Here's a list of 10 standout astronomy and skywatching apps that can help expand your universe. NASA App (free; iOS and Android) The NASA App ( Android, iOS ) serves as a gateway to the latest.
What are the essential Mac apps for the backyard astronomer? In this article, I've listed some of the most notable OS X apps that round out a complete technical package for the amateur astronomer.
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The goal here is to recommend some very good, respected apps for beginners that are in typical use on the Mac. It would be impractical to list every available app, and I recognize that many advanced amateurs will have their own favorites.
I've defined six categories of apps: a sky chart that does telescope control, astronomy weather forecast, satellite look up, session planning, image processing and last but not least, a superb scientific calculator.
1. Sky Chart & Telescope Control. There are several Mac apps that combine a sky chart with telescope control for compatible GoTo telescopes. They include, for example, Equinox, SkySafari, TheSkyX and Starry Night. Based on previous reviews of the Mac and the iPad versions, as well as the technical energy being put into continuous development, I have come to consider SkySafari Pro or SkySafari Plus by Southern Stars the best option for the Mac. Here's a review of the Mac version by a well-known amateur astronomer.
Image Credit: Southern Stars, SkySafari Plus for Mac.
Top 10 Mac Apps
Southern Stars also offers SkyFi, a Wi-Fi telescope controller to operate a GoTo telescope with a Mac (or PC, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and, with some limitations, Android.) A description and list of compatible GoTo telescopes is on the SkyFi page.
2. Astronomy Weather Forecast. Before you can start planning for an observing session, it's helpful to know what the weather is going to be that evening as well as the phase of the moon. The weather will help determine a start time and what clothing you'll need. The phase of the moon will tell you whether you'll be doing some casual observing of the moon and planets during a bright full moon or perhaps some deep sky photography at new moon or after the moon in partial phase has set.
Two sites that help with that are 7Timer! and Clear Sky Chart.
Top Astronomy Apps For Mac Download
3. Satellite Info. Satellite info is good in case you'd like to try to catch one with binoculars and need the azimuth and rise time. Some amateurs have used this data to anticipate and photograph the International Space Station from the ground with stunning results.
Check the Heavens-Above website.
4. Observational Planning. Once you've figured out the weather and what you want to look at or photograph, it's helpful to have a session planning app. Your start time and the positions of the selected objects will determine when they go below the horizon, so you'll want to start in the western sky before they set. Nyko mapping software at the airflo ex for pc mac. A planner will help with all that.
AstroPlanner is a well regarded astronomy session planning app for the Mac. Here's a review.
Image credit: AstroPlanner.
5. Photographic Image Processing. If you move from introductory visual astronomy, simple gazing or things that can be done visually, such as sketching or double and variable star observations to astrophotography, you'll need a collection of apps that can process your images for research or publication.
Note that astrophotography will require some extra equipment and lots of trial and error to gain experience. There are plenty of good books that will help you get started. For example, 'Digital SLR Astrophotography' by Michael A. Covington.
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Here are some image processing apps, in no particular order, that are typically used by amateur astronomers.
- Photoshop. For merging photos, enhacing in various ways, creating animated GIFs to show object movement over time, and so on.
- GIMP. An open source Photoshop alternative.
- Pixelmator. Another strong image editing app. Some people, including me, prefer Graphic Converter.
- Lynkeos Often, a better image can be obtained by digitally 'stacking' or combining several shorter duration photos on a Mac/PC rather seeking to obtain one long duration photo. This app does a good job of that for individual images.
- Keith's Image Stacking. This app can stack multiple frames from a single video file.
Best Astronomy Apps For Mac
Image Credit: Lynkeos.
6. Scientific Calculator. Many astronomers have a good, physical scientific calculator or two handy, such as the HP-35s from Hewlett Packard. However, if you prefer to have one on your Mac, I give my highest recommendation to PCalc by James Thomson.
Amateur astronomy is an enormous field that encompasses a long scientific history, huge choices for equipment and a great many books on the subject. As I mentioned above, it's virtually impossible to cover the possibilities in a single article of this size. However, if you want to get started or already have some initial experience with a telescope, the links here should be helpful.
Next up: a similar look at iOS Astronomy apps for the iPad.
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Starry sky teaser image via Shutterstock.
