Sky Map

What Sky Map does

Sky Map is a mobile star chart that identifies objects in the night sky as you point your phone overhead. It is suited to beginners learning the positions of stars, planets and constellations, as well as casual observers who want a quick reference outdoors. The app uses the phone’s location and orientation sensors to match the display with the part of the sky in view.

Reference features

You can search for a named celestial object and use the on-screen guidance to locate it. Sky Map also supports viewing controls that narrow the display to object types such as planets, constellations or deep-sky objects. A time-shifting function allows the chart to represent the sky at different times, which is useful when planning an observation or comparing what is visible on another night.

Who it suits

This is primarily an identification and orientation tool rather than a detailed astronomy textbook. Its straightforward chart format makes it practical for first-time users, school-age learners and anyone who needs help connecting a star chart with the real sky. Users looking for long explanations, astrophotography controls or extensive scientific articles may need a separate reference.

Catalogue record

• Package: com.google.android.stardroid
• Developer: Sky Map Devs
• Category: Books & Reference
• Rating: 4.085122 from 487,005 ratings
• Installs: 50,000,000+

The package identifier distinguishes this astronomy app from similarly named star-chart listings. The recorded install range and review volume indicate broad use, while the developer string identifies the publisher attached to this package.