Decent mobile app that has pictures for all the major nebula?

[powerlord]

Hi chaps, I've always been using sky safari, but I'm getting sick of the fact that they have hardly any of the nebula as anything other as a box. some have an outline (elephant trunk), and a tiny few have pictures, but most (lion, dot in cosmic question mark, etc) have nowt at all.

has anyone found any of the android apps that actually DO have pictures for these these and other targets ? It would make it much more handly than having to use the mac all the time.

stu

[Stu]

Which version of SkySafari are you using? I use 7 and think it is graphically much better, but can’t check currently as I broke my phone and only have access to 6.

Luminos is another which gets good reviews particularly for graphics. Perhaps @Deadlake can comment as, again, I can’t access my version currently.

[Gfamily]

DSO Planner has images. 

There's a free version that you can try out and three paid-for versions if you want more catalogues.

It generates observing lists and has note taking capabilities for recording your own details.

[powerlord]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

Which version of SkySafari are you using? I use 7 and think it is graphically much better, but can’t check currently as I broke my phone and only have access to 6.

Luminos is another which gets good reviews particularly for graphics. Perhaps @Deadlake can comment as, again, I can’t access my version currently.

nah I tried 7 hoping it would be better - exactly the same lack of images.

Luminos must be an ios thing - nothing i can see in play store.

@Gfamily DSO Planner star chart is pants though - and it's browsing around looking for targets I'm looking for so it's out.

[The Lazy Astronomer]

I'm gonna do that thing where people reply on forums with literally 0 knowledge 🤣... but have you checked out the Stellarium app? I only use the Windows version, but it has images of most nebulae I've looked for, but like I say no idea if the mobile app is as comprehensive.

[markse68]

it’s probably a size thing? if they stored images for every object in the database it’d be huge. An option to download from an online database as required would be good though.

[powerlord]

7 hours ago, The Lazy Astronomer said:

I'm gonna do that thing where people reply on forums with literally 0 knowledge 🤣... but have you checked out the Stellarium app? I only use the Windows version, but it has images of most nebulae I've looked for, but like I say no idea if the mobile app is as comprehensive.

yeh thats what i use on the mac. but the android version is rubbish. hardly any settings, and can hardly see nebula in it for massive stars everywhere.

[powerlord]

6 hours ago, markse68 said:

it’s probably a size thing? if they stored images for every object in the database it’d be huge. An option to download from an online database as required would be good though.

thats what sky safari say - but thats rubbish - its not 1994. android games are regularily GBs. and if you want to keep download small, it could download on demand when needed and cache. just laziness imho. As I say, I tried 7 expecting it to be better. It wasn't, and I got google to give me a refund.

[CraigT82]

Yeah it’s annoying, there’s a clunky way which is to hit object info, the more, then show DSS image. Works on some but not on others.

[RobertI]

I’d have a look at the Sky Guide app. I did a review of it about three years ago here. Things have moved on somewhat since then, and they have new features, and an extended database of high definition images which you pay extra for. The big downside is the ‘full fat’ costs £35 PER YEAR! If there is a way to trial it without committing, might be worth a look. I did end up buying the full version when it was much cheaper - I used it quite a lot alongside Sky Safari, but ultimately I guess I couldn’t justify the annual cost, and discontinued. 

Edited September 10, 2022 by RobertI

[Gfamily]

34 minutes ago, RobertI said:

I’d have a look at the Sky Guide app. 

I think Sky Guide is Apple only. Which is a shame as I'd like to see the content written by Dr Jen from Astrocamp.

[Zermelo]

With SkySafari, the number of images increases with the level/edition you buy.

For V7:  https://skysafariastronomy.com/skysafari-7-comparison-chart.html

 

 

I agree with you that sometimes there is a DSS image, but it is "unhelpful" (e.g. framed at an unsuitable magnification).

 

[powerlord]

yup, but I don't know what the extra images are of, but nothing useful. even the pro does have elephant trunk as more than and outline!!