SQM Toolbox

SQM Toolbox is a utility designed to enable Mac-based astronomers and citizen scientists to interface to connected versions of the Sky Quality Meter (SQM), available from Unihedron. It can also accept manually entered measurements from a handled SQM unit. SQM Mobile goes one step further by allowing manual entries in the field, with automatic CloudKit synchronisation back to the SQM Toolbox app running on a house-bound macOS computer.

Key Features of SQM Toolbox (macOS):

Real-Time Monitoring

• Connect directly to SQM-LE (Ethernet), SQM-LU (USB), or SQM-LR (RS232) devices

• Live measurements with automatic astronomical calculations

• Continuous data collection with customizable sampling intervals

• Support for manual measurements from handheld SQM devices

Evaluation of natural background limits

• Accurate calculation of background brightness level of Moon and Milky Way

• Optional inclusion of background due to airglow, with empirical model

• Allows comparison of measurements with the theoretical maximum

Advanced Analysis

• Moon phase correlation analysis to identify Moon phase and seasonal impacts

• Seasonal light pollution trends and statistics

• Automated Bortle Dark-Sky Scale classification

• NELM (Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude) calculations

• Comprehensive twilight condition tracking

Powerful Visualization

• Interactive charts showing nightly sky quality progression

• Historical data trends with customizable time ranges

• Primary plots of sky quality and secondary plots of optional data

• Real-time moon phase and astronomical condition displays

Professional Tools

• Tracking and management of the "Best" measurement ever

• Device aging compensation for long-term accuracy

• Space weather correlation (solar activity, geomagnetic conditions)

• Export data in multiple formats for research and sharing

• Upload to Globe at Night and other citizen science platforms

Flexible Configuration

• Support for multiple SQM device types and connection methods

• Custom location settings with precise astronomical calculations

• Configurable exclusion rules (sun/moon/cloud conditions)

• Manual data entry mode for handheld devices

Seamless Integration

• Automatic sync with SQM Mobile companion app via iCloud

• Cross-device data sharing from mobile devices to Mac

• Secure private cloud storage of all measurements

Perfect for amateur astronomers, professional observatories, research institutions, and citizen scientists working to understand and combat light pollution.

System Requirements: macOS 12.0 or later, though some features (e.g. analyses) are not available under macOS 12

Key Features of SQM Mobile (iOS):

Field-Ready Data Collection

• Quick and easy measurement entry for handheld SQM devices

• Automatic GPS location recording for each measurement

• Timestamp precision for accurate astronomical correlation

• Offline measurement storage - sync when connection available

Smart Location Features

• Automatic GPS coordinate capture

• Manual location override for survey work

• Perfect for camping trips, dark-sky site surveys, and travel observations

Automatic Cloud Sync

• Seamlessly sync measurements to SQM Toolbox on Mac via iCloud

• Private, secure data storage - only you can access your measurements

• Works anywhere with internet - no complex setup required

• Real-time updates across all your devices

Evaluation of natural background limits

• Accurate calculation of background brightness level of Moon and Milky Way

• Allows comparison of measurements with the theoretical maximum

Quick Analysis

• Instant Bortle classification for each measurement

• Light pollution assessment on-device

• Measurement validation and quality indicators

• Simple, intuitive interface designed for field use

Astronomical Context

• Automatic twilight condition detection

• Moon phase information for each measurement

• Sun elevation calculations

Simple and Reliable

• Designed for easy use in dark conditions

• Large, clear buttons for nighttime operation

• Minimal battery drain for extended field sessions

• No account setup - uses your existing iCloud account

Perfect for:

• Astronomers conducting site surveys

• Researchers measuring light pollution

• Dark-sky advocates documenting conditions

• Anyone using handheld SQM devices who wants professional data analysis

Requires: iOS 14.0 or later, iCloud account

Works with: Any handheld Sky Quality Meter (SQM-L, SQM)

Companion to: SQM Toolbox for macOS