1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best for astrophotographers
4. Best for Apple users
5. Best for entertainment
6. Best for realism
7. Best for beginners
8. Best for information
9. Best free app
10. Best for AR
11. Stargazing apps FAQs
12. How we test
The best stargazing apps are a fun and immersive way to introduce yourself to the world of stargazing and can also offer some advanced features for more experienced skywatchers and astrophotographers. These apps work on a standard smartphone using the GPS function, allowing you to point your phone at the sky above you and discover information about the galaxies, planets and constellations in your view.
Many of these apps include offline functionality, making it easy to take them with you to more remote spots to enjoy your stargazing away from light pollution. If you're looking to set up a telescope or plan the perfect astrophotography shoot, these apps will show you what celestial bodies will be visible in your exact location ahead of time, making them the perfect companion for your night-time adventures.
Some of the apps on our list offer free versions or free trials, but some of the more comprehensive features require a one-time payment or subscription. With Black Friday on the horizon, we've compiled a list of all the best stargazing apps to keep your eye on ahead of November 24. Have a read-through to find the ideal app for your purposes.
If you want to get the very best look at the stars and planets, you may want to check out our guides to the best telescopes and best telescopes for deep space. And if you're an aspiring astrophotographer then our lists of the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography will help get you started.
Jase Parnell-Brookes is an award-winning photographer, educator and writer based in the UK. They won the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. After completing their Masters Jase has spent a good chunk of two decades studying and working in photography and optics shooting and writing all over the world for big-name brands and media outlets. Now the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space.com their speciality is in low light optics and camera systems.
The quick list
See our quick list below if you want to dive right in, or scroll further down for more detailed reviews of each app.
Best for astrophotographers
PhotoPills is the ideal companion for astrophotographers. It helps you to work out the exact time and location to shoot from to get the perfect shot of your target celestial object. You can also share your amazing photos with the community.
Best for Apple users
Offering an easy-to-use planetarium and nice AR overlays, this is a great app for those who want to be able to point their phone straight at the sky and learn more about what's above them. Since it works indoors, you can even stargaze from your living room!
Download Night Sky 11 for iOS
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Best free app
This free offering from Escape Velocity Ltd manages to hold its own within our list of paid apps thanks to its impressively accurate 3D universe, beautiful AR visuals and pinpoint GPS functionality.
Download Star Chart for iOS
The best stargazing apps we recommend in 2023
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Best stargazing app overall
✅ You're looking for a large database: SkySafari 7 Pro has one of the most extensive databases on our list.
✅ You want to be able to plan your stargazing in detail: the Observing Planner on this app is fantastic for planning your stargazing trips in advance.
✅ You already own a Celestron StarSense telescope: SkySafari 7 Pro is an ideal app for controlling Celestron StarSense telescopes.
❌ You're a new or casual stargazer: SkySafari 7 Pro is on the more expensive side and you may not need all the sophisticated features it offers.
❌ You want something quick and easy: it can take a bit of time to get the hang of.
❌ You have limited space on your device: SkySafari 7 Pro takes up a hefty 2.4GB of storage.
🔎 SkySafari 7 Pro: this is one of the best apps out there if you want to get serious about your stargazing and astrophotography. It is particularly good for telescope control and has one of the largest databases you'll find, but it may be overkill for some. ★★★★★
The SkySafari 7 Pro app is on the more expensive side of the market for a stargazing app, but with good reason. As we discovered in our SkySafari 7 Pro review, this app is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to its space database, offering details on millions of stars, galaxies and other space objects. The planetarium page syncs seamlessly with the night sky whatever way you're holding your phone and also offers an impressive AR overlay option via your phone's camera.
Astrophotographers will love the app's Observing Planner, which allows you to select the kind of objects that you want to observe (like galaxies, globular clusters or nebulas) and sort results by location. The Tonight's Best feature also lists the best objects on show in the sky that night, allowing you to plan your shooting schedule in fine detail.
