AsterismXray

There used to be an application for Mac OS called M-13. It allowed you to see constellations in a similar way to AsterismXray. It long ago disappeared and we couldn't find the name of the original Author anywhere. So we created what we believe is a better (more complete) application. It is very useful for demonstrating to people why constellations aren't really that important. The patterns fall apart quickly with small perspective changes. And it is fun to use! Enjoy! Stars that look side by side in a constellation are often hundreds or thousands of light years apart. AsterismXray lets you see that for yourself. Pick any of the 88 IAU constellations, Ptolemy's 48 classical constellations (including the historic Argo Navis) or 25 popular asterisms such as the Big Dipper, the Summer Triangle and the Southern Cross. Then orbit around Earth and the figure in 3-D, with a coloured ray running from your location on Earth to every main star, so the depth of each star is easy to see. X-RAY ORBIT VIEW • Drag to circle the figure, pinch or scroll to zoom, double-tap to frame Earth and the figure again • "From Earth" shows the familiar shape; "Side" reveals the true depth of every star • Make Earth transparent – just an outline – to see every ray and star behind it • Logarithmic, true-to-scale or celestial-sphere depth • Rays coloured per star, by distance or by figure • A shaded Earth that turns with the real time of day, with day and night from the Sun's actual position SKY VIEW • See the figure from where you stand, with horizon and compass points • X-ray through the ground to see the part of the sky below your horizon BOTH HEMISPHERES • Choose from cities in the north, on the equator and in the south – or type your own latitude and longitude • Rays to stars below your horizon are drawn dashed and pass behind the Earth • Each figure shows which hemisphere suits it best, the latitudes from which it fully rises, and how many of its stars are above your horizon right now LEARN ABOUT EACH STAR • Tap a star for its name, designation, brightness, colour, distance and the year its light left it MAKE IT YOURS • Turn star names, Earth effects, guide lines and grids on or off • Hide any information panel for an unobstructed view, and bring it back with one tap • Run time forward to watch the sky turn Rendered with Metal on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Works offline. No ads, no account, no data collected.