Frequently Asked Questions
General
Section titled “General”What is ARIS?
Section titled “What is ARIS?”ARIS (Array Rig Integration System, pronounced “AIR-iss”) is an astrophotography control application for iOS, Android, and web. It connects to your imaging equipment over your local network and provides a unified interface for controlling mounts, cameras, focusers, guiders, filter wheels, rotators, flat panels, and power boxes.
How much does ARIS cost?
Section titled “How much does ARIS cost?”ARIS is free during the beta period. Pricing will be announced with the public launch — beta remains free. Beta users will be notified well in advance of any changes.
What platforms does ARIS run on?
Section titled “What platforms does ARIS run on?”ARIS runs on iOS (13.0+), Android (7.0+), and modern web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). The same account works across all platforms, and your rig’s equipment configuration lives on the rig itself — so every device that connects sees the same setup. See Compatibility for the full platform table.
Is ARIS open source?
Section titled “Is ARIS open source?”The ARIS source code is not currently open source. The app communicates with open-source INDI drivers on the backend.
Equipment and Compatibility
Section titled “Equipment and Compatibility”What equipment does ARIS support?
Section titled “What equipment does ARIS support?”ARIS supports any device that has an INDI driver, which covers the vast majority of astrophotography equipment:
- Mounts: ZWO AM5, iOptron, Sky-Watcher, Celestron, Losmandy, Paramount, and more
- Cameras: ZWO ASI, QHY, Atik, Player One, Touptek, and more
- Focusers: ZWO EAF, MoonLite, Pegasus, myFocuserPro, and more
- Guiders: Any INDI-compatible guide camera
- Filter wheels: ZWO EFW, Pegasus, Atik, and more
- Rotators: Pegasus Falcon, WandererAstro, and more
- Flat panels: Flip-Flat, Alnitak, and more
- Power boxes: Pegasus UPB, Svbony SV241 Pro, and more
If your device has an INDI driver, it should work with ARIS.
Do I need a Raspberry Pi?
Section titled “Do I need a Raspberry Pi?”No — a Raspberry Pi 5 is the recommended rig computer, but it is one of four paths. An NVIDIA Jetson (Orin family) runs the same backend and adds GUPPI’s full local model (Pi rigs run a lighter one). A Windows imaging PC running NINA becomes an ARIS rig via the ARIS NINA plugin. A smart telescope like the ZWO Seestar needs no rig computer at all. And any 64-bit Debian-based Linux machine running INDI works too. See Choosing a Rig Computer for the comparison.
Features
Section titled “Features”Does ARIS support multi-rig control?
Section titled “Does ARIS support multi-rig control?”Yes. ARIS can connect to multiple backends simultaneously, allowing you to monitor and control an array of imaging rigs from a single interface. Each rig operates independently with its own equipment profile.
Can I use ARIS without an internet connection?
Section titled “Can I use ARIS without an internet connection?”Yes. Equipment control operates entirely over your local network, and LAN access never requires a sign-in — a no-internet field night cannot lock you out of your rig. An internet connection is needed only for optional features: account sign-in, catalog image downloads, remote access when you are away from your rig, and push notifications to your phone. Once your catalogs are cached, you can image fully offline.
Does ARIS support plate solving?
Section titled “Does ARIS support plate solving?”Yes. ARIS includes built-in plate solving that analyzes your captured images to determine precise pointing coordinates. This is used for GoTo verification, polar alignment, and automated centering.
Does ARIS support automated sequencing?
Section titled “Does ARIS support automated sequencing?”Yes. The Sequencing screen lets you build multi-target imaging plans with configurable exposures, filters, meridian flips, autofocus triggers, and calibration frames. Sequences run on the rig itself, unattended — you can close the app and the rig keeps shooting.
Is there a simulator or demo mode?
Section titled “Is there a simulator or demo mode?”Yes. ARIS includes a built-in simulator with virtual versions of all major equipment types. You can explore the full app interface, practice workflows, and test features without any hardware. See Try the Simulator for details.
Data and Privacy
Section titled “Data and Privacy”What data does ARIS collect?
Section titled “What data does ARIS collect?”ARIS collects minimal data: account information (email for sign-in), equipment profiles (synced for cross-device access), and error reports (via Sentry, for crash diagnostics). ARIS does not collect your images, location data, or usage behavior. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
Where are my images stored?
Section titled “Where are my images stored?”Captured images are stored on your rig (Raspberry Pi or Linux machine). When you download images to the app, they are stored locally on your device. ARIS is local-first by default: your astrophotography data stays on your own hardware unless you explicitly use a feature that uploads. A small number of optional features do upload — for example, 360° site panoramas are sent to the stitching service to build your horizon profile, and Community Missions contributions (opt-in, credited, metadata-scrubbed). Opt-in features that transfer data always ask first.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”ARIS cannot find my backend on the network.
Section titled “ARIS cannot find my backend on the network.”Ensure both your device and your backend are on the same local network and subnet. Try manual IP entry if mDNS auto-discovery does not work. Check that the backend service is running and the firewall is not blocking the port.
My mount is not responding to GoTo commands.
Section titled “My mount is not responding to GoTo commands.”Verify the mount is unparked and that the INDI driver is connected. Some mounts require time and location to be set before GoTo will function. Check the mount’s status on the Home screen.
How do I report a bug?
Section titled “How do I report a bug?”Email support@arisastro.com with steps to reproduce, your device and OS version, and any error messages or screenshots.
How Does ARIS Compare?
Section titled “How Does ARIS Compare?”How is ARIS different from all-in-one controller boxes?
Section titled “How is ARIS different from all-in-one controller boxes?”ARIS gives you the same all-in-one experience — one app that runs your whole rig — without the hardware lock-in. It works with any INDI-compatible equipment from any manufacturer, runs on iOS/Android/web, supports multi-rig arrays, and keeps your data in open formats on your own disk.
How is ARIS different from NINA?
Section titled “How is ARIS different from NINA?”NINA is a powerful Windows desktop application; ARIS is a mobile-first app (iOS/Android/web) that connects to a headless rig, so you control everything from your phone or tablet without a laptop at the telescope. The two also work together: the ARIS NINA plugin turns a Windows imaging PC running NINA into a first-class ARIS rig — keep NINA as your capture engine and use ARIS to monitor and control it.