Seasoned stargazers will appreciate SkySafari 7 Pro's ability to control Celestron StarSense telescopes via WiFi. The app also adds a social element to stargazing with OneSky, which shows you the most popular object currently being viewed by other users, and SkyCast, which lets you share your observations with another user.
Keep an eye on prices because you can sometimes get all these features for an even lower price than the previous SkySafari 6 Pro, as well as being treated to a slicker user interface and a greatly expanded database. The only thing to be aware of is that this app takes up a large amount of storage space on your device.
- Read our full SkySafari 7 Pro review
- Download SkySafari 6 Pro for iOS and Android
- Download SkySafari 7 Pro for iOS and Android
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Neat, fast and responsive | ★★★★★ |
| Key Features | Huge database and telescope control | ★★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Useful light pollution map | ★★★★★ |
Best for astrophotographers
✅ Your main interest is astrophotography: PhotoPills truly cannot be beaten for planning astrophotography shooting sessions.
✅ You want to get the perfect shot: PhotoPills will help you plan and set yourself up to get incredible shots that might otherwise feel impossible.
✅ You want to feel part of a community: PhotoPills lets you share photos and points of interest with other astrophotographers.
❌ Your main interest is stargazing: PhotoPills is really geared up towards astrophotographers, so other apps are better for pure stargazing.
❌ You want something simple and straightforward: with its array of features and functionality, PhotoPills takes a while to get the hang of.
🔎 PhotoPills: we think PhotoPills is a must-have app for those who are serious about astrophotography and want to get the perfect shot of particular objects in the night sky. Its astrophotography features are unmatched, but it's not ideal for casual stargazing. ★★★★★
PhotoPills is a sophisticated stargazing app, calculator, map and celestial almanac rolled into one. It scored top marks in our PhotoPills app review and will be especially appealing to astrophotographers since it helps you to work out the date, time and the best shooting spot to capture your chosen celestial event. In addition to this, it can suggest an appropriate lens to use and calculate the optimal exposure and depth of field settings for your target object — awesome!
PhotoPills is especially well-suited for astrophotography involving capturing celestial events behind specific landmarks. You can use the app to plan your shoot and find the perfect spot — capture the Milky Way rising over a mountain or the Andromeda Galaxy setting behind a castle. Once you have your shot, you can share it with the wider PhotoPills community.
Because it has so many functionalities, PhotoPills takes some time to fully get to grips with. The Planner feature shows you the exact sightline, azimuth and altitude for the sun and the moon. The app's ability to trace the path of upcoming events like lunar and solar eclipses across a world map enables you to plan the perfect location and timing for your shots well in advance. When you're out in the field shooting on location, the AR and Night AR modes even allow you to overlay the paths of the sun and the moon on the sky in front of you. In our review, we also tested out the Visibility GC feature and were able to use this to take some stunning photos of the Milky Way's galactic core.
The PhotoPills app is perfect for serious astrophotographers who want to plan their shots carefully in advance and can take full advantage of its wealth of specialist features. Beginners or more casual users might find it a bit complex and expensive.
- Read our full PhotoPills review
- Download PhotoPills for iOS and Android
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Simple grid design | ★★★★★ |
| Key Features | Lots of tools and calculators | ★★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Truly exhaustive planning features | ★★★★★ |
Best for Apple users
✅ You're a beginner: Night Sky 11 is easy to use, even with little prior knowledge.
✅ You enjoy AR features: there's a lot on offer in terms of AR on this app, especially on the premium version.
✅ You want to try astrophotography: Night Sky 11 is good for getting your first taste of astrophotography with your phone.
❌ You're a more seasoned astronomer: those with more experience might prefer an app with more extensive features like telescope control.
❌ You're bothered by too much on the screen: although you can filter what it shows, the interface on Night Sky 11 can look a little cluttered.
