Star finder, no app needed
Open whatsthatstar.com in Safari or Chrome, hold your phone up to the sky, and every star, planet and constellation in view gets its name. It uses your phone’s compass and motion sensors, so there’s nothing to install and no account to make.
Free. Works in Safari and Chrome, nothing to install.
Working out your sky…
How to use it
- Open the star finder on your phone and tap Start pointing.
- Allow motion and location when your phone asks. On iPhone the motion prompt appears right after you tap.
- Hold the phone up as if you’re taking a photo. The names move with the sky as you turn.
- Tap anything to learn what it is, or tap Share to send it to someone.
What it can find
- About 8,900 stars, which is every star you can see without a telescope
- All 88 constellations, with their lines drawn in
- The Sun, the Moon and every planet
- Bright galaxies, nebulae and clusters, like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleiades
- The International Space Station, Hubble and other bright satellites
Why a browser beats an app here
There’s nothing to download, so you can pull it up the moment you spot something. Links also work for anyone you send them to: whatsthatstar.com/jupiter opens straight to Jupiter with an arrow pointing the way, even for someone who has never used the site.
Tips for better results
- If the labels sit a bit off, wave your phone in a figure 8 to calibrate the compass.
- Step away from cars, metal railings and magnetic phone cases. They pull the compass off.
- Turn on the red screen in Settings to keep your eyes adjusted to the dark.
- Use the clock button to see the sky later tonight, or on any other date.
Questions
Do I need to download an app?
No. It runs in Safari, Chrome and other modern browsers. You can add it to your home screen for one-tap access, but you don’t have to.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. It needs a compass and motion sensors, which nearly every phone has. On iPhone you’ll be asked to allow Motion & Orientation access.
Is it free?
Yes. There’s no account and nothing to buy.
Does it use my camera?
No. It works out the sky from your location, the time and the direction your phone is facing, so it even works through clouds or indoors.
Is my location stored?
Your location is used on your phone to draw your sky and isn’t sent to our server. See the privacy page.