choose your catalog when you subscribe. If you want to switch, reach out to support and we can move your account at any time.

What is the Messier Marathon?

The Messier Marathon is a real astronomy event held each March where observers try to locate all 110 Messier objects in a single night. NightSim lets you track your progress, log your images against each object, and see your collection grow over time.

What is the Moon Atlas?

Moon Atlas is a high-resolution interactive lunar atlas. Named features — craters, seas, mountain ranges — are mapped as callout points. You attach your own lunar images to each feature to build a personal moon atlas. The Moonshot challenge is to image every named lunar feature.

What is the Caldwell Circuit?

The Caldwell Circuit is the completion challenge for the Caldwell catalog — observe and image all 109 objects to earn your Circuit badge. Like the Messier Marathon, it gives you a tangible goal to work toward across seasons.

How many NGC objects are included?

The New General Catalogue contains thousands of objects, but not all are practical imaging targets. Astronomer includes the top 1,500 most-imaged NGC objects — curated for visual interest and imaging frequency — going well beyond what Messier and Caldwell cover.

What's included in every plan?

Every plan includes What's Up Tonight, the lunar cycle tracker, community gallery, public profile, equipment tracking, and Night Simulator VR Sync. Your catalog choice and image limits are what differ between plans.

Do you offer refunds?

If you're not satisfied within the first month of a new subscription, contact us and we'll sort it out. No questions asked.