There are tons of apps out there that will educate you on the night sky, teach you about constellations, and enlighten you on the many planets that lay above, however these are not them. This collection of apps will however help you out by telling you when the best conditions for stargazing will be. These companion utility apps will not only tell you the weather conditions, but also give you a heads up on cool stuff to watch out for on a day-to-day basis.
Highest scored apps in the category
Find out how well you’ll be able to see the stars tonight with Sky Live.
Sky Live provides the stargazing conditions for planning your observations. Check the weather forecast, light pollution, visible objects, and the moon light.
Apps with average score
Which star belongs to you? Name a star now as the most original gift of the universe! Search, find and gaze at your star with this FREE app which is available in 20 languages!
With the OSR Star Finder App you have the universe in the palm of your hand. You...
"Every amateur astronomer yearns for clear, dark skies, and this exhaustive app helps you find them."
- Sky At Night Magazine 2017
"Several astronomy-oriented weather apps are available, but Scope Nights has become my favorite… it does a fine job of summarizing the data in a clear and understandable fashion."
- Sky &...
Planets is not a top choice in this category because it leaves much to be desired. Although it has a wide variety of views such as 2D, 3D and Globe view, it is not initially clear how to use them. Other problems with the app range from lack of landscape...
Apart from the most reliable app for polar alignment (with or without a polar scope), PS Align pro has become the astronomer's swiss-army knife with all the tools added over the years. Remember, all features & updates are free forever, the only in-app purchases are donations (tip jar).
Polar Scope Align...
Star Map Tracker is a stargazing augmented reality app with more than 3k stars and constellations.
This app will guide you through most known stars and show all necessary information (right ascension, declination, azimuth, elevation and etc.) You can use all of this data for pointing your telescope or point your...
SkyWeek is the new, interactive, mobile version of Sky & Telescope magazine’s super-popular “This Week’s Sky at a Glance” web page — a day-by-day calendar of events to observe in the changing night sky. “This Week’s Sky at a Glance” has been Sky & Telescope’s most popular online offering for...
Could be good for special cases
SkyWeek Plus is the new, enhanced version of SkyWeek — a day-by-day calendar of events to observe in the changing night sky. SkyWeek Plus takes the guesswork out of finding the best celestial sights. It’s a daily diary of the most interesting astronomical happenings. It comes with an interactive sky chart you can customize for your location. You can synch SkyWeek Plus with your calendar so you’ll never forget about an important sky event.
As featured in Astronomy Now and Sky At Night Magazines!
Double Stars is an astronomy app for hunting down and resolving the beautiful double stars throughout the night sky. The app features a catalogue of hundreds of known double stars, and will identify for you which ones you will be able to see, and when, based on your location and viewing equipment. You can then take the app out into the field to help you locate the double star and record a successful sighting.
Here's what our beta testers told us about the app:
"Great app and I'm loving the filter functions. It makes it so easy for me to decide my targets for the night!"
"What a wonderful app. I had a brilliant time last night seeing double stars in Leo and Bootes, mostly new and some old friends"
"a great app, well designed interface and a unique use for the iPhone's accelerometers and GPS"
Interested? Please read on...
Double star spotting is a pursuit everyone can enjoy with the just the naked eye or with advanced telescope equipment. For centuries, astronomers have enjoyed tracking down these objects and testing their eyes and the limits of their equipment.
Double Stars has a detailed catalogue covering both hemispheres and all 88 constellations. The catalogue covers the key data for double stars; the magnitudes of the pair, the separation of the pair, the positive angle and the location in the night sky. It also notes stars with colour variations and those that form part of a multiple system for 3 or more stars.
Using your location, the time and date, and the details of your observing equipment, the app will filter the catalogue, creating a bespoke list for your location and equipment.
"Smart Tours" automatically create lists of the best doubles each night; your favourites, colour doubles, multiple systems, wide easy pairs, tough split pairs or by constellation. In addition, you can create your own tour.
Out in the field, the app operates in a special night mode allowing you to use it without ruining your dark adapted vision. All the key information you need is present – Double Stars even suggests an eyepiece to obtain the best magnification.
The app also features live Alt Azimuth tracking of the double star for those without GoTo equipment, and uses the inbuilt compass and gyroscope (where available) to point you in the right direction! Try attaching your iPhone to your telescope for precision control. The Sky Tour allows you to record which stars you have resolved. You can add the best double stars to a favourites list for later.
As the seasons change, revisit the night sky each month with Double Stars to see the pick of the delights of each constellation.
We really hope you’ll enjoy discovering and resolving new double stars with this app.
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Star Discovery - Simply Magical
Star Discovery is a magical new app that enables you to identify the stars, planets, galaxies, constellations and even satellites you can see above. Just stand anywhere and hold your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad up to the sky and Star Discovery will display the names of the stars, planets and other objects you are able to see, just like magic!
Even if your view is obscured by clouds or daylight, the Star Discovery app will know which stars, planets, galaxies, constellations and satellites are hiding from your view! You have to use this app to realise just how amazing it is!
Star Discovery does this by using your location data provided by the GPS and compass built in to your device. It then cross references your location data with its inbuilt map of the sky and overlays the stars, planets, galaxies, constellations and satellites names on your screen. It really is magical and will amaze you, and anyone you show it to!
So next time you're gazing up in to Star Discovery and wonder the name of a star, planet, galaxy, constellation or even a satellite, just get out your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and let Star Discovery app amaze your gaze!
Star Discovery really is simply magical!
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Star Discovery is amazing people worldwide! Look at how the magic is working!
* IDENTIFY HUNDRED'S OF OBJECTS IN THE NIGHT SKY
* AMAZE ANYONE YOU SHOW IT TO, WORKS JUST LIKE MAGIC!
* A UNIVERSAL APP - PAY ONCE AND GET THE IPAD & IPHONE VERSIONS!
* WORKS ANYWHERE, NO DATA CONNECTION REQUIRED!
* AMAZING PRICE FOR AN AMAZING APP!
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