Question 1

Is Picastro really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Picastro is free to download, free to sign up, and free to browse. There's no paywall to post your images or use core features like StarCards and plate solving. The platform stays ad-free and bot-free by being purpose-built for astrophotographers, not by charging you to participate.

Question 2

How large can my uploads be?

Accepted Answer

Up to 120 MB or 72 megapixels per image, with no compression applied. That matters because mainstream apps like Instagram and Facebook aggressively crush astro images, destroying faint nebulosity and star detail you spent hours capturing. On Picastro, what you upload is exactly what other astrophotographers see.

Question 3

What are StarCards®?

Accepted Answer

StarCards® are structured capture-detail cards attached to every image: target, telescope, mount, camera, filters, total integration time, and processing notes. They make every post a learning resource — you can browse anyone's setup to understand how a particular image was taken. You can also save reusable SetUps so you don't retype your rig every upload.

Question 4

Will my images be protected?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ImageProtect disables in-app screenshots and screen recording, and prevents long-press image saving, so your work is harder to lift without permission. No system is perfect against a determined screen-camera, but we take image ownership seriously and these protections aren't available on mainstream social platforms.

Question 5

Which devices does Picastro support?

Accepted Answer

Picastro runs natively on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets, with a desktop web uploader for posting straight from your processing workstation. The tablet experience is particularly good — high-resolution astro images look stunning on a larger screen, which is the whole point of preserving full resolution in the first place.

Question 6

Do I need to be experienced to join?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Picastro is built for everyone from first-light beginners to seasoned deep-sky imagers. The community is famously welcoming.

Question 7

Is there AI-generated content?

Accepted Answer

No. Picastro is for real photons captured from real telescopes. AI-generated and faked astro content is not allowed.

Question 8

Why doesn't Picastro use an algorithm in the feed?

Accepted Answer

There is no engagement-chasing algorithm — your feed shows real posts from the community in a predictable order. That means quality astrophotography surfaces because people actually look at it, not because it triggered an outrage loop. It also means new and experienced imagers get fairly seen, instead of being buried by whatever the algorithm is rewarding this week.

Question 9

How is Picastro different from Instagram or Facebook for astrophotography?

Accepted Answer

Three differences astrophotographers notice immediately: no image compression (your full resolution is preserved), no algorithm or ads cluttering the feed, and no AI-generated or stolen astro content. It's a focused space where the audience already understands what they're looking at, so feedback is meaningful instead of generic.

Question 10

Why do my images look blurry on Instagram but sharp on Picastro?

Accepted Answer

Mainstream platforms recompress every upload to save bandwidth, which destroys faint nebulosity, smears star edges, and introduces colour artifacts. Picastro never recompresses your file — the JPEG, PNG, or TIFF you upload (up to 120 MB) is the exact file that displays in feed and full-screen views.

Question 11

Can I use Picastro on my iPad?

Accepted Answer

Yes — there's a dedicated tablet layout for iPad and Android tablets that takes advantage of the larger screen for browsing high-resolution images. Many users say the iPad is the best way to view other people's work because you can actually see the detail their full-resolution upload preserves.

Question 12

What is plate solving and how does Picastro use it?

Accepted Answer

Plate solving analyses the star pattern in your image to identify exactly which patch of sky you captured, then annotates the objects in it — nebulae, galaxies, catalogued targets. Picastro can run this on your uploads so viewers can see precisely what you imaged and where, which is especially useful for wide-field shots packed with multiple objects.

Question 13

Can I save my equipment setup so I don't have to retype it?

Accepted Answer

Yes — SetUps let you save complete imaging rigs (scope, mount, camera, filters, guide setup) and reuse them across uploads. Pick the SetUp when you post and the StarCard auto-populates with the right gear, so you only type session-specific things like exposure time and processing notes.

Question 14

Why can't I screenshot or save images from posts?

Accepted Answer

It's intentional, not a bug — it's part of ImageProtect. Astrophotographers spend dozens of hours capturing and processing a single image, and the app deliberately makes casual saving and screenshotting difficult so attribution is protected. You can still share posts inside the app.

Question 15

I'm brand new to astrophotography — is Picastro for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The community is well-known for being welcoming to beginners, including people shooting the Moon with a phone through a small telescope. Use search to find other people's images of the same target you're trying — their StarCards tell you exactly what gear and settings worked, which is a much faster way to learn than trial and error.

Question 16

How does Picastro keep bots and spam out?

Accepted Answer

There's no algorithmic feed for bots to game and the platform is moderated by humans who actually understand astrophotography. AI-generated images and reposted/stolen content are not allowed, so most of what gets removed isn't bots — it's low-effort engagement bait that has no place in an astro community.

Question 17

How is my data and account information handled?

Accepted Answer

Picastro only collects what's needed to run your account and your uploads. Your data isn't sold or shared with advertisers — there are no advertisers. See the privacy policy for the full breakdown of what's stored and how long.

Question 18

Picastro's community is smaller than Instagram — is that a problem?

Accepted Answer

It's a feature, not a bug. The whole audience is astrophotographers and astronomy enthusiasts, so a comment or like on Picastro tends to come from someone who genuinely understands what they're looking at. Reach is lower than mainstream social, but engagement quality is dramatically higher.

Question 19

Can I post short videos as well as still images?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Picastro supports 30-second video shorts alongside still images, which is useful for time-lapses, planetary AVI runs, and aurora clips. The same no-compression principle applies, so your footage isn't crushed the way it would be on mainstream platforms.

Question 20

Can I export or download my own uploads later?

Accepted Answer

Yes — your originals stay yours, and you can re-download anything you've uploaded from your profile. Account deletion also removes your uploads from the platform. Reach out via the in-app help if you need a bulk export.

Frequently asked.

Can't find your answer?

Frequently asked.

?Is Picastro really free?

?How large can my uploads be?

?What are StarCards®?

?Will my images be protected?

?Which devices does Picastro support?

?Do I need to be experienced to join?

?Is there AI-generated content?

?Why doesn't Picastro use an algorithm in the feed?

?How is Picastro different from Instagram or Facebook for astrophotography?

?Why do my images look blurry on Instagram but sharp on Picastro?

?Can I use Picastro on my iPad?

?What is plate solving and how does Picastro use it?

?Can I save my equipment setup so I don't have to retype it?

?Why can't I screenshot or save images from posts?

?I'm brand new to astrophotography — is Picastro for me?

?How does Picastro keep bots and spam out?

?How is my data and account information handled?

?Picastro's community is smaller than Instagram — is that a problem?

?Can I post short videos as well as still images?

?Can I export or download my own uploads later?

Can't find your answer?