The Night Sky

The Night Sky

Seller: iCandi Apps

Price: Currently 75% off at .99 cents (there is a free Lite Version too)

Platforms: All iOS, Android, Mac

Link to app store.

Technically this is a reference app, and that’s how you might justify it to yourself if you’re looking at buying it, but that’s not really why The Night Sky exists. It exists for the moments where you’re outside on a clear night (or inside huddled by the fire on a cold one) and you want to add a little information and perspective to where you are.

That and it’s freaking awesome.

A GPS, compass and accelerometer app, Night Sky reads where you are in the world and then shows you via your screen what the night sky looks like from where you are. Even if it’s broad daylight.

On it’s app page, iCandi tells us that you can see what the night sky looks like even if there is heavy cloud cover. I think iCandi is selling themselves short here. You can see what the night sky looks like even if it’s obscured by concrete, steel or the Earth itself.

You can set the amount of information Night Sky gives you, getting it to show you a simple map of the stars or full constellations. If you’re into astrology, or simply curious about where the star signs came from Night Sky can show you by drawing the links in between the stars for you.

My best experiences with Night Sky have come from standing outside where I can see the stars and using the app to make sense of the things I’m seeing. It’s a truly humbling and oddly beautiful experience to see the galaxy laid out before you this way.

I never thought I’d be calling an app humbling, nor beautiful but there you go.

I used my iPad 2 to test this (although I’ve also used an iPhone) and it looks superb. The program is very stable even when running multiple apps.

I know that this isn’t something most people will use every day, but for the sheer awesomeness of the experience it can provide you, I think it’s a bargain at any price.

Highly recommended.