Best Android apps for stargazing?

[zeecatman]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what the Android users use for casual stargazing, like identifying or finding objects in the sky in a pinch. I've shopped around for free options, and so far the most complete one I've found is StarTracker. StarTracker shows the locations of manmade satellites and meteor showers as well, which I like, but it, as well as every other free app I've used, isn't detailed enough to have information on other solar system objects -- for example, I haven't been able to pinpoint the comet Wirtanen with any of them. What apps do you use?

[Rodney]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what the Android users use for casual stargazing, like identifying or finding objects in the sky in a pinch. I've shopped around for free options, and so far the most complete one I've found is StarTracker. StarTracker shows the locations of manmade satellites and meteor showers as well, which I like, but it, as well as every other free app I've used, isn't detailed enough to have information on other solar system objects -- for example, I haven't been able to pinpoint the comet Wirtanen with any of them. What apps do you use?

Star Walk 2 Free - Identify Stars in the Night Sky is a great astronomy guide to explore the night sky day and night, identify stars, constellations, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, ISS, Hubble Space Telescope and other celestial bodies in real time in the sky above you.

[brawlserver]

Hi all,

I'm wondering what the Android users use for casual stargazing, like identifying or finding objects in the sky in a pinch. I've shopped around for free options, and so far the most complete one I've found is StarTracker. StarTracker shows the locations of manmade satellites and meteor showers as well, which I like, but it, as well as every other free app I've used, isn't detailed enough to have information on other solar system objects -- for example, I haven't been able to pinpoint the comet Wirtanen with any of them. What apps do you use?

NASA Visualization Explorer. If you geek out over the discoveries that the scientists involved in space exploration make every week, be sure to follow NASA's vertical-scroll newsfeed, where you'll be treated to a few paragraphs and five or six images per story, several times a month.

[TommyJ]

To be honest, you surprised me. I certainly thought that Android users use a telescope, newspaper, and eyes to observe space) Just kidding, of course. Internet sources are now available to everyone. It just isn't necessary to use applications for this. You have all of Google at your fingertips)

[Chris Peterson]

To be honest, you surprised me. I certainly thought that Android users use a telescope, newspaper, and eyes to observe space) Just kidding, of course. Internet sources are now available to everyone. It just isn't necessary to use applications for this. You have all of Google at your fingertips)

In the field, we're often disconnected from good Internet access. So having some kind of star chart application is very useful.

[TommyJ]

I was just kidding, don't take this too seriously. I am an Android user too. And despite the fact that I'm only 30 and I adore the current era of the Internet and mobile applications, I believe that you need to have a paper map of the stars with you. Not as a basis, but as an addition. The applications here advised really good ones.

[zeecatman]

Now that I've been actively observing for a while, I figure I should come back to this thread to mention that I invested in Stellarium Mobile, and it really can't be beat as far as accuracy, brevity, and depth. Every other app I've used pales in comparison whether I'm trying to find an object with a telescope or just casually stargazing.

For anyone reading this who's already used Stellarium on the web it may not come as a surprise, but I didn't even know they had a mobile version when I made my original post. It's available for free, but there's a one-time in-app purchase of (I believe) $10 that unlocks tons of valuable features if you have a serious interest in observing. It's a higher price than most apps will ask for, but it's the golden standard for sure so I've found it more than worth it.

In the field, we're often disconnected from good Internet access. So having some kind of star chart application is very useful.

In fact, the paid version Stellarium Mobile has an offline mode that lets you see millions of objects! I've never needed it (yet), but I don't doubt it'd come in handy for any serious observers who're traveling to secluded areas.