Uncategorized

Star Wares: 7 Stellar Apps to Chart the Night Sky

Chart a course to infinity and beyond with these far out apps for kids.

By Kipp Jarecke-Cheng July 7, 2016

Few experiences inspire a greater sense of child-like curiosity than looking up at the night sky and gazing at twinkling constellations of planets and stars. Little wonder, then, that there are so many songs and lullabies devoted to celebrating the distant lights that shine above us. Flip through our heavenly album to discover a starry array of edutaining and easy-to-navigate apps that’ll help junior Galileos deepen their love and appreciation of the cosmos.

Sky Guide

If you’ve ever looked skyward and wondered if a bright flickering light was a star or a planet, this appealing app may resolve some of that mystery. By holding up your iOS device, Sky Guide automatically aligns itself to the stars and planets above you (thanks to the gyroscope in newer iPhones and iPads), precisely identifying the celestial body in question. Novice and seasoned stargazers will appreciate the immersive visual experience, which includes beautiful high-resolution photography and an amazing time-lapse function that can show the paths of comets and satellites. This smart app includes thousands of detailed information cards and many cross-linked articles written by leading astronomical authors. A neat filter lets users “x-ray” the sky and view celestial sights invisible to the naked eye. Best of all, the app functions with or without wifi, cellular or GPS, which means stargazers can explore the heavens anywhere, anytime.

For ages 8 & up.

Available on iTunes, $2.99.

What’s your favorite stargazing app? Tell us in the comments below!

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng