When you’re using Stellarium, it’s always the perfect time to look up. This realistic sky map is designed to help you observe not only the stars, planets, satellites, and constellations appearing above you, but the whole observable starscape. Discover astronomical wonders with these stellar features at your fingertips.

The galaxy we call home is a very big place. Stellarium makes it feel slightly smaller by mapping over 1 billion known stars and celestial objects. Using augmented reality, it shows you everything in the night sky, at any time of day.

Point your phone up and move it around to spot planets, comets, and even satellites. Tap on an object to learn all about it, including classification, any constellations it’s part of, and its location relative to Earth and various stars. Zoom in on the object for a closer view, with some planets visible in incredible detail.

Looking to explore the very edges of space? Tap the magnifying glass to search for a specific object, or browse by categories like comets and satellites.

The light we see from stars is so old, viewing it is a form of time travel. Stellarium offers another way to span the years, transporting you up to 4,999 years in the past or future. On the main screen, tap the date in the bottom right corner. Use the backward and forward arrows to move through days, months, or even centuries, and watch as the sky changes.

Knowing an object’s future location can be essential when planning nighttime photography. Check the trajectory of a certain star or planet to discover when it will be in the sky above you, so you can research the weather and land conditions and plan your shoot accordingly.

To get back to your current time, just tap the clock icon in the center of the timeline.

Depending on where you grew up, you may have different names or even different configurations for constellations and star clusters. Tap “Sky Cultures” to view the skies through the teachings of the Norse, Romanian, Sardinian, and more. Choose a culture to learn more about its history and relationship to the stars, then tap “Use” to see constellations from that tradition.

In Sky Cultures, tap on an object and then scroll down to discover any other names it might be called.

Stellarium is an engaging tool for weekend stargazers and full-time astronomers alike. Use it to discover new things about our galaxy or go premium and make it an integral part of your telescope photography.