APP OF THE DAY
Sky Guide
Sky Guide
Star gaze constellation finder
With Sky Guide, you can stargaze anytime, from any location, no matter what the weather. Is it cloudy outside? Want to check for Martians in the middle of the day—even when you’re stuck indoors? Now you can. Just point your iPhone or iPad toward the sky to view constellations, planets, and satellites above—no telescope required.
The first time you launch the app, it’ll display the constellations above you by default. But you can turn it into a viewfinder of the sky by swiping the screen or tapping the compass icon; physically move your device to look around.
Tapping the camera icon in Compass mode switches on the app’s AR (augmented reality) function. Using your device’s location data, the app overlays celestial bodies atop your immediate surroundings.
To change how bright the stars appear, swipe up with two fingers to use the Sky Blend feature. Turn on notifications to be informed when the International Space Station is passing overhead or there’s a meteor shower.
The app’s integration with Siri Shortcuts makes planet-spotting even more seamless.
Check out the app’s handy guide to setting up a custom voice shortcut that you can trigger with “Hey Siri.” (Our favorite: “Hey Siri, is that an alien?”)
Serious stargazers should get a free trial of the Supermassive subscription. It unlocks the high-definition zoom feature, a larger catalog of stars, and cinematic tours of the cosmos.