Suggested App: Sky Guide

Cheers to all the budding astronomers and iAstrophotographers out there!  I wanted to suggest and review my favorite astronomical app:  Sky Guide.

In my opinion, this app is an absolute must have for anyone with even the slightest interest in astronomy.  It’s $1.99 in the App Store and worth every penny.  At the very least, it’s a great way to explore the night sky when you’re new to astronomy.  Here are some of my favorite things about Sky Guide:

1. The design is beautiful.  The image used to form the 360 degree backdrop image of the night sky is breathtaking.  It’s like having a full panoramic astrophoto of the universe right at your fingertips.  Ever wonder what the silver cloud of the Milky Way looks like under dark skies?  Well now you can see it.

2. Real-time coordinates for tons of celestial objects.  Planets, the Moon, galaxies, nebulae…this app has it all.  If you’re using a non Go-To telescope, this app is extremely helpful for providing real-time declination and right-ascension coordinates to find your targets.  You also have the option of selecting any date/time in the past or future to see how the sky would align at that time.  Even more than that the Sky Guide app will display the section of sky in which your phone is aiming.  This will help you identify any unknown star or planet you see in the night.

3. Interesting details and information to help engage with the night sky.  Sky Guide displays a wealth of information for each celestial object in its library.  There are details such as type of star, size of star, distance from Earth, and more.  This level of detail is sure to spark your exploratory interest in astronomy.

This is just a starter list for the greatness of Sky Guide.  Even if you don’t have a telescope, I highly recommend this app for a normal night under the stars.  You’re guaranteed to have a good time picking out different stars, planets, and constellations!  Sky Guide, go check it out!

Have a suggestion for great astronomical apps for either iPhone or Android?  Let everyone know in the comments below!