Sky Map
An AR sky map for iPhone: point it at the sky to name stars, planets and constellations.
Sky Map runs on iPhone. The app is available in 13 languages, including English, Japanese, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
Download on the App StoreWhat to check before you pick a sky map app for iPhone
Most star apps look alike in screenshots. Five things that separate them outside at night, and how Sky Map handles each one.
How to find constellations: start with three you can't miss
Learning the sky works best from a few bright anchors. Start with Orion, the Big Dipper and the Summer Triangle, and use them to find the rest.
What planets are visible tonight, and how to tell a planet from a star
Five planets are easy to see without a telescope. How to check which are up tonight, when to look, and the quick test that tells a planet from a star.
What is that bright star in the sky tonight?
Most of the time the answer is Venus, Jupiter, Sirius or a satellite. How to tell them apart in under a minute, with or without a phone.
How to find your zodiac constellation in the real night sky
Your star sign is a real constellation, but you can't see it on your birthday. When to look for each zodiac constellation and how to find it.
Stargazing with kids: a 20-minute plan that holds their attention
Kids lose interest fast in the dark and the cold. A short plan with the Moon, one planet and one constellation, and how to use a phone without it taking over.
When your sky map app points the wrong way: fixing compass and AR drift
If the labels sit beside the stars instead of on them, the compass is usually to blame. Six fixes, from magnetic cases to iOS compass calibration.
Stargazing in the city: what you can still see through light pollution
From a city you'll see the Moon, the planets and a few dozen stars. How to make the most of that, and where a phone helps.
How to keep your night vision when you're using a phone to stargaze
Eyes need 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the dark, and one bright screen undoes it. How to set up an iPhone so it barely affects your night vision.
Meteor showers, Moon phases and eclipses: a year of sky events to plan for
The main meteor showers, why the Moon matters for every one of them, and how to watch an eclipse safely. Plus how to keep track without missing dates.