AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The big question this week is “Did you see those photos from space?”.
Everyone is talking about those incredible photos from the James Webb Space Telescope showing stars and galaxies from billions of years ago.
If you have seen them, you may also be wondering what you can see when you look at the stars.
Night Sky is a stargazer’s dream. It is also one of the first smartphone apps that blew us away.
Released in 2011, Night Sky was one of the first smartphone apps to use a phone’s gyroscope and GPS location.
The app maps the universe and uses the phone’s camera to label stars, planets, moons, and constellations. It even shows satellites flying across the sky.
As you move the camera, the app crosses the sky to reveal what’s out there. On a clear night, you can use the Night Sky app to show what’s above you.
We tried it and we were able to detect a small star that was actually Mars. Someone with even an entry level telescope could spot Saturn and the constellation of Capricorn.
Without the app, you’d think you’d be looking at a bunch of stars. It’s called Night Sky, but you can use it indoors.
Using augmented reality, the app turns the roof into your own private planetarium. Below you will see the contents of your room, but the ceiling becomes the sky with the names of everything you would see if you were not inside.
Packed with information, Night Sky has special new features that show what time it’s best to stargaze, based on cloud cover. It’s also packed with news, images, and the chance to connect and chat about celestial things with fellow stargazers and astronomers.
Night Sky is a free app, but $30 a year gets you more features. It is only available for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
The app even sends notifications when you need to get out and look up. If you’re always wondering “What’s up?”, you’ll love Night Sky.
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