🔎 Night Sky 11: we think this is a great app for Apple users who are starting out on their stargazing journey. It includes novel AR functionality as well as basic astrophotography features, but more experienced users may be looking for more than it can offer. ★★★★½
Night Sky 11 is a nifty stargazing app designed specifically for Apple devices. It features many of the basic functions you'd expect from a stargazing app, such as the ability to point your phone towards the sky to reveal constellations and galaxies, alongside some innovative Augmented Reality (AR) features and handy astrophotography features.
Tapping on the 'i' icon next to any object of interest will bring up a lengthy description of what you're seeing. The app works in portrait or landscape mode, but takes this even further by offering a 360-degree function. This means that pointing your phone at the ground will show constellations that would be visible on the other side of the world, allowing you to see what has just dipped below the horizon.
The AR on this app is impressive, working both outdoors and indoors by projecting the overlays onto your ceiling. The Plus version has a novel AR feature called 'Planetary Portals' which allows you to tap on a planet or moon within the solar system and then 'step through' the portal to view astronomy data from a new perspective. You can also try your hand at some basic astrophotography via this app, with inbuilt focus, noise reduction and ISO adjustment.
Whilst much of this is available on the generous free tier, unlocking the full 1.7 billion star count and some of the more advanced features will require an upgrade to Night Sky +, though you can take advantage of a month-long trial before you commit.
- Read our full Night Sky 11 review
- Download Night Sky 11 for iOS
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Handy 360 degree function | ★★★★ |
| Key Features | Novel AR planetary portals | ★★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Auto or manual adjustment options | ★★★★★ |
Best for entertainment
✅ You want to learn lots: the NASA app makes a whole host of space information available at your fingertips.
✅ You want to follow NASA missions: the NASA app is sure to keep you up to date with all the latest photos and videos from their missions.
✅ You enjoy interactive features: with the NASA app, you can virtually whizz around the universe and zoom in on different objects.
❌ You want a traditional stargazing app: the NASA app isn't the best choice if you simply want to point your phone at the sky and find out what's up there.
❌ You're looking for an app for astrophotography: this isn't an area where the NASA app particularly shines and other apps would be better suited.
🔎 NASA app: the NASA app is a great educational resource to learn about space and keep up to date on all the latest news from NASA missions. However, it is limited on stargazing and astrophotography features and more geared towards entertainment. ★★★★½
The NASA app isn't a stargazing app in the traditional sense, although it offers a basic planetarium feature called SkyView on its iOS version only. Instead, it's an absolute treasure trove of information about all things NASA, from current missions to press releases and images of the day. And since everything about the app is completely free, with no paywalls in sight, we think it's definitely worth you downloading and exploring it for yourself.
The app has a very minimalistic and intuitive interface with lots of beautiful visuals from NASA's huge image library. The Images tab will take you to an in-app version of NASA's Image of the Day (IOTD) and Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) where you can rate, store and share your favorites. From the home screen, you can also scroll through the latest news articles or tap on the Missions tab to see details and updates from all of NASA's live missions.
The entertainment hub is stored under the TV and Audio tab. This includes a built-in NASA TV feed which lets you view their live channel at any time to see coverage of launches, dockings to the International Space Station (ISS), news conferences and more. It also lets you access radio and podcasts to listen to on the go.
Kids will particularly enjoy the interactive elements of the app, which allow you to whizz around the Solar System and tap on different objects to learn more information about them. The app is also ideal if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the ISS flying across the sky as you can set it to notify you five, 10 or 15 minutes ahead of when it's due to pass over your specific location. All in all, this free NASA app has plenty to spark the curiosity of children and adults alike and is a great download for space enthusiasts.
- Read our full NASA app review.
- Download the NASA app for iOS and Android.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Simple with good visuals | ★★★★★ |
| Key Features | Lots of pictures, videos and news | ★★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | SkyView feature only on iOS | ★★★★ |
Best for realism
✅ You're a stargazing beginner: Stellarium Mobile Plus offers traditional stargazing app functionality with a large database and no prior knowledge required.
✅ You want the chance to view objects close up: Stellarium Mobile Plus lets you view HD photos of the moon, nebulas and galaxies.
