SkyORB | realtech VR
Interested to our new SkyORB app for iOS, iPadOS, macOS ? See the preview here: here.
SkyORB is an exceptional astronomy app that offers a wealth of features for stargazers and space enthusiasts alike. With interactive maps, plans, and 3D models of the night skies and solar system, users can explore the wonders of space like never before. The defining feature of SkyORB is its advanced 3D functionality, which allows users to manipulate and explore celestial bodies in three dimensions, providing a unique perspective on our solar system's dynamics. Whether you're interested in stargazing, space exploration, or astrophysics, SkyORB is the perfect app for you. With its user-friendly interface, extensive database, and cutting-edge features, SkyORB is a must-have for anyone who wants to discover the secrets of the universe. Download SkyORB today and experience the wonders of the cosmos!
“SkyORB is fantastic for anyone interested in the night skies, but it’s not just a star-gazer’s handbook.“ - iPad.net ★★★★
“We love SkyORB because it not only offers 3D images of the planets and the stars in the sky, along with comets and asteroids, but it also comes a 'point to sky' feature that allows you to aim your handset towards a star or planet and it'll identify it for you“ . - PC Advisor: Best iPhone apps: Five free apps for astronomy ★★★★★
The current version of our product is 2021.12. We've made several noteworthy additions since the beginning of the year, including an extensive database of meteor showers with exact peak day timings, and updated versions for Mac and iOS 13 that use Metal API. The Stereographic skychart is now available on iOS Today Widget, Apple Watch, and the application, and we've added Jovian events to enhance the user experience. Additionally, we've added support for iOS 12 notifications, ARKit, Spotlight search, and other features. Our sun graph has been redesigned to improve accuracy in sunset and twilight times, and we've included a year sun graph. We've also incorporated super high definition textures with ASTC compression for mobile users. Finally, we've added the exact timing of solar and lunar eclipses based on your location, among other exciting updates. Download the latest version to enjoy these features and many more!
Kindly take note that we are presently developing a completely new generation of our application after investing 20 years in its development. This new version is expected to be released in 2023 and will be accessible on iOS, Apple TV, and macOS.
SkyORB is a comprehensive astronomy app that offers an array of features, including a 3D real-time representation of planets' positions around the sun. It also has the ability to reveal the name of a visible star or planet by pointing your device towards it and tracking GPS position, compass orientation, and elevation from the gyroscope. The app also notifies users of astronomical events such as a full moon or planet visibility worth observing.
SkyORB is available for free, and users can upgrade to the premium version to access additional features such as notifications and on-the-cloud backup directly from the application. The Lite version of SkyORB includes a 3D real-time planetarium, a real-time sky rendering with tracking from compass and gyroscope, comets and satellite positions with updates from the Web, and satellites ground location. The app also has a slider that allows users to explore the solar system up to the milky way in a 3D star chart view. Other features include an iOS 14 widget with a sky chart available on the home screen, weather forecasts from the current location, and Jovian events that display Jupiter's major moon position as seen from a telescope.
The app also includes an ephemeris that lists the next 60 days of astronomy events, such as the peak day of meteor showers and date of planet elongation and opposition. Users can also view the day/night terminator on a world map and use the powerful universal search engine to find a matching nebula, constellation, place, planets, exo-planets, and more. Additionally, the app displays moon phases with dates, including rise and set times and the ability to simulate the sky from any place in the world and even from other planets like Mars.
The Premium upgrade (in-app purchasable) unlocks more features, including an ad-free version, full-screen in the planetarium view, and additional views unlocked. Users can also access more information on moon phases and ephemeris, a more complete search engine, and unlimited Apple Watch support, among other features.
USER MANUAL
We are moving the old documentation to this page, currently work in progress !
FAQ
Q: How to reset the time shift in the app?
A: If you use a phone, you can quickly shake the phone, it will vibrate and the time-shift will be reset to the normal date
Q: How to force in English?
A: Only on iPhone, you can change this settings from the System Settings, SkyORB
Q: How to change the location on Mac or Windows?
A: You can use the location for automatic, but if it is not accurate, uncheck the 'automatic location' and click on the colored longitude and latitude values
Q: What is the value display on the Apple Watch complication?
A: The value is the equation of time. Found on some watch, this shows the difference between "true" solar time (that of Nature) and "mean" solar time (that of Man). This rare and poetic complication is usually combined with other astronomical indications. See this article
Q: How to reset the time shift in the app?
A: Time shift allow to go back or forth in the time. If you use a phone, you can quickly shake the phone, it will vibrate and the time-shift will be reset to the normal date. Else press the 'Now' button again when your are in the time-shift
Q: How to search with the Apple Watch
A: Open the app from the Apple Watch and hold press, then you can speak out the word like Where is the Moon, Where is Mars etc..
Considering that SkyORB is a free app, it's breadth of functionality may have you convinced you'd paid a couple of dollars for it. SkyORB is fantastic for anyone interested in the night skies, but it's not just a star-gazer's handbook. Not only do you get wonderful interactive maps and plans of the night skies but SkyORB also takes you on journeys through the solar system. The defining feature of SkyORB is its 3D functionality. Night-sky images as well as those from the solar system can be manipulated in 3 dimensions, showing how our wonderful solar spheres co-exist and interact.
SkyORB is a decent stargazing application that utilizes a really good digital compass and a 3D interface. It lets you search and find stars, deep sky objects, current satellites and shuttle missions, and enables you to see the sky from any point on earth. The trial version is of course free but is stripped down in features, unless you pay for the premium version for a few bucks right inside of the app.
Glossary and terms used in SkyORB
Glossary
Right ascension (abbrev. RA; symbol α) is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.
Declination (abbrev. dec or δ) is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Dec is comparable to latitude, projected onto the celestial sphere, and is measured in degrees north and south of the celestial equator.
The Minor Planet Circulars (MPC): The Minor Planet Center, under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union, it is the official organization in charge of collecting observational data for minor planets (asteroids) and comets, calculating their orbits and publishing this information via the Minor Planet Circulars.
TLE or Orbital elements are the parameters required to uniquely identify a specific orbit.
Opposition : A planet (or asteroid or comet) is said to be "in opposition" when it is in opposition to the Sun, as seen from the Earth. When a planet is like this,
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it is visible almost all night, rising around sunset, culminating around midnight and setting around sunrise;
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at this point of its orbit it is roughly[1] closest to the Earth, making it appear bigger and brighter.
Aphelion: A planet is said to be farthest distance from Earth.
Perihelion: A planet is said to be closest distance from Earth. The planet will appear bigger and easier to spot.
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