{"id":31696,"date":"2022-04-29T08:35:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T08:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=107928"},"modified":"2022-04-29T09:10:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T09:10:25","slug":"14-of-the-best-astronomy-and-stargazing-apps-for-smartphones","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/14-of-the-best-astronomy-and-stargazing-apps-for-smartphones\/","title":{"rendered":"14 of the best astronomy and stargazing apps for smartphones"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jamie Carter\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 29 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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One aspect of stargazing that puts most beginners off is the seemingly daunting prospect of looking up at the night sky and attempting to decipher the many stars, constellations and planets visible to the naked eye for the first time.<\/p>\n

You may have read that a particular meteor shower<\/a> radiant is visible in a specific constellation, or that you can find Mars by using a bright star as a means of star-hopping<\/a> to it.<\/p>\n

Ok, but what\u2019s the best way of locating these objects in the night sky?<\/p>\n

Before the advent of smartphones and tablets, the best way of locating an object in the night sky was to use a star chart<\/a> or a planisphere<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Planispheres: a battery-free guide to the night sky. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

And to some degree these methods are still the best way of navigating the night sky. A book or a chart, after all, doesn\u2019t need batteries or a 5G connection!<\/p>\n

But stargazing and astronomy apps can be a vital resource for beginners who want to get to know the night sky, or indeed for experienced observers who need to quickly locate a target.<\/p>\n

Many smartphone apps will tell you where and when to spot a satellite or how to see the International Space Station<\/a> passing overhead.<\/p>\n

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It is possible to see the ISS passing overhead in the night sky. A good smartphone app can tell you when and where to look. Credit: Nick Lucas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

They can tell you where Venus is on a particular evening or help you time observations of a lunar occultation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Such transient phenomena are not covered by your average star chart or planisphere, as star charts are limited to the predictable, clockwork motions of the night sky like the appearance of certain stars and constellations at the same time every year.<\/p>\n

So even if you\u2019re the most ardent star chart user, it\u2019s worth arming your smartphone or tablet with a good astronomy app, at least as a backup.<\/p>\n

But how can you know which are the best stargazing and astronomy apps?<\/p>\n

Below we\u2019ve selected some of the best apps available for both iOS and Android \u2013 including a few good astrophotography apps \u2013 to find out what makes them so special.<\/p>\n

Some of the apps on our list are free, while others require subscriptions or in-app purchases to take advantage of all the available features.<\/p>\n

One last thing: don\u2019t forget to turn your phone\u2019s screen red<\/a> to protect your dark-adapted vision.<\/p>\n

14 of the best stargazing and astronomy apps<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1<\/span>

Stellarium PLUS<\/h3>\n<\/div>

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