# Stars and Planets - Astronomy

> 3D Universe simulator

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1170904676](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1170904676)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1170904676`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Andrei Nistorescu
- **Category:** Education
- **Rating:** 4.70 / 5 (1,238 ratings)
- **Version:** 3.9.2
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-08
- **First published:** 2017-01-18
- **Size:** 757 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-19
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stars-and-planets-astronomy/id1170904676)
- **Website:** [https://galaxymap.net](https://galaxymap.net/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://galaxymap.net/pages/policyfree.html](https://galaxymap.net/pages/policyfree.html)

## Description

Stars and Planets - Astronomy is an interactive 3D planetarium that brings NASA and ESA data to life. Fly through the cosmos, visit planets and moons, land on exoplanets, dive into gas giant atmospheres, and glimpse exotic objects like black holes, pulsars, and magnetars, all in a browser-based experience.

Key features include:
- Immersive spacecraft flight to planets and moons
- Landable exoplanets with explorer-style gameplay
- Daily updated exoplanet information from multiple sources
- A vast database: ~7.85 million stars, ~7,400 exoplanets, 205 disks, 32,868 black holes, 3,344 pulsars, and ~150 Solar System moons
- Advanced search for stellar and substellar objects
- Support for 100+ languages

Data sources include SIMBAD, The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia, NASA Exoplanet Archive, and the Planet Habitability Laboratory. Access via galaxymap.net and the project Discord community.

## Rankings

- #49,926 — Overall
- #12 — space
- #60 — planet

## Review summary

Stars and Planets offers a strong, Space Engine–like mobile exploration experience with engaging planet landings and educational depth. Its major strengths are the Space Engine feel, fun exploration, and informative content. Repeated feedback calls for more content (minor planets, comets, missions), richer visuals (textures, landscapes, flora/fauna), and better monetization balance. Common drawbacks include intrusive ads, relatively sparse visuals, and occasional bugs. With more content, polish, and improved monetization, it could become an outstanding space sim on iOS.

### Pros

- Feels like Space Engine; one of the best Space Engine clones on mobile.
- Fun exploration with landings on planets and observing space phenomena like black holes.
- Educational and informative about planets, stars, and other space objects.
- Large variety of objects to explore, contributing to a strong sense of scale.

### Cons

- Ads are frequent and intrusive; users request fewer ads.
- Graphics/landscapes feel sparse or less realistic; desire for more textured surfaces, trees, and fauna.
- Bugs and inaccuracies occasionally disrupt gameplay (e.g., moon sizing issues, minor moon labeling, occasional glitches; settings sometimes dont stick).

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1170904676)