Summer is the best time to be able to observe the sky, so get your smartphones out and download some app to observe the best stars. Yes, rest assured, you got it right: mobile applications.
In the following article we will list the best apps, available for iOS e Android, to observe the sky and the stars directly on your smartphone.
Observe the stars with the app: Star Chart
The first app we want to suggest is called Stellar mapand, it's free and available for both iOS than Android. This app helps you to observe the stars and allows you to recognize every element in the sky, from constellations to planets.
Using the app is very simple, you just need pgrease your smartphone to the sky. Thanks to the use of the GPS, which locates your position, ei sensors phone, the app shows you the celestial bodies you are observing on the screen of your smartphone. Star Map is complete and also reveals the name, distance and size of the celestial bodies in front of you.
If, on the other hand, you want to prepare something at home, you can safely use the function of research. This mode allows you to enter the name of the planet or star you prefer that will later be located on the map.
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Star Walk, Solar Walk e Star Tracker
Star walk, available for Android and iOS, allows you to explore the stars by simply pointing your smartphone towards the sky. This is considered to be one of the best apps out there because it gives you the ability to observe the stars and space in augmented reality.
Star Walk also provides you with any useful information about the celestial bodies you are looking at, in a simple and fun way.
Are available the two versions, one for a fee and one for free. In the paid one you can view the 3D models of planetary nebulae, constellations, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids and even artificial satellites. The app is simple to understand and allows you to explain celestial movements to your children, without any problems.
Finally Star Walk enjoys a wide astronomical encyclopedia, where you will find daily data on the elevation and rise times of planets, moon phases, monitoring for over 8.000 satellites and even detailed articles that will satiate your curiosity.
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Solar walk, free and available on iOS and Android, it differs from other applications. It particularly focuses on planets and allows you to discover everything there is to know about Solar System, which you can see in 3D.
Play with the 3D model and analyze the planets from different angles: you can observe them individually or in groups, visualizing the entire solar system or you can learn their position in a period of time in the past or in the future, thanks to the Time Machine.
In addition, you also have the opportunity to observe the moon of the different planets. You just have to choose a planet like Earth, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars or even Uranus and observe their moons and their tracks. If you are curious and want to know some more information about them, just click on one.
Star Tracker, like the previous apps, it is also available on iOS and Android and is free. The app gives you the opportunity to be outdoors with your friends and to observe the sky with all its wonders. Star Tracker is also very simple to use, you have to point your smartphone towards the sky and click the button in the center.
The app shows you all Stars and constellations that you are observing at that very moment. If you want to make your experience even more interesting, you can buy the Pro version (at the price of 2,99 €). It will guarantee you an observation without advertising and will show you the 88 constellations and many other celestial bodies with magnificent graphics.
You will also find a particular guide on the stars, planets and constellations, one compass in 3D with the AR mode and the night mode, which will protect your eyes during your observations.
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Night Sky per iOS e Google Earth per Android
The next app is called Night Sky, it's free and available just to iOS. The app has recently been updated and allows you to observe the sky even better. Update added to the list 60 million stars plus, higher resolution for light spectrum textures and sunrise / sunset effects, together with the new day mode.
The graphics have been improved and simplified, the quick search and smart night mode with Red light, the purpose of which is to avoid eye discomfort during observation. Night Sky, in addition to allowing you to discover the stars and all kinds of celestial bodies, will reveal the better weather conditions to observe them.
The app allows you to watch celestial bodies in dynamic modes, using augmented reality to watch the sky even in your room, pointing the phone at the ceiling. You can also discover the internal structure of the planets of the solar system and test your knowledge with the quiz that offers you.
Last but not least, we have Google Earth. The application, available for Android, allows you to explore the space in 3D. No phone pointing to the sky this time: you just have to download the application, open it and explore it without any boundaries.
You can visualize stars, planets and constellations in augmented reality, make planet Earth smaller and see how celestial bodies move in the universe. This application also allows you to observe the nebulae and galaxies. Thanks to the improved graphics and 3D, you will really feel like you have been swallowed up by the cosmos.
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