Phone app astronomy

[Chett]

I am currently using nightsky on my phone for star and planet location. Could you please share what the best app out there for information and identifying. Thank you in advance 

[nephilim]

Just now, Chett said:

I am currently using nightsky on my phone for star and planet location. Could you please share what the best app out there for information and identifying. Thank you in advance 

https://stellarium.org/release/2020/06/22/stellarium-0.20.2.html Ive used this for a fair few yeasr & imo is the best app out there

[nephilim]

Here's a tutorial to get you started, he's using the desktop version but the phone version is great aswell 

 

[Neil H]

I second that stellarium is top notch 

[adyj1]

I'm happy with SkySafari plus... 

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @Chett and welcome to SGL. 

On my iPhone, I use SkySafari (basic) (has AR too) and on my Android OS tablet, I also use SkySafari (basic) (but no AR) and SkEye.

Edited December 30, 2020 by Philip R

[Adam1234]

+1 for Sky Safari on mobile. I have Sky Safari 6 Plus and think it's great!

I have stellarium on the mobile as well, but I prefer Sky Safari on the mobile and Stellarium for PC

Edited December 30, 2020 by Adam1234

[MARS1960]

I use Stellarium for PC.

However I recently bought a C6 Evo so downloaded the skyportal app, even if you have no use for the wifi to control your wifi mount I find the search function rather brilliant and very informative.

[nephilim]

This is also a good free app for phone or desktop. Although if you do download it to your phone make sure that first you go into your phone settings & switch on app permissions for location & storage otherwise the app wont work. https://edu.kde.org/kstars/

[keora]

I recommend the app Sky Safari, which I downloaded from the Apple Store to a large (13 inch diagonal) iPad. The basic app costs just £3  and it's great value for money. Easy to use, you can click on a star or a planet and it will give you a page of interesting facts.

I have two planispheres, one by Philips (UK), the other is by David Chandler (US) which I've just bought. These are good for identifying the brighter stars. Sky Safari is especially good at identifying the dimmer stars which aren't shown on planispheres. You can zoom in and see things in great detail. I've used it to identify a group of small stars in Aquarius and this was a signpost to picking out the planet Neptune which was close by.

 

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by keora

[Spile]

On my phone (Android) I am currently trying out Stellarium,  SkEye and Heavens Above.

I like them all for different reasons but may decide if one meets all my needs.

I have a iPad but I do not use it when observing. I like the fact that the phone fits in my pocket.

[HyperBiotec]

I use SkyEye and SkySafari Plus on my android and Stellarium on desktop.

[Moonshed]

Hands up all those of you that 20 years ago said we would one day be using our telephones for astrophotography? Correct, nobody!

[nephilim]

27 minutes ago, Moonshed said:

Hands up all those of you that 20 years ago said we would one day be using our telephones for astrophotography? Correct, nobody!

20yrs ago I thought owning a telescope would be out of reach for me, how times have changed, some for the better & many unfortunately for the worst.

[Moonshed]

33 minutes ago, nephilim said:

20yrs ago I thought owning a telescope would be out of reach for me, how times have changed, some for the better & many unfortunately for the worst.

Yes, the technology has improved beyond belief while at the same time the world has gone crazy. 

[SStanford]

No mention of "star walk 2" here. 

My favourite app for my android phone, pleasant interface and nice to play on anytime.