✅ You need telescope control: this app offers effective telescope control via Bluetooth or WiFi.
❌ You're mainly interested in astrophotography: although this does allow you to locate and track particular objects, some other apps have more comprehensive astrophotography features.
❌ You're looking to save money: you could try the free browser version of Stellarium instead, but that does mean losing the offline functionality of the app.
🔎 Stellarium Mobile Plus: we found the app to be particularly impressive for its illustrations and HD photos, giving newcomers to stargazing a very immersive experience. It also offers effective telescope control, but keen astrophotographers may want to look elsewhere. ★★★★
Stellarium originated as an open-source planetarium desktop program and the Stellarium Mobile Plus app was developed by the same creators. It contains an extremely comprehensive map based on the Gaia DR2 database, which includes over 1.69 billion stars and all known planets and comets from a catalog of over 2 million nebulas and galaxies. Few apps can come close to matching those numbers.
The app uses the GPS on your smartphone to display a map of the stars that are above you in real-time, and you can also link the app to your telescope via Bluetooth or WiFi, making it a great companion for serious astronomers. Whilst it doesn't give quite as detailed information on different objects as some other stargazing apps, it offers fantastic high-definition photos of the Moon, nebulas and galaxies that you can zoom in on.
Another fun feature on this app is the ability to move about in time. This means that you can fast forward to see what will be visible later in the night or select a particular date to view. In our Stellarium Mobile Plus review we found that this feature can get a bit buggy if overused, but it's still a neat function to have.
The app is reasonably priced, but if you're dead set on saving money then it's worth noting that the original desktop version does work on a mobile browser. However, it doesn't offer the same offline functionality as the app so it will be less useful in remote stargazing spots.
- Read our full Stellarium Mobile Plus review
- Download Stellarium Mobile Plus for iOS and Android
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Minimalist and intuitive | ★★★★ |
| Key Features | Effective planetarium and telescope control | ★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Useful observation tools | ★★★★ |
Best for beginners
✅ You're a beginner: we think the easy set-up and navigation on this app make it a great option for beginners.
✅ You want to plan a stargazing or shooting session: the Visible Tonight feature and option to speed up time make it easy to plan ahead.
✅ You're looking for an affordable option: we think that Star Walk 2 offers a lot of features for a relatively low price.
❌ You want to control a telescope: you won't be able to use Star Walk 2 to control your telescope.
❌ You want a very extensive database: while Star Walk 2 has a fair offering, some apps on this list offer a broader database.
🔎 Star Walk 2: this app is a great option for beginners and comes in at a low price point even on the paid version. It's full of handy features for learning more about the night sky, but the lack of telescope control may be a deal-breaker for some. ★★★★
Star Walk 2 is a great option for beginners who just want to dip their toe in and see what a stargazing app can do. The free version is generous, with occasional ads, and it only costs $5.99 to access all features including ad-ons, which is relatively inexpensive for a stargazing app.
The app packs in a lot for that price. Its database contains 200,000 stars, eight planets, 27 asteroids and comets and 10,000 satellites. It's very easy to set up and navigate, and moving your phone in any direction will give you information about what's currently visible in the night sky. Tapping on the camera icon switches the map to AR mode and overlays constellations, planets and satellites on the sky above you.
Planning your stargazing adventures is easy with the Star Walk 2 app. It has a 'Visible Tonight' tab where you can see which popular planets and constellations are due to make an appearance in your location. You can also fast forward in time to see how constellations or planets will progress across the night sky, which is handy for setting up your telescope in advance.
Another feature we loved is the optional filters, which includes x-ray, gamma-ray, h-alpha, radio and microwave. This lets you view hidden aspects of space objects that would never normally be visible with the naked eye.
Although Sky Walk 2 lacks some of the sophisticated features offered by the likes of SkySafari 7 Pro, it is a much friendlier starting point for beginners and comes at a very affordable price.
