Space is mysterious and so little explored. Unfortunately, many of us will not be able to personally experience this endless space. But modern technology makes it possible to get to know space better, even without being an astronaut or astronomer..
Just point your smartphone camera at the sky and it turns into a portable telescope. You will see stars, constellations, planets and even satellites on the screen. This can be done at any time of the day and anywhere. We've collected the best apps just for this purpose. It doesn't matter if you own Android or iPhone. In our list, there is sure to be a program just for you.
Night sky
Night Sky is a popular online planetarium for iOS. Many of its great features (like Apple Watch integration) are free. But there is also advanced paid functionality for $ 10 a year. One of the most popular add-ons is Grand Orrery. It uses augmented reality technology. Using ARKit, you can move around the solar system, approach planets, zoom in on individual objects. There is also an opportunity to walk on the moon. If you are fascinated by space and everything related to it, Night Sky is definitely worth trying..
Star walk 2
In Star Walk 2, you can explore distant space objects: meteor showers, star clusters, planetary nebulae, etc. Viewing the sky in different ranges is also available. After determining the constellation, a magnificent picture opens, for example, the constellation Ursa Major in the northern hemisphere turns into a picture with a bear. All of this looks much more impressive than the usual collection of dots and names.
IPhone owners must pay 229 rubles to install the application. Android users get the basic build for free. The premium assembly will cost 150 rubles..
The app is available for iOS and Android .
Sky Guide AR
Sky Guide AR is a multifunctional iPhone app with Apple Watch support. If an important space event is approaching, the clock will receive a corresponding notification. For example, when the ISS will fly over your head (you can also find out where it is now). You can choose how long before the event the notification will be received. Watch the moon, solar activity and different planets.
For an additional $ 10, you get access to high-res scaling. Other premium features: the catalog of stars grows 50 times (there are about 2.5 million stars in the database), exclusive cinematic tours through the endless expanses of space. Of course, all of this has to be paid for. There is also a free version that can be used for two weeks.
SkyView
SkyView is a simple interactive application. Point your smartphone at the sky, and the program will identify galaxies, stars, constellations, planets and satellites. Even the Hubble telescope and the ISS are recognized. For each object there is a whole library of interesting information, which, in addition to the description, contains coordinates, distance to the Earth, radius of the equator and much more that may be of interest to a child and not only.
You can receive notifications about interesting events in space so that you don't miss anything. There is a time travel function. You can travel back in time to see events that happened before.
There is an added bonus for iOS users - Apple Watch support, but that costs $ 2. The premium version for Android costs the same, but you can try the program for free to get started.
The app is available for iOS and Android .
Sky map
Some of our readers may already be familiar with the Sky Map called Google Sky Map. This is the original name for this stellar space observation app. The first version of the application was released on January 20, 2012 under the open source Apache 2.0 license. It has already been downloaded over 10 million times and users love it.
The first thing you need to do after installing the app is to calibrate the compass. To do this, you just need to follow the instructions on the screen. The system will be ready for use in a few seconds.
After calibrating, simply point to the area of the sky that you want to see in more detail. Use the icons on the left side of the screen to filter out different types of celestial bodies. You can also search for a specific planet or star. Then a large arrow will appear on the screen, indicating the path to it.
Star Chart
Star Chart uses a combination of AR (Augmented Reality) and GPS technologies. By pointing your smartphone at the sky, you see everything that happens on it in real time. The screen displays the current location of each star and planet as seen from Earth. All 88 constellations are displayed. It is even possible to move 10,000 years forward or backward using the Time Shift function.
Comparing Star Chart to Sky Map, the functionality of these programs is very similar, but Star Chart has several important features:
- The calibration process has been greatly simplified.
- The scanning of the starry sky is smoother. You will feel that the device really responds to every movement.
- The visualization of the star map has been improved. The constellations are beautifully drawn and allow you to understand why astronomers have named them that way.
Star Chart has in-app purchases. You will need to pay to get tracking functions for comets, satellites and meteor showers.
The app is available for iOS and Android .
Stellarium Mobile Sky Map
The Stellarium developers decided to focus on realism. They position their product as a full-fledged pocket planetarium. The application displays what you see in the sky with the naked eye, but only with a strong magnification. Stellarium looks less impressive than some other programs. But the information content is at the highest level. The catalog contains information on more than 600,000 stars, as well as nebulae, galaxies, and satellites.
After identifying each of these objects, you can thoroughly investigate it. The database contains photographs, descriptions, interesting facts and other information. A realistic view of the Milky Way is available. Sunrise simulation is included.
For the aspiring astronomer, Stellarium is a great way to do without a telescope. A whole encyclopedia of space fits freely in your pocket.
The app is available for iOS and Android .