Star Walk for iPad – interactive astronomy guide

If you are at all interested in astronomy and the sky above then I think you’d find Star Walk fascinating. It brings an interactive walk through the stars to your iPhone or iPad. I tried out the iPad version of the app and the graphics were unbelievable.  I learned some astronomy in high school and college but then along came my kids and I’m afraid almost everything I’ve learned has been replaced by what I see on Star Wars or Doctor Who. In spite of my skewed perspective on the stars I was completely impressed by this gorgeous app.

Star Walk has several different parts to it. In “Sky Live” you can see the sun, the time it’s rising and setting and how long the day is. You’ll also see the moon and pictures showing it’s phases for the next five days. Here you can also see when Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be rising and setting. At the top of the screen you can adjust the date. When you do this the moon’s phases will change as will the information for the sun and planets.

“Picture of the Day” gives you a list of incredible pictures from around the solar system. Tap one and prepare to feel some awe. The app’s “Location” feature shows you where you’re at on the globe.  Along with showing you visually, Star Walk also provides the longitude and latitude of your location. The globe can be spun around and different places can be marked. You can also adjust the date and time of day and watch the Earth rotate and change from day to night.

Finally, Star Walk will show you the stars. If you tilt your iPhone or iPad towards the sky you’ll engage the “Star Spotter” function. This gives you a picture, on your screen, of what’s happening in the sky at that moment. On this screen you can view the different constellations and you can also search for stars, planets, etc. The search button pulls up a list of what’s out there. Tap on what you’re looking for and the app shows you where it’s at in the sky. This section also lets you change the date so you can see what the skies look like on other nights, or years even. Finally, you can read information about what you’re searching for.  I know that I didn’t put the Star Spotter feature to a very good test. It’s been cloudy and rainy here and stargazing just hasn’t been an option. but from what I’ve read in the App Store reviews astronomy buffs love this app.

Star Walk is a stunning app and I’m looking forward to trying it out when the weather finally warms up and my kids are out of school and up for a late night of searching the stars. If you, or your child are interested in astronomy this is a must see app.

Price when Reviewed: $4.99 for iPad app, $2.99 for iPhone app. I tried out the iPad version.

See the app in iTunes here.

Seller: Vito Technology, Inc.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.