Via Sky News, NASA recently announced that they had plans to put humans back on the moon, reinvigorating peoples interest in space. While this news has opened to more space expeditions, others may feel more comfortable at home studying the stars, planets, and galaxies.
It can be overwhelming to understand the night sky, especially for amateur astronomers who don't know where to start. Luckily, apps like Sky Guide and Star Walk can help newbies and experts to uncover the beautiful galactic skies and learn about the mysteries beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Arloon Solar System
Arloon Solar Sytems is a 3D tool that makes learning about the planets easier than simply looking at illustrations. s can explore space and the planets in the solar system by zooming in on them and rotating them to better understand what the planet looks like as a whole.
Each planet also has information about when it was discovered, what was found on it, and other interesting information. s can also compare planets in size and function, and the functions are resourceful for both astronomers and young astronomers alike.
NASA Visualization Explorer
NASA Visualization Explorer sends out weekly updates based on new space discoveries and missions, including Hubble finding the furthest star. It uses NASA's databases to allow its s to explore space and its striking visuals make it easy to understand what exactly space looks like.
While the app was designed to help younger audiences understand space and the planets, it's also great for beginners who aren't as versed in everything astronomy. The app explains what each planet and star is, and has a history of each discovery.
Sky Guide
Sky Guide is another easy to understand app that has tons of information on astronomy and the night sky. It allows s to search for stars, planets, and other deep space objects, like comets and satellites.
s can hold it up to the night sky and tap on an object to learn more about it in real time. There's a feature that allows s to see what the night sky looked like on certain dates in history. It also sends out notifications for nearby satellite flybys, star watching hours, and sun/moon/planet rises. It can also be used alongside a telescope to better understand what is in the outer realm.
Mobile Observatory
This app is perfect for star gazers. It has an impressive amount of information on celestial objects and events, and allows s to view both nighttime and daytime.
s can point their device at the sky and see the sky map, which labels the stars and constellations currently in the sky. They can also view future celestial events, such as meteor showers and eclipses, and add these as reminders in their calendar. There's plenty of information about the stars to keep s entertained for hours.
Star Chart
This is another great app for stargazers. Using GPS, the app reads the sky and shows the celestial objects above the , with information about each object.
The app also offers interesting facts, such as how far the objects are from Earth, the spectral class, and altitude. It also allows s to search for the closest constellations to their location, providing an option for the constellations to be drawn on screen and connecting the stars or undrawn.
NASA
NASA's app offers anything an astronomer could want. From information about missions to videos and live feeds, these options provide enough information to keep even the keenest of star gazers entertained. An live feed could include the Artemis Moon rocket launch.
s can search for specific planets or stars using key , or they can explore NASA's own categories of information. The app gives information on each planet and key celestial object in the night sky and offers a live news feed to keep s up to date on any latest discoveries and images taken. It's the best app for kids, beginners who are just starting in their space, and astronomy experts, all the knowledgeable in the field.
Star Walk
Star Walk allows s to take their guide of the night sky with them wherever they go. It has enough information to rival a full-blown space documentary, with data on over 200,000 celestial bodies in the night sky. It also follows the s' movements to show them the night sky above them in exact detail.
It tracks the dark airspace in real-time and also allows s to explore time with the time machine function. s can also check the moon phases, the amount of daylight on any given day, and the visibility of planets in both the daytime and nighttime. It's one of the best apps for viewing stars in real-time.
SkySafarai
Possibly, one of the most informative apps out there, SkySafarai allows s to point at the sky and identify anything they see. It has a vast bank of information, including the major planets, thousands of stars, nebulas, galaxies, and comets.
s can also use the time feature to view the night sky up to 100 years in the past or the future. There's also a search feature that allows s to search specific objects, including planets, stars, and comets.
WorldWide Telescope
This app does exactly what the name suggests - it acts as a telescope for any astrophile. It shows 3D models of the solar system and the stars, including telescope imagery from NASA.
s can explore space and the night sky in real-time, using a mixture of models and real-life imagery to better understand space. There's also the option to watch a recorded tour, which shows experts in the field giving a walk-through explanation about space and telling them what to look out for.
SkyView Lite
One of the most popular astronomy apps out there, SkyView Lite is perfect for viewing planets in real time. s point their device at the sky, and using the camera, it identifies stars, constellations, planets, and satellites.
Unlike other apps, Wi-Fi isn't required to view dark space, making it the best app for traveling or camping. s can also capture the night sky to share on social media platforms. It has everything any budding astronomer would want, making it perfect for those who want to better understand the sky above them.