- Read our full Star Walk 2 review
- Download Star Walk 2 for iOS and Android
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Intuitive and customizable | ★★★★ |
| Key Features | AR overlay and filter options | ★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Visible Tonight feature for planning | ★★★★ |
Best for information
✅ You want to accurately locate different objects: we found this app very accurate when it came to locating objects in the night sky.
✅ You want access to lots of information: the app gives helpful descriptions of whatever object it identifies in your view, including Wikipedia links for further reading.
❌ You want impressive AR features: we found the AR screen too dark to be particularly useful at night.
❌ You're a more experienced astronomer: you may want to check out other apps with more features and functionality.
🔎 SkyView: this is an affordable and easy-to-use option for beginner stargazers that will allow you to accurately locate objects in the night sky and learn much more about them. However, it lacks the more sophisticated features of some other apps on the list. ★★★★
SkyView is one of the cheaper stargazing apps available, with the full paid version only setting you back between $1.99 and $2.99, which we think is a great price for what you get. This app is easy to use and set up, and it does an excellent job of locating particular stars, planets and nebulas, making it a nice entry-level app for stargazing beginners.
If you're wanting to use the app in a more built-up area or can't easily get away from light pollution, then the option to increase or decrease the magnitude (brightness) of the stars will be a welcome addition. SkyView's interactive star map automatically recognizes objects and constellations, which you can then tap on to see close-up pictures and read detailed descriptions.
The screen art and information are great, but we did find that it tended to disappear a bit too quickly with very slight movements of your phone away from the target object. We also found the AR screen to be a bit dark and harder to see at night-time. However, we loved having the ability to save interesting objects to make them easier to locate the next time you want to observe them, perhaps when you have your telescope to hand.
The app itself has an extension that allows you to direct Space Navigator telescopes or binoculars to particular stars, planets or objects. This will be handy if you already own one, but these aren't particularly high-end products, so they haven't made it into our lists of best telescopes and best binoculars for that reason.
Despite having a few small drawbacks, SkyView is a straightforward and intuitive app that will be fun for beginners and kids who want to explore the night sky without having to spend a lot of money.
- Read our full SkyView review
- Download SkyView for iOS and Android
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Easy to use and set up | ★★★★ |
| Key Features | Interactive star map and object descriptions | ★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Accurate location features | ★★★★ |
Best free app
✅ You're new to stargazing: since Star Chart is free, it's a great way to try out this new hobby and is ideal for anyone on a tight budget.
✅ You want to keep up to date on key celestial events: the calendar feature will let you know what's upcoming and the time shift feature lets you catch up on anything you missed.
❌ Paywalls frustrate you: there's lots on offer for free with this app, but it also comes with lots of in-app purchases.
❌ You need higher level features: since it's a free app, it can't compete with some of the more expensive stargazing apps on the market.
🔎 Star Chart: we think this is the best free stargazing app available and thoroughly recommend giving it a try. It will particularly appeal to people who are new to stargazing and just getting to grips with this new hobby as it offers lots of exciting features in an easy-to-use format. ★★★★½
Star Chart is a fantastic option for newcomers to stargazing because all the basic functions are free, with some additional features on offer as in-app purchases. It has a simple and streamlined design that is easy to use. Working in both portrait and landscape mode, the app uses the GPS on your phone to locate you and tell you what's in the sky above you using its catalog of 120,000 stars and 88 constellations.
When you tap on each star, the app will reveal information about it, including things like characteristics, distance, brightness and its celestial co-ordinates to help you line up your telescope or camera if you have one. With paid upgrades, you can also access meteor showers, dwarf planets and additional planetary moons, comets and satellites.
Star Chart is useful for planning your stargazing sessions in advance or for catching up on events in the sky that you may have missed. The in-built calendar displays different activities happening in the sky each day, like showing you when the peaks of meteor showers will occur. In our Star Chart review, we especially loved the Time Shift feature, which allows you to shift backwards and forwards in time to view past and future celestial events. Covering a span of 10,000 years, this makes it easy to track interesting patterns across time.
