![]() Many amateur astronomers use the free and open source Stellarium planetarium software on their desktop computers, but the developer’s lesser-known apps are just as impressive.Ī basic free version offers the usual augmented reality experience, with overlaid stars, constellations, planets, comets, satellites and deep-sky objects, while this step-up Stellarium PLUS version – a separate app that costs £11.99 – increases the database from 10th magnitude to 22nd magnitude stars. Cons: Slightly reduced dataset when offline.OS minimum version requirement iOS 12.0.14 of the best stargazing and astronomy apps Stellarium PLUS One last thing: don't forget to turn your phone's screen red to protect your dark-adapted vision. Some of the apps on our list are free, while others require subscriptions or in-app purchases to take advantage of all the available features. So even if you're the most ardent star chart user, it's worth arming your smartphone or tablet with a good astronomy app, at least as a backup.īut how can you know which are the best stargazing and astronomy apps?īelow we've selected some of the best apps available for both iOS and Android - including a few good astrophotography apps - to find out what makes them so special. Such transient phenomena are not covered by your average star chart or planisphere, as star charts are limited to the predictable, clockwork motions of the night sky like the appearance of certain stars and constellations at the same time every year. They can tell you where Venus is on a particular evening or help you time observations of a lunar occultation. A good smartphone app can tell you when and where to look. It is possible to see the ISS passing overhead in the night sky. Many smartphone apps will tell you where and when to spot a satellite or how to see the International Space Station passing overhead. ![]() A book or a chart, after all, doesn't need batteries or a 5G connection!īut stargazing and astronomy apps can be a vital resource for beginners who want to get to know the night sky, or indeed for experienced observers who need to quickly locate a target. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine.Īnd to some degree these methods are still the best way of navigating the night sky. Planispheres: a battery-free guide to the night sky. Ok, but what's the best way of locating these objects in the night sky?īefore the advent of smartphones and tablets, the best way of locating an object in the night sky was to use a star chart or a planisphere. You may have read that a particular meteor shower radiant is visible in a specific constellation, or that you can find Mars by using a bright star as a means of star-hopping to it. One aspect of stargazing that puts most beginners off is the seemingly daunting prospect of looking up at the night sky and attempting to decipher the many stars, constellations and planets visible to the naked eye for the first time. 14 of the best astronomy and stargazing apps for smartphones
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