Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IT CAN BE very difficult to identify planets, stars, and clusters at home from your backyard, especially if you are a beginner.
(Unless you are Dave Grennan from Raheny in Dublin – check out his telescope-in-the-garden-shed, which helped him identify TWO supernovas.)
But hey, if you’re not Dave Grennan, you can find an app to help. Astronomy apps are making it possible for anyone to be astronomer — you don’t even need a telescope.
The apps use the GPS and compass in your phone to pinpoint your location and show you where all the surrounding celestial bodies are, even if your view is blocked. Most of the apps don’t even need an Internet connection to function so you can take them on camping trips.
Just open the app, point your smartphone at the sky, and the app will identify the planets and stars around you.
We’ve browsed through some of the top-rated astronomy apps and put together a list of the ones that look the most awesome. Whether you are an aspiring astronomer or just a casual backyard stargazer, these 11 apps can help you locate planets, stars, and galaxies — no telescope required.
SkySafari (Android or iOS) €2.99
SkySafari can display a map of the sky from any location and shows how positions of celestial bodies change up to one million years into the past or future. It uses images collected from NASA spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope to show you the major planets and moons in the solar system. The app also gets you a subscription to SkyWeek: a magazine that tells you about upcoming eclipses and meteor showers.
Starmap (iOS) €4.49 or a ‘lite’ version for free
Starmap has about 350,000 stars, 150 galaxies and clusters, and 50 asteroids and dwarf planets. The app gives you the “night’s best selection” so you know what you should be looking for on any given night and it identifies shooting star zones.
This app is also a point and locate that uses the iPhone’s compass to identify the planets and stars right in front of you. You can zoom in on a particular object and the app has a night vision mode — the backlight on your phone dims and the images on the screen glow red so your night vision isn’t ruined.
Pocket Universe (iOS) €2.69 or a beginner version for free
Pocket Universe is an especially great app for beginners. You can point your phone up at the sky to identify planets and stars near you, but the app also provides a list of suggested objects to observe based on the date. It even gives you a list of observation tips. Pocket Universe also has quizzes you can take on the planets, stars, and constellations so you can see how much you’re learning.
Solar Walk (iOS) €2.69
The Solar Walk app includes an interactive model of the galaxy. You can tap on planets and stars to learn about their trajectories, structural make up, and the history of their exploration. The app also lets you plug in a specific date, past or present, and it will display how the planets were aligned. Solar Walk also has 3D models of some of the man made satellites orbiting in space.
Deluxe Moon HD (iOS) US$2.99
Deluxe Moon lets you keep track of the moon phases, what zodiac sign the moon is in, daily moonrise and moonset times, and what distance the moon is from the Earth. You’ll never miss another full moon or lunar eclipse.
Star Walk (iOS) €0.89
All you have to do is point your phone at the night sky, and Star Walk locates and pinpoints the exact location of the celestial object you want to see. You can use the precise location to find the object in your telescope. You can access information about every celestial body that shows up in the app. It also includes a calendar of upcoming celestial events so you can plan your next stargaze.
Star Chart (iOS or Android) Free (There is a Star Chart app in Windows, it costs 99 cent)
Star Chart is similar to Star Walk, but it’s free. You can also manually set the location to see what the sky looks like from the other side of the planet. It displays stars and planets in real time and it includes a time shift feature that lets you see what the sky will look like 10,000 years into the past or future.
Distant Suns (iOS or Android) €3.59/€3.76 respectively, or a ‘lite’ version is free
Distant Suns is also a point and locate app and has information on over 300,000 stars. It uses images from the Hubble Space Telescope and includes data and information on everything you observe. It also provides you with weather updates so you know when your view might be blocked by clouds.
You can keep up with the latest space news from Astronomy Magazine using the app. This app has gotten some pretty impressive reviews: its average is five out of five stars.
NASA app (iOS or Android or Windows) Free
The NASA app is a great resource for details on the latest space exploration missions. It also provides tons of breathtaking NASA images and information about celestial bodies.
Sky View (iOS) €1.79
Use Sky View if you want to explore more than just our solar system. The app helps you find all 88 constellations, all planets in the solar system, and even the International Space Station. You can even capture and share images on social media through the app. It also has a time machine feature so you can observe what past and future skies will look like.
Night Sky Lite (Android) Free
The Night Sky Lite is another point and locate app, but this one is free for Android phones. It uses the GPS and compass in your phone or tablet and pulls up an overlay map of the planets, stars, and galaxies in your location.
