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Posted by Arch on July 13, 2019

Best Stargazing Apps
It�s humbling to consider that not so long ago we could only speculate as to the
nature of the heavenly bodies in the night sky. We have come a long way since then,
but that has only served to further incite our curiosity about the final frontier.

Fortunately, the increasing accessibility of technical advances puts a wealth of

knowledge at the fingertips of even the most casual astronomer. It�s no surprise
that even our mobile devices can double as rudimentary observatories.

There are many excellent mobile apps for would-be stargazers. They mostly focus on
giving you information about cosmic bodies. However, some focus on specific
features more than others. Below you�ll find a few outstanding choices that can
serve as a starting point in your search for the perfect stargazing app.

SKYVIEW
The SkyView app is available on both Android and iOS platforms in their respective
app stores. There is a paid version, and a free version with fewer features, but
you won�t be giving up too much if you go with the free one. The free version was
still good enough to warrant a Google Editor�s Choice Award in 2017.

SkyView

Skyview has a very streamlined and intuitive interface and is a great choice for
newcomers and veterans alike. It�s enough to point your camera in the direction of
the object you want to learn about to get more information.

Skyview�s features include night mode, sky paths to trace objects through the sky,
and time travel. Time travel is particularly interesting, allowing you to see what
a particular patch of the sky looked like at a previous date or will look like in
the future.

SkyView also supports Space Navigator binoculars, the app-enhanced binoculars that
help you find satellites and other bodies that are difficult to spot with the naked
eye. Overall, this app should have everything you need in an affordable package.

SKYSAFARI

Here�s another cross-platform option with an abundance of features. You can get it
from Google Play or Apple App Store.

The app is geared more towards the advanced user. There is a lot of terminology and
functionality that will either be irrelevant to novice users or go over their
heads. So if you�re serious about your stargazing, you owe it to yourself to try
this app. There are four different versions, from the free one which gives access
to a reasonable amount of features and data, to SkySafari 6 Pro.

skysafari

The Professional version of the app is a powerhouse by any standard. It supports AR

viewing of the sky, has a database with every comet and asteroid ever discovered,
and even pronunciation guides for the names of celestial objects. Perhaps most
impressively, SkySafari Pro supports mobile telescope control via their patent-
pending WiFi-to-Serial adapter. At $26.99, it�s a bit pricey but truly puts many
other similar apps to shame.

STARWALK 2
From the apps on this list, StarWalk is probably the best-looking one. It has a
beautiful interface, and all the designations and charts are integrated into the
sky with an eye for aesthetic coherence. There is even serene ambient music to
accompany your stargazing. That�s only the fa�ade, though. The interior is just as
impressive.

starwalk2

You can search for a particular planet or object with voice commands. The free
version is ad-supported, but there is also a paid version without ads and with a
much larger database. In SkyWalk 2 you can also search for meteor showers in
specific areas as well as other predictable astronomical events.

Both the free and the paid versions are available in the Play Store and the App
Store.

STAR CHART
If you want a seriously customized experience, this is the app you�re looking for.
It�s a free app, with an astronomical (ha-ha) amount of features available as in-
app purchases. The basic version is still fairly powerful and the go-to choice for
millions of stargazers. All the usual suspects are there. You can search around the
sky by pointing or swiping on your screen, and see information about objects by
tapping on them.

starchart

One standout characteristic of this app is that it uses constellation artwork by

John Hevellius. Hevellius was a 17th-century astronomer renowned for his exquisite
artistic depictions of constellations. Star Chart is available on Android and on
iOS.

SOMEWHERE, SOMETHING INCREDIBLE IS WAITING TO BE KNOWN

The time of physical star charts and atlases is behind us. For better or for worse,
the march of technology continues unabated. The ease of access to information has
sparked a growing interest in many fields, and astronomy is certainly one of them.

Stargazing Apps

If you�re just beginning your journey through stars, the best way to jump right in
is to try one of the apps listed above.

What first sparked your fascination with the night sky, and how far do you want to
take it? If the next Isaac Newton is out there today, let us know in the comments
below.