1) SkySafari Pro
- iOS/Android
- US$39.99
This application is quite expensive but there is no doubt that SkySafari Pro is one of the most professional astronomy apps.
It contains a lot of amazing information about space and great functions. It has a large database with half a gigabyte of information. Make sure you have enough space on your smartphone to install it!
The information comes from the Hubble Guide Star catalog, with more than 15 million stars to be exact, as well as comets and asteroids.
You can even use the app as a GoTo engine to control a full-size telescope, and the app can be used as an augmented reality tool to point to stars and identify objects in the sky.
2) NASA App
- iOS/Android
- Free
For everything related to NASA, this app is perfect. It contains a wealth of detailed information on current missions and a whole host of other features.
You have daily footage and you can watch NASA TV live when there are events or press conferences. The app also connects you to social media so you can search for the latest tweets from various NASA subsidiaries.
The app is not very beautiful graphically, but it does contain detailed information about everything you want to know, from launch sites to old missions. There are lots of other great features, like the Space Station Locator, that will make you want to come back.
3) Prof Brian Cox’s Universe
- iOS
- US$1.99
If you’re looking for a fun and informative guide to the solar system, the Milky Way, and the universe, then who better than BBC presenter Dr. Brian Cox could help?
In this awesome astronomy app, the teacher’s work, taken from Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, provides users with an interactive guide to everything related to space.
You can zoom in and out through a 3D environment and access information in the form of tests, images, videos and illustrations. As far as space apps go, this is one of the best.
4) Star Walk
- iOS / Android
- US$2.99
When hunting for stars, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better app than Star Walk. It gives you in real time the position of almost all celestial objects in the night sky, including artificial satellites, and allows you to zoom and move on the screen of your smartphone to locate a multitude of constellations and find them in the real universe.
Star Walk uses augmented reality to make it easier for you. Simply point your smartphone at the sky and you can locate objects with the application. It offers a ton of information, including the movement of planets through the night sky and the positions of various constellations. It is the ideal companion for amateur astronomers.
5) Redshift
- iOS
- US$8.99
If you want a reference guide to stars, constellations and galaxies, Redshift is the perfect app. It is quite expensive, but it contains a large amount of data and great images.
The search function is impressive. It allows the user to find objects by name or to navigate through categories quickly and easily.
Redshift is a great educational tool but it lacks the “fun” factor. In addition to using it as a reference tool, you can zoom in on distant stars to find some classic statistics.
That said, you can spend hours there wandering around the universe and, if you need an app for amateur astronomy, we recommend that you use it.
6) Mobile Observatory – Astronomy
- Android
- Around US$8.00
If you’re looking for an astronomy app for Android devices, this is a good choice. Mobile Observatory allows you to observe the night sky and get a good overview of the solar system.
This app contains a lot of information and functions, which at first can be a little disconcerting, but thanks to it you will learn new things easily.
The app indicates key upcoming events, such as solar eclipses or meteor showers. Like Star Walk, it also uses augmented reality and allows you to point your device towards the sky and locate constellations, stars, planets, etc.
