Astronomy Sky Map: Star View

Hold your phone up to the night sky and Star View tells you what you're looking at. That bright dot next to the Moon? Point at it to find its name.

Star View, by SAOKIM, is a night sky guide and AR star map for Android. Identify stars, planets and constellations, explore a live sky map and check the meteor shower calendar. No telescope or astronomy background is needed. If you have binoculars or a small telescope, discover plenty of objects to observe.

AR STAR MAP
• AR overlays your camera view with planet and bright-star names and constellation lines aligned with the sky.
• Tell Jupiter from a bright star or find Orion's Belt. Turn AR off to use a classic star chart.

CONSTELLATION FINDER
• Point at the sky to see constellations drawn and named.
• Tap a constellation for its brightest stars and the story behind its name.
• Switch sky cultures to explore how other cultures grouped the same stars.
With practice, you'll start recognizing them without your phone.

TONIGHT'S SKY
• See the sky above you now, based on your location, time and viewing direction.
• Find visible planets and local Moon and planet rise and set times.
• Pinch to zoom in on faint stars that may be invisible from the city.

METEOR SHOWERS, ECLIPSES & MOON PHASES
The astronomy calendar includes:
• Meteor shower peaks, such as the Perseids in August and Geminids in December.
• Solar and lunar eclipses, including the total solar eclipse of August 2, 2027.
• Full Moons, supermoons, Moon phases and conjunctions, when the Moon and planets appear close together.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon on the map turns coppery red.

ALSO IN STAR VIEW
• Sky Tours: guided tours of bright planets, major constellations and Messier objects for binoculars and small telescopes.
• Time Machine: move the sky forward or back to see Saturn at 10pm or the sky on the night you were born.
• AI Astro: ask questions in your own words, such as ""Why is Venus so bright?"" or ""What's the red star in Orion?""
• 3D planets and Moon: rotate and zoom detailed models of Earth, the Moon, the Sun and the planets.

COMMON QUESTIONS

How do I identify a star or constellation?
Open Star View, raise your phone and point at it. Its name appears on screen. Tap for details.

What's that bright ""star"" next to the Moon?
Often a planet, usually Venus or Jupiter. Point Star View at it to identify it.

Is it a planet or a star?
Planets usually shine steadily and stars twinkle, though objects low in the sky may also twinkle. Check with Star View.

What can I see tonight?
See the planets, stars and constellations above your horizon, plus local Moon and planet rise and set times.

When is the next meteor shower?
Open the astronomy calendar to see peak nights and plan ahead.

When is the next eclipse?
The calendar lists upcoming solar and lunar eclipses, including the total solar eclipse of August 2, 2027.

Why are labels in the wrong place?
Magnets and nearby metal can interfere with your phone's compass. Remove any magnetic case and move your phone in a figure 8 to recalibrate.

Recent changes:
- Improve app performance for smoother user experience.