In this astronomy app, you can hold up your device to view and identify stars, constellations, and planets with the compass feature. Includes star maps, lunar phases, and educational quizzes.
AppRecs review analysis
AppRecs rating 4.5. Trustworthiness 79 out of 100. Review manipulation risk 24 out of 100. Based on a review sample analyzed.
★★★★☆
4.5
AppRecs Rating
Ratings breakdown
5 star
83%
4 star
8%
3 star
3%
2 star
2%
1 star
4%
What to know
✓
Low review manipulation risk
24% review manipulation risk
✓
Credible reviews
79% trustworthiness score from analyzed reviews
✓
High user satisfaction
83% of sampled ratings are 5 stars
About Pocket Universe - Astronomy
"The app works beautifully, making astronomy a bit less mysterious—but no less remarkable", MacWorld
"It’s truly an impressive marvel. 5 Mice out of 5", MacWorld.
"..one of the prettiest and easiest to use. And at three bucks, it’s a steal", Cult of Mac.
Apple App Store Staff Favorite
Voted Best Educational iPhone Application by AppAdvice
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Pocket Universe
Have you ever looked up at the night sky, and wondered what exactly you were looking at? Pocket Universe is an easy-to-use app that will help you learn the names of constellations, bright stars, planets and more. You can literally hold up your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch in front of you, and the app will use the built-in compass to display the same view of the sky you see - but one that's complete with names and information.
Then explore the Solar System, and take virtual walks on the surface of the Moon and Mars, before playing a game to help you learn more about astronomy that you thought possible.
Every night there is something to see: Pocket Universe will provide you a list of suggestions, as well as give you regularly updated news and observation tips - which you can even share with your friends.
You don’t need to be an expert to use Pocket Universe, and everything you see has a useful pop-up information window and links to Wikipedia for the latest information.
With over 80,000 stars, beautiful textures, built-in quiz games, updated news, lunar phases, information on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, an Orrery view, and more, there’s so much to explore.
For support or to ask a question, feel free to send a direct message on Twitter to @CraicDesign or email john@craicdesign.com.
Key Features
Pocket Universe was the first iPhone astronomy app to support the built-in compass, and it was also the first to add a true augmented reality view using the iPhone's built-in camera! Use the camera view in the evening or morning sky to overlay the labelled view over the real sky.
Simply hold up your iPhone in front of you, and the view will be exactly what you see - but with names and information at your fingertips. Move the iPhone around to see the view change in real-time.
Easy-to-use astronomy application, which focuses on helping you answer the question "What's that in the sky?"
• Works on all iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices running latest IOS
• Supports augmented reality views that put the solar system in your living room, or all around you with 3rd party stereo headsets (available separately).
• Tracks the International Space Station, and predicts sightings.
• Tells you how long every day is, and tracks changes over the year.
• Special "Show Me" mode will guide you to named stars, planets, constellations as well as the brightest galaxies and nebulae.
• "Tonight's Sky" and "Objects and Events" will keep you up-to-date, and give you suggestions for what to look for when you head outside.
• Constellation and Star Quiz to help you learn your way around the sky.
• Works in Northern Hemisphere and ‘Down Under’ too.
• Links to Wikipedia articles for the latest information.
• Responsive customer support, frequent updates.
Please note: Network access is only required to view supplementary web-based news and Wikipedia text. This app never transmits data from your device.
Note: Non-English localizations focus on solar system objects and constellation names.
Pocket Universe - Astronomy Screenshots
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Reviews for Pocket Universe - Astronomy
TWEETYPAK
I'm sad
This used to be my favorite app, but I finally have to give up the ghost. I've been frustrated by this app for several years now. When I point my phone towards an object, for instance Venus tonite, I have to turn the face of the phone about 45° to the right of the planet in order to have it come into view on the screen. It's been like this for years. I don't understand. I used to be able to just point my phone at anything and find out what it was. I used to look forward to reading the news every month but now there's nothing there but a little square listing the super moons for 2024 and that's it! I finally had to download a different star app which I don't like as much but at least if I point my phone at a star it'll tell me what it is instead of me having to point my phone away from the object to try to find out what it is, I guess this has largely gone into the orphan app bin. :-( It was a great app! But it's just not usable and hasn't been for a long time.
Jeff griffith
Great app
This app is awesome, the only people that leave negative reviews are the same people that don’t know how to turn on a computer and have to have their grandchildren fix their technical issues. Don’t be fooled by the people giving negative reviews, this app is great, been using it for years.