Whilst the features on offer aren't as sophisticated as apps like SkySafari, the user interface is much simpler and easier to use, so it's perfect for beginners. And since you can try it out for free, we see no reason not to recommend Sky Chart.
- Read our full Star Chart review
- Download Star Chart for iOS (currently unavailable on Google Play)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Simple and streamlined | ★★★★★ |
| Key Features | Accurate GPS and 3D universe | ★★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Handy calendar and time shift feature | ★★★★ |
Best for AR
✅ You enjoy AR: this app has beautiful AR functionality, along with interactive 3D models.
✅ You're a beginner: this app is quick and easy to get to grips with and doesn't require any prior knowledge.
✅ You want to learn lots: we found this app very educational.
❌ You're easily irritated by ads: unless you're willing to upgrade to the paid version, the ads on this app can feel a bit intrusive and disrupt the immersive experience.
❌ You like to use your phone in landscape mode: one drawback of this app is that it won't rotate into landscape mode, so you can only use it in portrait.
🔎 Sky Tonight: this is a user-friendly app that is easy to set up for beginners, includes beautiful AR overlays and offers lots of information. We found upgrading to the premium version worthwhile to get rid of the ads and unlock extra features. ★★★★
Sky Tonight is another app from Vito Technology, the same company who brought us Star Walk 2, and it is great for gathering lots of interesting information in one place alongside visually pleasing AR effects.
From the map homepage you can move your phone around to identify bright points in the sky as you're viewing them. When you zoom in and tap on them, it will bring up information about the stars and planets such as their history, lore and when they'll be visible over the horizon in the next month. With planets, you can track their path through the sky and see what position they'll be in on certain dates.
There's so much reading material here that you'll probably want to explore it all once you're back home in the warm, which is where the search function comes in handy. You can look up all the objects you saw over the course of the night and finish reading about them here.
If you're wanting to plan your next adventure, the telescope icon brings up a list of what will be visible in your location on any particular night. We also loved the app's 'stargazing index', which pulls together sunset time, moon phase and likely cloud cover into a percentage score of how likely you are to see anything on a given night — a very useful feature!
You can try out Sky Tonight for free, but to unlock extra features and remove ads you'll need to pay up to $8.99 for lifetime access. We think this is worth it for the sheer volume of information you get from the Sky Tonight app.
- Read our full Sky Tonight review
- Download Sky Tonight for iOS and Android
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Slick and easy to operate | ★★★★ |
| Key Features | Impressive AR and interactive 3D models | ★★★★ |
| Astrophotography Features | Visible tonight and calendar features | ★★★★ |
Stargazing apps: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best stargazing app for a telescope?
SkySafari 7 Pro is the best stargazing app for use with a telescope because of everything else it does. Not only does it allow tracking with Celestron StarSense telescopes, but it has new LiveSky and SkyCast features, too.
What is the best stargazing app for iPhone and iPad?
The Night Sky 11 stargazing app is best for iOS Apple device users. In fact, it should work on iPad, Mac and Apple TV (though we haven't tested the Apple TV version). It has a detailed user interface and is capable of adjusting for light pollution. We gave it nearly full marks in our full review because how easy it is to use, especially for beginners.
What is the best stargazing app for Android?
SkySafari 7 Pro is the best stargazing app overall, according to our extensive full reviews. We think it's the best stargazing app for Android devices, but it's also compatible with iOS devices and it won't disappoint on either platform.
How we test the best stargazing apps
In order to guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best stargazing apps to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every stargazing app through a rigorous review to fully test each software. Each stargazing app is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its layout and design, to how well it functions as a stargazing software and its performance when observing the night sky.
Each stargazing app is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each stargazing app and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use.
We look at how easy each stargazing app is to operate, whether it contains the latest up-to-date observing technology like VR and synchronizing with calendars. We'll also make suggestions if a particular stargazing app would benefit from any additional accessories to give you the best observing experience possible.
With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on stargazing apps, whether you should purchase one or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.
