SpaceNerd

SpaceNerd helps you recognize what you’re pointing at in the sky and learn to navigate by stars, planets, and deep-sky objects — using your iPhone’s motion sensors and approximate location.

Modes • What (Identity): aim at a star or planet to identify likely matches. • Where (Guidance): pick a star, planet, or deep-sky object and get live azimuth/altitude guidance to find it. If the object is not in the built-in catalog, SpaceNerd can look it up through SIMBAD. • Const (Constellations): search a constellation and use a guide star to point at it. • Game: race to find a target star — timer stops when you lock on the star.

Tip: Tap “?” in the top-right corner anytime for quick help and instructions.

How it works SpaceNerd uses the device’s motion sensors and your approximate location to estimate where you’re pointing, then compares that direction to a catalog of stars, planets, constellations, and selected online astronomical object data.

It doesn’t require stars to be visible on the camera image — so it can still be useful in daylight, through thin clouds, or even indoors for learning and practice. For best accuracy, move slowly and use it outdoors with a clear view of the sky.

Privacy No account required. No ads. No analytics or tracking. Location is used on-device to compute sky positions and is not stored or shared.

Data sources Planet positions are based on NASA/JPL ephemerides. The built-in star catalog was compiled offline using SIMBAD for RA/Dec references and Stellarium for constellation asterisms. Expanded Where searches may query SIMBAD, operated by CDS, for astronomical object lookup. Wikipedia may be opened when you tap “Open Wikipedia.”