Aiming to find an answer to the meaning of virtually everything, people have set their eyes on the stars since the dawn of time. In the past, you could only analyze constellations with charts, maps, and telescopes, but today technology is on your side and you can use some of the best astronomy apps to learn about what’s going on in outer space.
Astronomy apps use the gyroscope and compass on your phone or tablet, in addition to date, time and location services, to determine where you are, and although an internet connection is useful, it is not a requirement for all applications. Even if you are away from a wifi signal or a cellular connection, you can take advantage of them.
Some also use augmented reality, with the help of your device’s camera, to show you the exact position of the stars. Most are easy to use, as they are made for beginners and amateurs; just point your device’s camera at the sky and find stars and constellations.
Since the Earth goes around every 24 hours and the planets orbit the sun every 365.25 days, the stars reach predestined positions, so the same stars appear on the same day and at the same time each year. Your location determines which constellations are visible. Many sky mapping applications organize celestial objects by categories or lists. The Messier Catalog , for example – research conducted and published by Charles Messier in 1781 – includes 110 deep sky objects visible from the Northern Hemisphere and is a popular feature among these applications.
Do we inspire you to take a look? Here are some of the many cross-platform applications for iOS and Android that we discovered that can help you see the coming rain of stars.
Star rover
Star Rover is like a planetarium built into your device. You simply hold your phone up, zoom in with your fingers and the app will locate whatever is there. After determining your position, the application locates stars, the moon, planets and constellations. The sky map updates dynamically when you move your phone around your area or region so you can see twinkling stars, nebulae, meteors, and twilight. Star Rover, which costs $ 2 dollars, has a catalog with more than 120,000 stars, the 88 constellations, planets and their moons, phases of the moon and real images of Messier objects. You’ll find detailed information on celestial objects, equatorial and azimuth grids, the Milky Way, sunrise and sunset, eclipse simulation, and more.
SkySafari
With SkySafari all you have to do is point at the sky with your device and let the app quickly organize planets, constellations, satellites, stars and deep sky objects. With interactive information accompanied by detailed graphics, the app allows you to see 120,000 stars, more than 200 star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, all major planets and moons, and a variety of asteroids, comets, and satellites, including the International Space Station . You can use the app to animate a variety of celestial events such as meteor showers, kite close-ups, transits, and conjunctions. SkySafari allows you to simulate the night sky from anywhere on Earth and go back or forth in time. The charts show you detailed views of galaxies and constellations. The “Tonight’s Best” feature highlights the most interesting current events.
SkyView Lite
You don’t need a telescope to see the stars and constellations if you have SkyView Lite, a free intuitive app that helps you find and identify celestial objects like nearby stars, planets, and satellites (including the Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope ) at any time. day or night. An augmented reality feature allows you to use the camera to detect objects in the sky at any time. The app also includes celestial trajectories for tracking objects and a social function with which you can share your discoveries with friends and family. You don’t need Wi-Fi, cellular signal or GPS – the app works perfectly without them.
Cosmic Watch 2
This award-winning application that uses augmented reality allows you to explore outer space by simply pointing your mobile device at the sky. Tour the solar system like an astronaut or learn about the stars and constellations above your head. Travel back in time to skies of the past or future. Cosmic Watch 2, which costs $ 5, calculates unique astronomical events so you never miss the latest among the stars. The app includes presentations with levels, a 3D celestial sphere of the entire sky, a planetarium with star maps, constellations and calculator of astronomical events, world clock and 3D astronomical clock, separate views of sky, earth and solar system, one view geocentric and heliocentric of the solar system and much more.
Solar Walk 2
Solar Walk is a comprehensive encyclopedia of the solar system built around a three-dimensional model. Use the application to explore space, spaceships and planets through an interactive planetarium augmented by panoramic photographs. You can see satellites, comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, explore space missions and check the calendar of celestial events. All the heavenly bodies are represented in their correct positions in real time. See realistic three-dimensional models of spacecraft, satellites, and interplanetary stations and track their trajectory, view gravitational movements, and photos taken during the mission. The astronomical calendar includes celestial events such as the lunar and solar eclipse and phases of the moon, in addition to recording historical space trips. A social feature allows you to share your findings with friends and family on Facebook. The Premium Access version (with ads) costs $ 3.
Stellarium Mobile Sky Map
If you are curious about the stars, constellations, planets, comets, satellites like the International Space Station and deep space objects, Stellarium is an application that gives you all the information but without getting overwhelmed. Stellarium Mobile Sky Map boasts a simple and minimalist interface that is excellent for beginners and children, as well as a three-dimensional representation of the most important planets in the solar system and their satellites. Find out everything you need to know about the sky with its catalog of more than 600,000 stars, displayed on an adjustable sky map, a catalog of nebulae, as well as galaxies, star clusters, deep sky objects, asterisms and illustrations of the constellations . This app allows you to discover how others interpret the stars, see the Milky Way and images of deep sky objects, simulations of star extinctions, atmospheric refraction and more.
Star Walk 2
Attention, amateur astronomers: Star Walk 2 is the tool that will help you explore the skies. Satisfy your curiosity to identify stars, constellations, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, spaceships, nebulae, the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and other celestial bodies with your smart device. In addition to the stars, check out meteor showers, equinoxes, conjunctions, and even full new moons. This free app (with ads) displays a real-time sky map in the direction your device is pointing. Navigate across the screen by swiping in any direction, or zooming in or out with finger movements. A clock icon in the upper right corner helps you choose dates forward or backward, so you can see the stars and planets in fast motion. You can also see objects in the night sky in augmented reality. Touch the camera image on the screen to activate your camera and see objects superimposed on the real sky. The “What’s New” section informs you of the most interesting astronomical events.
Star Tracker
This sky watcher favorite is a simple app for viewing stars, constellations, and deep sky objects. It’s free with ads, or there is a $ 3 version without ads, and shows the sun, moon, and planets of the solar system, 88 constellations, and over 8,000 stars, 12 constellations, and a variety of assorted deep sky objects; the location is recorded by GPS or manually. You can hide the menus and enter augmented reality mode to point at the sky with your device. The paid version allows you to search for elements and celestial objects, it has a 3D compass in augmented reality mode and a night mode, and you can explore beyond the limits of time.