If we are looking for astronomy information in our iPhone and iPad, we do have a valid number of apps to help us. This apps help us to find the names and distance of the each star and makes the users astronomy expert. iPhone developers come with cool apps to navigate the skies and explore moon and other stars. Here, we have discussed some of the well known apps for exploring and viewing pictures of the space in our iPhone or iPad.
1.Star Chart (Free)
Star chat is an astronomy app for iPhone and iPad that can be used to navigate sky at any time of the day. We can just put our phone up to the sky and see the sky wherever we want to explore. By moving the phone we can find things like how do changes at different time period occur in the sky. The app also helps in finding information about each constellation and also the all the star names and they are names so. The distance of the stars from our current position is also seen. The app also has cons like not easy to load,hard to navigate and do not support all feature in the free version.
2. NASA (Free)
NASA is an astronomy app for iPhone and iPad that comes from the well known astronomy community. We can see original photos and videos of the space right from the persons who took it. The information about current mission of the scientists and their twitters about space that act as a new feed are also seen in this app. The cons of this app includes it needs a WiFi connection for better loading of videos, it doesn't have notifications, it is not able to play with airplay or chromecast.
3. Night Sky Lite (Free)
Night sky Lite is an astronomy app for iPhone and iPad that gives us information about the stars in the sky by keeping the phone on top of us and viewing the sky. We can also see constellation using this app. We also have a paid version of this app that have information about constellations, stars, planets and mini telescope .The app moves with us wherever we move in any time of the day. The cons of the app includes it has banner ads, there is a ad for night sky pro always and many features are paid.
4. Astronomy Picture of the day (Free)
Astronomy Picture of the day is an astronomy app for iPhone and iPad that enables us to see wonderful pictures that are rarely seen. The app has a daily updation, which loads a new picture everyday. We have a picture on the main menu and the information about them is always seen when we tap on it. We also can view photos posted in the past through the gallery and also photos can be viewed based on date. The cons of the app includes it is hard to navigate and may drain the battery of our iPhone or sometimes it may even crash our iPhones.
5. SkyPortal (Free)
Sky Portal is an astronomy app that comes for free and can be used by keeping the iPhone above us and viewing the sky through the app. It has all information about the stars and constellations. We can use the compass feature to find the location direction at the place we are located. The app also has a night mode option to view the sky. The cons of this app is it is hard to navigate, sometimes the feature of location compass may not work and it may take lot of memory space in the device.
6. Star walk ($2.99)
Star walk is a best astronomy app for iPhone and iPad. The app acts like a interactive astro app to explore night sky. The app can be used at any movement in the real time to find 200,000 celestial bodies that include stars, constellations, In the version 7.1.0 Starwalk comes with Apple and give information about upcoming astronomical events and other interesting information about sky. We can also schedule days for next meteor shower, international space station flying over our location and to have a view of astrophotography.
7. Solar Walk ($2.99)
Solar walk is an astronomy app for iPhone and iPad with more than 6 million users and was rated as a best app in the last three years. The app has got national parenting publications award NAPPA award and GOLD WINNER in the educational tool for parents and children. The app supports iOS 9 and compatible with iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s+ and also iOS 64 bit support is available. The languages includes fixed Japanese, Korean, Chinese languages. The app is user friendly and informative app to learn about the space.
8.Star Map 3D ($0.99)
Star map 3D is an astronomy app for iPhone and iPad that uses iPhone compass and gyroscope to find planets, constellations, satellites. The colorful astro images with high pixel quality are used with iPhone. The bugs in earlier version are fixed and general improvements have been made in this version. The app supports iOS 7.0 and is compatible with iPhone,iPad and iPod touch. This app is incredible and worth for money we spend on it.
9. Distant suns ($4.99)
Distant suns is an easy to use and understand astronomy app in iPhone and iPad. The app gives informations about thousands of objects and also explores new objects from sky. We can search for stars, constellations, planets through this app. It requires iOS 7.1 or later and compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
10. Star chart (Free)
Well known for top educational value and augmented reality app. Millions of people have downloaded for its virtual star chart and just by seeing the sky through this app we can experience a powerful tool that may help finding the location of stars and planets from where we are i.e., on earth. It also helps to find the objects in the sky.
