Best sky app

[steve_bham]

Hi all! Been away from hobby for a bit with work and life stuff! But getting back into it now.

im looking for a good app to use on my phone or iPad to find items in the sky, what's the best Ines out there?

thanks, Steve

[DirkSteele]

I think Sky Safari is particularly good.  There are three versions at varying price points, the Basic, Plus and Pro, which have varying levels of plotting accuracy (forward and back in time) as well as depth of the catalogue of plotted objects.  Some versions also permit telescope control etc.  I believe the Basic was offered free in recent days and it still might be.

[Floater]

+1 for Sky Safari, my favourite, although Stellarium is hard to beat.

[DavidJM]

Stellarium and dso planner plus for me, dso has different levels like skysafari, starting with a decent free version, I've used stellarium on android and IOS but have to say the apps aren't as good as the PC version

[mikeyj1]

+1 for sky safari

[ronin]

Sky Safari Plus, the Pro version you will find unnecessary.

On a PC get Stellarium.

[Guest]

Stellarium on a PC ! 

[Ricochet]

11 minutes ago, DavidJM said:

Stellarium and dso planner plus for me, dso has different levels like skysafari, starting with a decent free version, I've used stellarium on android and IOS but have to say the apps aren't as good as the PC version

That's because there is no Android or iOS version of Stellarium. "Stellarium Mobile Sky Map" is a separate project by a separate developer and any money paid only goes towards the SMSM app and not towards continuing development of the "real" Stellarium. 

I use Stellarium on PC and SkySafari Plus on Android. 

[DavidJM]

29 minutes ago, Ricochet said:

That's because there is no Android or iOS version of Stellarium. "Stellarium Mobile Sky Map" is a separate project by a separate developer and any money paid only goes towards the SMSM app and not towards continuing development of the "real" Stellarium. 

I use Stellarium on PC and SkySafari Plus on Android. 

Well noted point that a lot of people may not know, although it is designed by the original developer of Stellarium it is not linked to the "real" PC version

[davyludo]

I used stellarium on pc and android. Pc version is much better. Recently purchased sky safari 5 plus for android and it is really good. 

I'd suggest getting stellarium and see how you get on with it before buying sky safari.

[Star Struck]

+1 for Stellarium on the PC.

I use Luminos on an iPad and it is very useful and informative.

 

Tony

[steve_bham]

Thanks all I was looking at sky safari but wasn't sure which level to go for.

Sky safari 5 plus or pro?

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi Steve.

I use Sky Safari  (I just use the 'basic' app) on my iPhone, SkEye on an Android OS tablet, and a few Linux, Mac OS, OS/2, MSFreeDOS & MS Windows compatible programs on laptop/PC's (far to many... but never enough)! 

[Nyctimene]

SkySafari Plus on my older smartphone, Pro on the Sony Xperia Z Compact ( for use with the 18" dob - Plus will be enough for most scopes). Usually two or three times a year, Plus and Pro are offered at a substantial reduced price (-50%), for a week; thanks to a heads up here on SGL I bought the Pro version. So, if you can wait....

Lunar Map HD, using the LRO map - excellent.

Stellarium on my Linux notebook.

I don't feel the  need for other or more apps.

Stephan

[steve_bham]

I'm using the celestron SkyPortal at the min so might keep my eye out on an deals for the skysafari.  I'm all for saving a few bob if I can!

[Beulah]

Have a look at Skeye, too.

[Xio1996]

Hi Steve,

SkySafari is great for exploring the sky, planning and controlling a telescope. I use it on a Samsung tablet and connect to my CPC-800 through a homemade Bluetooth adapter. The information it gives is fantastic. The Galaxy view in version 5 is interesting as well.

On the PC I use Cartes du Ciel. An interesting user interface but worth playing around with.

[TheWarMarine]

I would recommend "Night Sky Pro" It has everything you need for just $1

I hope this helped.

[iapa]

+1 for sky safari on iPad.

start with the basic, until you din it’s limitations.

keep eye ofpen for discounted prices as well.... there is often a short time with reduced prices.

there is a port of Stellarium to iOS, but there are limitations that made me stop using it.

[Paul M]

For mobile devices, SkySafari takes some beating. I recently upgraded to 5 pro at full price (!), not because I needed the extra functionality of 4 pro that I already had, but because I wanted to support its continued development.

I remember the sort of money I used to pay for much less functional astro packages for PC's back in the day. 

I hacked up an interface using a Raspberry Pi to allow me to control my EQ6 pro with my Android tablet using SkySafari via WiFi. It's so long since I usd it I can't remember how it works!

[Mr niall]

I use starwalk2 always have, brilliant

[25585]

I have Redshift on my Mac book & also on Android tablet. Not as good as a genuine Star Atlas (Wil Tirion), but it has red night use mode which is very practical.

The Google Play price is lower than Apple Store.

[cletrac1922]

Hi Steve from Land Down Under

I cannot talk about apps for IPhone as have an Android phone

Use Sky Map, StarTacker

For GPS location use Ulysse Gizmos

Some other useful apps

Meteor Shower Calendar, Heavens Above, ISS Detector, Planetarium

Enjoy your time viewing what is above us

 

John

 

 

 

[steve_bham]

Thanks all, I went for sky safari pro 5 in the end! So I can use it on my iPhone and iPad. Really impressed with it so thanks for the recommendation 

[Wobbly Bob]

+ for Sky Safari