Popular Stargazing App Star Walk 2 Goes Free as Apple’s new Free App of the Week

[RaduTyrsina]

Star Walk 2 is a popular stargazing app for iPhone and iPad users with an excellent rating on the iTunes store. Developed by Vito Technology Inc, the app has now been selected by Apple in its Free App of the Week category. Thus, you can now download it completely for free by following the link at the end.

The app usually sells for $2.99 and has never been free in the App Store since its August 2014 debut. Let's have a look at the main features of the app:

• Real-time motion tracking — As you hold your phone up and point it towards the sky, Star Walk 2 follows your motions using the built-in gyroscope to match the map on your screen to the stars seen from your location. Easily find any star, constellation, or satellite in the sky by tapping Search. Star Walk will indicate the direction to look in.
• New point of view — Unlike on a plain photograph, every star in Star Walk 2 has coordinates. That means you can look at objects, for instance, a constellation from any vantage point in space, not to mention the ultimate accuracy of your map for your exact location.
• Now and later — Star Walk 2 gives you accurate daily data on current moon phase, time of sunset and sunrise, and elevation of planets. With just one slide you can see how the sky will look later tonight or throughout the year.
• Pro stargazing — Special night-time soft red mode will help you preserve night vision when stargazing with a telescope. You can see the sky in X-Ray (and 5 more filters) to study the invisible structure of the universe. Live tracking for over 8,000 satellites will help you catch iridium flares, and detailed articles will satisfy the most curious inquirer.

Have a look at the video from below with the app, as well:

The app is also the winner of Apple Design Award, so it's really great to see that it has now become available for free. By using the sensors and the GPS of your device, it can determine the exact position of stars, planets, constellations, comets, ISS, satellites, star clusters, nebulae and meteor showers in the night sky.

Source: iTunes

 

[scifan57]

Excellent value. I've been using this app ever since it was released.

 

[twerppoet]

I use it whenever I see something in the sky, and am curious about it. It can also give notifications for celestial events like meteor showers and the recent conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.