Sky Map

Sky Map at a glance

Sky Map is a mobile star chart for identifying what you can see overhead. Point your phone toward the sky and the app maps nearby stars, planets and constellations against your view. It suits beginners who want a simple introduction to astronomy, as well as students, casual observers and experienced users who need a quick reference outdoors.

How it works

The app uses your device’s location and orientation sensors to align its map with the visible sky. You can search for a particular object and follow on-screen guidance toward it. Sky Map also includes a time-shifting view, letting you examine how the sky changes at different times rather than limiting you to the current moment.

Viewing controls help narrow the display to categories such as planets, constellations or deep-sky objects. That makes it easier to focus on one topic during a lesson, an observation session or a first attempt at learning the major patterns in the night sky.

Why people use it

Sky Map keeps its presentation focused on the reference task instead of surrounding the map with complex tools. Its interface is practical and readable in dark conditions, though it has a more utilitarian appearance than many newer astronomy apps. It is best viewed as an identification and orientation tool, not as a replacement for detailed astronomy books or observing equipment.

Listing details

• Developer: Sky Map Devs
• Category: Books & Reference
• Rating: 4.085122 from 487,005 ratings
• Installs: 50,000,000+
• Package: com.google.android.stardroid