When we look for fun things to do we often forget about enjoying the nature, and it is as simple as downloading the best apps for stargazing. One of the wonders of the universe is the starry sky and now a days it can only be enjoyed while being away from the bustle of cities. Few of us have the opportunity to see the mantle of stars of the Milky Way above our heads because of pollution and city lights. When we go stargazing we are so amazed that we don’t take the most out of it.
Stargazing is a pleasant hobby and we can enjoy it better with some specialized applications of astronomy. They best apps for stargazing combine the use of the GPS, accelerometer and compass of our smartphones with the augmented reality. In this way, when we point to the sky with our smartphone we can identify which star or satellite is in front of us. They also offer explanations thanks to a huge database of astronomical information.
As there are plenty of apps out there, we have tested a few and shortlisted the best apps for stargazing to get you ready for an eventful stargazing getaway.
Stephen Hawking – “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe…”
OUR LIST WITH THE BEST APPS FOR STARGAZING
SKYVIEW
When we are seeking fun things to do we should dive into SkyView inmediately. It is an app with which we can point to the sky with our camera to identify constellations, stars and satellites. In addition, it will keep us informed of all visible cosmic events such as eclipses, star showers or super moons through notifications.
With SkyView we can share the best images with our friends, for example related to the last eclipse. We can also take a tour through time, seeing the movement of the constellations over the years. It is a pure cosmic addiction. It’s free and available for iOS and Android.
STAR WALK 2
For the ones who are looking for something more professional, Star Walk app is a great choice and definitely one of the best apps for stargazing. In addition to identifying the main satellites, stars and other cosmic events, the app teaches us about where each planet in the Solar System is, how to identify it by the brightness that it gives off and what materials make it up. The profusion of data that offers makes it an app in which we can spend several hours without noticing.
One of the characteristics that we like the most is that we can see the sky at different frequencies such as radio, microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, or gamma-ray. It is free and available for iOS and Android.
NASA APP
If we plan to learn a little about the universe, what would be the first source of information we will visit? The Nasa, of course! Its app is the most reliable source of information about their missions, both current and past, their news, and the details about their astronauts.
Its photo section deserves special mention, since it displays breathtaking images of the earth and astronomical phenomena such as eclipses, shooting stars or starbursts. It’s free and available for iOS and Android.
SkyORB LITE
Considered one of the best astronomy apps in the world, SkyORB Lite also works with augmented reality to highlight in our smartphone the presence of stars, constellations, planets and satellites, and it does it in an elegant and very intuitive way. The application has a very interesting function that is to see the Milky Way and the solar system by zooming in and zooming out with a spectacular level of realism.
In addition, its friendly design makes it possible for us to write in the search bar what we want to look for, like a satellite or even a nebula and the app will tell us where and when we can see it. This is one of the fun things to to in the app. It’s free and available for iOS.
WAVE APPLICATION
Going with friends to chase the stars is a great way to have an amazing getaway, but as it happens at night we recommend you to download Wave Application. It is a simple app where you can open a map with your friends and share your location in real time during the trip. In this way you will feel free to come and go enjoying the best views without having the fear of losing your friends in the dark night.
Once you open a session with your fiends you can spot them on the map, set a meeting point, get directions and see the estimated time of arrival. Also you can chat and share your stunning photos of the sky with your friends. It works even in the most remote place in the universe. It’s free and available for iOS and Android.
Once we have the best technology to explore the secrets of the universe and we have downloaded the best apps for stargazing, we may have doubts on how to make the most of our escape to infinity. Let us display you some tips to help you plan your adventure:
TIPS AND TRICKS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GOING STARGAZING
According to the users of the Reddit forum, it is necessary to have in mind some tips to go stargazing. The first one is thinking carefully of what we want to see precisely so we can prepare the right trip. If we intend to see the Milky Way in its splendor it is better to do it in the summer, while in winter we will have a greater vision of other thousands of interesting stars. The good thing about going in winter is that, despite the cold, mosquitoes will not chase us and we will be able to enjoy the night outdoors.
On the other hand, both the moon and the sun are the enemies of our stargazing trip, because their luminosity can dazzle many other stars. Other spectacular events such as the northern lights can also bother the views of the stars in exchange for the spectacular green lights, so in conclusion, it is better to decide what we want to see before starting our getaway.
Another recommendation is to buy binoculars because they can increase our vision of the sky. Some users affirm that they always wrap their smartphones in transparent red paper so when the look at the screen their eyes don’t adapt to light. Keep in mind that it takes around 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to the night and be able to appreciate the brightness of the sky.
Pablo Clemente Pérez 