Icon of program: SkySafari - Astronomy App

SkySafari - Astronomy App APK for Android

Download now

Used SkySafari - Astronomy App for Android?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staff

SkySafari - Astronomy App by Simulation Curriculum turns an Android device into an interactive 3D planetarium for identifying and exploring celestial objects. It uses device sensors for real-time pointing and provides narrated lessons alongside visual sky maps to explain objects and events. Key capabilities include a large celestial database, offline planetarium functionality, and immersive visualizations. Suited to families, students, educators, and amateur astronomers seeking a portable, science-based companion for observing the sky.

Top Recommended Alternative

The app supplies structured learning material through over four hours of guided audio tours and cross-referenced educational narratives covering history, mythology, and science, which learners can play while observing. A dedicated Night Vision mode preserves dark adaptation during fieldwork, so learners keep their night eyesight. These narrated segments pair descriptive text with star charts, which helps independent learners move from identification to contextual understanding of objects and events.

How does SkySafari support self-directed astronomy learning?

Is SkySafari appropriate for beginners, students, and educators?

SkySafari is aimed at a broad audience that includes casual stargazers, families, classroom students, and amateur astronomers. The core planetarium and celestial database operate offline, enabling field observations without network access. For augmented-reality and optimal performance, recent Android releases are recommended; some devices may require occasional compass recalibration depending on hardware sensors, a detail educators should check on classroom devices before planned sessions.

Can SkySafari support demonstrations, projects, and collaborative observation?

The app includes tools aimed at demonstration and project work: a Time Travel simulator that renders skies thousands of years away, a Tonight at a Glance planner for nightly observing choices, and a massive catalog covering millions of stars and deep-sky objects. An immersive Orbit Mode offers a three-dimensional traversal of the solar system, and the OneSky social feature lets observers see others' live targets when connected. The developer notes the same scientific engine used in its desktop planetarium underpins these capabilities.

Enlarged image for SkySafari - Astronomy App
SkySafari - Astronomy App 0/2

  • Pros

    • Guided audio tours totaling over four hours of narrated content
    • Core planetarium and database available offline for field use
    • Time Travel simulates skies thousands of years past or future
    • Massive catalog covering millions of stars and deep-sky objects

  • Cons

    • AR and optimal performance recommend Android 10 or higher
    • Compass may need recalibration on some devices
    • OneSky social features require an active internet connection

Bottom Line

Practical judgment on SkySafari’s educational fit

SkySafari is a detailed option for learners and educators who want deep, science-based material and simulation tools for observation and classroom demonstrations. The app’s depth and extensive reference material can be more than casual users need, so novice groups may prefer preconfigured lesson plans. For anyone seeking a portable, research-grade sky reference, SkySafari supports project work and guided study effectively.

Icon of program: SkySafari - Astronomy App

SkySafari - Astronomy App APK for Android

Download now

Used SkySafari - Astronomy App for Android?

Explore More

Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
6.8.1.1
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Android
Operating System
Android 13.0
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
573
Downloads Last Week
4
Report Software

Program available in other languages

Last Updated

Developer’s Description

By Simulation Curriculum
SkySafari is a powerful planetarium that fits in your pocket, puts the universe at your fingertips, and is incredibly easy to use...

SkySafari is a powerful planetarium that fits in your pocket, puts the universe at your fingertips, and is incredibly easy to use!

Simply hold your device to the sky and quickly locate planets, constellations, satellites, and millions of stars and deep sky objects. Packed with interactive information and rich graphics, discover why SkySafari is your perfect stargazing companion under the night sky.

Notable Features:

Ever wanted to know what the sky looked like in 500 B.C.? What about in 2190? With SkySafari, you can simulate the night sky from anywhere on Earth many years in the past or future! Animate meteor showers, comet approaches, transits, conjunctions, and other celestial events.

Rich graphics unlike youve ever seen before! See galaxies, constellations, and more in stunning and vivid detail. Plus, optional constellation illustrations that will blow your mind.

Just browsing the sky for something to look for? Check out the Tonights Best feature, which tells you which objects youll get the best view of tonight.

Raise your device to the sky and SkySafari will find stars, constellations, planets, and more! The star chart updates automatically with your real time movements for the ultimate stargazing experience.

Night Vision Preserve your eyesight after dark.

Locate the Sun, Moon, or Mars from our extensive database and track the arrow to be directed to their exact locations in the sky in front of you. See spectacular views of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and other planets!

Learn about the history, mythology, and science of the heavens! Browse from hundreds of object descriptions, astronomical photographs, and NASA spacecraft images. Plus, stay up-to-date with SkyWeek for information about all major sky events every day miss nothing!

Watch animated meteor showers with complete viewing information & spectacular graphics.

View 120,000 stars; over 200 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies; all major planets and moons; and dozens of asteroids, comets, and satellites, including the International Space Station (ISS).

Orbit Mode Leave the Earths surface behind, and fly like a NASA space probe through the solar system (requires in-app purchase).

Much more!

New in Version 6:

1) Complete support for Android 8. Weve got you covered and release regular updates.

2) Clouds and astronomy, two words that rarely go together. SkySafari 6 will now (optionally) back up all your settings files and make it easily accessible on multiple devices as well as from our new web interface, LiveSky.com.

3) Redesigned toolbar, now with the ability to hide. Invisibility powers, activate!

4) Configurable font sizes - having trouble telling if that number is a 5 or a 6? Just make it bigger!

5) Better control of magnitude limits - for example, you can select to not see stars on the app that you cant see with your naked eye!

6) Improved the databases!

7) Updated information for comets and asteroids!

8) Now the moon looks better when you zoom out!

Optional Feature:

Cosmos Collection: In-app purchase allows you to travel to other planets and stars, visualize the 3D location of deepsky objects in our galaxy, and listen to hours of audio guided tours of the heavens.

The Cosmos Collection includes:

Orbit Mode

Lift off from the Earth and travel to the planets, moons and stars.

Guided Audio Tours

Listen to more than four hours of audio narration to learn the history, mythology, and science of the heavens.

Galaxy View

Visualize the 3-D location of stars and deep sky objects in the Milky Way, our home galaxy.

Pronounce

Yoor-ah-nus, not Your-anus? The pronunciation guide in SkySafari will help you learn how to correctly pronounce the names of hundreds of celestial objects from different categories such as stars, constellations and planets.

For more deluxe features and telescope control, check out SkySafari 6 Plus and SkySafari 6 Pro!

Download.com
Your review for SkySafari - Astronomy App