Moon Phase Widget 3

Opening the app for the first time

The app opens directly to the current moon phase display. No registration or setup is required. The main screen shows a large, detailed image of the moon in its current phase, along with key data: illumination percentage, age in days and hours, and the zodiac sign the moon is currently in. Swiping left or right moves the view to the previous or next day. Swiping up or down moves by week. This navigation is smooth and responsive. The interface follows Material Design guidelines, with clean typography and a dark color scheme that complements the lunar theme.

Below the main display, a row of tabs provides access to additional features: Month View, Gardening Tips, Exposure Calculator, and Settings. The Month View shows an entire month's worth of moon phases in a calendar grid. Tapping any date jumps to that day's phase information. The Gardening Tips section provides advice based on the American tradition of lunar gardening. The Exposure Calculator helps photographers determine the optimal shutter speed for capturing the moon, based on ISO, aperture, weather conditions, and the moon's position and phase.

The widget system and how it works

The app includes several home screen widgets. These widgets display the current moon phase directly on the user's launcher. The widgets come in different sizes: large, icon, new moon, and first moon. The large widget shows the moon image along with phase name and illumination percentage. The icon widget is compact, showing only the moon image. The new moon and first moon widgets focus on specific phases. The widgets update automatically every few hours, based on the device's system time.

Widgets are only available if the app is installed on the device's internal storage. If the app is moved to external storage, the widgets will not appear in the widget list. This is a technical limitation that users should be aware of. The app also includes a parallactic angle display, which shows the "wobble" effect of the moon as it appears to rock from side to side. This is a niche feature that may appeal to astronomy enthusiasts.

The original analysis: gardening tips and exposure calculator

The gardening tips are based on the American tradition of lunar gardening, which suggests that certain gardening activities are best performed during specific moon phases. For example, planting above-ground crops during the waxing moon and root crops during the waning moon. The app provides daily tips on what to plant, prune, or harvest based on the current lunar phase. This feature is not commonly found in other moon phase apps. It adds a practical dimension to the app that goes beyond simple phase tracking.

The exposure calculator is another unique feature. It estimates the shutter speed needed to photograph the moon based on the user's ISO, aperture, weather conditions, and the moon's position and phase. This is a tool for astrophotographers who want to capture detailed images of the moon. The calculator takes into account the moon's brightness, which varies with phase and atmospheric conditions. This feature is not described in detail on the Play Store page, but it is a significant differentiator for the app.

Permissions and technical details

The app requires Android 9.0 or higher for compatibility. The APK size is approximately 12.9 MB, making it lightweight. The app contains ads, which appear as banners or interstitials. The developer, Simon Sander, is based in Slovenia. The app's data safety section indicates that it may collect device IDs, app activity, and performance data. This data is not encrypted and cannot be deleted. The app does not request excessive permissions. The Exodus privacy report shows no suspicious permissions. The app has been available on Google Play since February 2011, making it a mature product. The latest update, version 3.0.17, includes library updates and minor fixes.