- Kelly Dickerson
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Just the mention of a debate gives poor Enda nightmares. Go for it.
‘Reform Alliance’ Ironic in that they are the most conservative ‘party’ in the Dail.
It’s only hot air nothing will happen
Is this the start of a New Political Party…I think we will have to watch this space…the time maybe right.
Mmm, yes. The time for a right wing, reactionary, religious fundamentalist party. Just what Ireland needs at the moment.
Fiona, in any political party you have various different views but they are all whipped together for party reasons,,imagine if we had a political party that was open and honest and let each member express their own views while still representing the general will of the people…..open and transparent with no hidden agendas or Spin . No FG, no FF just people representing people.
What you describe there are called independents Shane. We already have quite a few.
Why join a political party in the first place if you refuse to follow their policies? The whip system ensures that business is actually attended to, don’t like it then leave and run as an independent. These people want to have their cake and eat it too.
You want rampant gombeen politics, populism and nothing ever getting done and decided on because the individuals TDs are too terrified to defy their voter base? Than yeah, no whip system is good.
Could you imagine a government of independents? On second thoughs I’d rather not.
Our choices..FG they have done the nation proud so far…FF they did the nation proud in the past…SF I won’t even comment.We need to move away from the gombeen civil war politics that we have ,move people away from voting for political parties because their father and grandfather voted for. Ppl like Shane Ross and Stephen Donnelly are lost in a Dail the works the way it is…because they have no say even if they had the most wonderful idea in the world it’s just not going to happen!
Fianna Fail did the nation proud Shane? Well not in my lifetime. They’ve bankrupted the country three times since I was born and I’m not even fifty yet. I will never vote for Fianna Fail. Populist morons.
Reg…I think you missed the sarcasm in that …I wouldn’t quench one of them if they were on fire…and that’s being polite..
Good to hear Shane!
Economically for a free market but with a strong social conscious.
Not Creighton,any one but Creighton
The national doctors strike not that important to the Reform group so!!!…..
Lucinda must be delighted that her husband has a good chance of keeping his job after the next election. Not sure about her chances though!
The wicked witch isn’t gone
U better find your ruby slippers Kenny
PDs 2, no thanks
Can we have a Debate about Abortion while were at it ?
That and the gay rights! It’s amazing how they keep ignoring the questions we’ve been asking for decades!
Won’t be long before they REFORM back into FG
Not for most of them now. They’ve burnt their bridges I think.
New political grouping, Shiite, anything to protect the Blueshirts.
Reform alliance , how about reject alliance . Nobody cares what ye want or say.
Ffs… Didn’t we just spend enough time on this with a referendum. Move on people. There’s plenty of other crap in this country that needs attention….
Politicians really get my goat!
No to an entirely directly elected Seanád. If you do the same former GAA stars, FF rejects and the ilk will be put in. It should be a series of panels such as education, nominated and elected by Teaching Council, NCCA etc… Business Leaders voted in by IBEC, that small businesses thing, Arts and culture panel etc… this would take time to tease out, but would better lend it self to our upper house.
No to any more representation of the teaching profession. It’s enough our mini-cabinet is 75% defunct teacher.
I’d disagree with the idea of giving anyone a vote on the basis of their associations or what they work as. I also think it’s a cryin’ shame that in this day and age we still have to debate whether or not one man – one vote is the right system.
I would say a directly elected house, with longer terms, but smaller overall size. The yanks do this with their senate on the basis that it lends itself to less of a partisan fight and a more of a thoughtful debate. That’s the way a second house should be.
(Or maybe even make it a house composed solely of independents? They are pretty much useless in the dáil as it stands, and it’d be a good balance to party politics, unless I’m missing the stupid part of the idea!)
Reform ? Membership of a political party should exempt Seanad membership. That’s a good start. If that’s too far reaching – then membership of Dail for 3 previous administrations.
We need Dail reform and accountability at many levels including politicians and CS.
Seanad has no power – either before or after the vote. I voted to get rid as it had little impact.
Time to dissolve Dail & Seanad and start again.
I’d give Lucinda one :) I’m no snob !
Hey Loose-Cinders, back a horse that might win and forget about the current no. 1 hit single “we want reform of the Seanad” as it will be gone by next month and some other populist folly with be ‘idea du jour’
If we got this, power of recall to both houses and the ability to call in referenda with 75,000 signatures whenever we like, we’d have (dare I say it?) a pretty good system on our hands.
have your say