AstroHopper

Overview

AstroHopper is a free open-source web application developed by Artyom Beilis for assisting astronomers in locating celestial objects using smartphone sensors. It functions as a digital setting circle by enabling users to 'hop' from known stars to fainter targets via gyroscope and gravity-based angle measurements. The tool targets amateur astronomers seeking a low-cost alternative to traditional equipment, hosted on GitHub at https://artyom-beilis.github.io.

History

Developed by Artyom Beilis as SkyHopper and later renamed AstroHopper. Released as a free open-source project on GitHub. No recorded founding date, funding, acquisitions, or major milestones beyond ongoing maintenance.

Manufacturing

No physical products; software developed by individual developer Artyom Beilis and distributed via GitHub as open-source code.

Notable Products

• AstroHopper App - Web-based astronomy tool using phone gyroscope and gravity sensors to guide telescopes from reference stars to target objects.

Reputation

Perceived as a niche, practical tool among amateur astronomers for its zero-cost accessibility and innovative use of smartphone hardware. Enthusiasts on forums like Cloudy Nights praise its calibration features and manual mode fallback, though some note compass accuracy limitations in certain devices. Lacks widespread professional adoption due to single-developer support and absence of native app versions.