# Black hole finder

> Citizen science project to discover black holes by analyzing telescope data. (iPhone/iPad app by DDQ.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-hole-finder/id6446029571 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [DDQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/418328467)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 8 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 81 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2023-08-20
- Data updated: 2026-08-16
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-hole-finder/id6446029571/reviews.md

## What is Black hole finder?

Welcome to the Black Hole Finder, an exciting citizen science project dedicated to discovering black holes, particularly those formed from the fusion of two neutron stars. You have the unique opportunity to contribute to this cutting-edge research from the comfort of your home, using your phone, tablet, or computer.

Our app brings the cosmos to your fingertips. When two neutron stars merge, they create a powerful event, sending gravitational waves through space. These events are detected by our gravitational wave detectors, which alert us to potential black hole formations. Mergers of this kind not only create black holes but also give birth to rare Earth elements such as Iodine, Gold, and Cerium. All these elements, especially Iodine, play crucial roles in supporting life as we know it.

In addition to gravitational waves, these cosmic collisions emit light signals. The chase is on to detect these signals with our trio of specially designed BlackGEM telescopes located in Chile. The catch is that the detectors only provide a general localization of the event and the light signals are fleeting. Therefore, we need to act quickly to capture these signals before they fade away after a few days or a week at most.

That's where you come in! Using our app, you will sift through real-time images of the sky taken by our BlackGEM telescopes. You will help us spot these light signals, effectively identifying potential new black holes. Not only will you be possibly among the first to set eyes on the light from these celestial events, but with some training, you may also direct telescopes to take additional measurements of intriguing objects.

Your contributions to science won't go unnoticed. Participants who make significant discoveries will be offered co-authorship on scientific publications that result from their findings. We also provide training and guidance to enrich your understanding of the cosmos.

The Black Hole Finder project is not just about making significant scientific contributions. It's about engaging with the wonders of the universe, learning about the intricate processes that drive its dynamics, and having fun while doing it!

So, join us on this thrilling journey of discovery and exploration. Download the Black Hole Finder app now and start your cosmic adventure!

## Key features

- Analyze real-time telescope images
- Detect light signals from cosmic events
- Contribute to scientific research
- Potential co-authorship on publications
- Learn about black holes and neutron star mergers
- Direct telescopes for additional measurements

## Recent user reviews (8 of 8)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-hole-finder/id6446029571/reviews.md

### 1/5 — 登录不了

*2025-07-13*

登录不了，啥都不能用

### 2/5 — ？

*2025-06-20*

登录不了

### 5/5 — Cathartic

*2025-04-24*

Weird I know. I like the idea that I’m helping these scientists. Looking at 3 static images over and over also helps my mind not race. I have no idea if I’ll ever get feedback on if I correctly identified a black hole but it’s not a big deal for me. You guys are busy unlocking the secrets of the universe and this app probably isn’t top priority XD

Anyway! Thanks for letting me be a part of this

**Developer response:** Thanks for the nice review! Yes, the people behind this app are quite busy, that is why they asked for your help. Every classification is a valuable piece of information that potentially could lead to discoveries.

### 4/5 — Love These Citizen Science Things

*2024-11-23*

Nemo  ... has some excellent points. I just fired the app up this evening and it says there's nothing to analyze right now. Are we still engaged, or is my analyzing so bad that they don't want my help anymore? Anyway, hope there's more work in the future.

**Developer response:** New transients are coming in again. Sometimes weather or technical issues from telescopes are a factor.

### 5/5 — I'm an astronomer now!

*2024-08-24*

This is my dream, I'm an astronomer now.

Being able to take part in this study to identify neutron star mergers is just amazing. This is the process where the gold in my wedding ring was created.

The app receives constant updates and using the app allows me to be a bit more productive in my idle time. It makes me feel like I'm aiding in discovering something new about our universe.

### 4/5 — Needs Feedback

*2024-08-21*

This app is a good idea: enlist people to help find kilanova in sky surveys by excluding non-astrophysical light sources. They train you with samples, BUT there is no feedback when you assess transients, and no sense what proportion are likely to be ‘real’. 

I think when you mark ‘real’, you are just saying, ‘yeah, this is an astrophysical light-source,’ not ‘this is a kilanova.’  That would mean the ratio of real to bogus is much higher. But the app doesn’t make that very clear, so I select unknown quite a bit. 

What would b great would be a quiz against a vetted set of transients. That way you could guess then see the correct answer. New quizzes every so often between actual assessments would be great. I don’t want to me incorrectly training the algorithm!!

Also, does the app need a certain number of ‘real’ selections on a given sample to be added to the real set, or is it just my assessment? Yikes! 

I love the idea of supporting the effort; it feels meaningful. But a community, message board, quizzes, etc would go a long way in making me feel I am doing more good than harm.

### 5/5 — Works as advertised

*2024-08-19*

Not real exciting until you realize you’re looking at actual stars undergoing massive mind blowing changes.

### 1/5 — OH MY GOD

*2024-05-27*

ONLY ONE RATING STUPID I THINK YOUR TRYING TO HACK ME

## Frequently asked questions about Black hole finder

### What is the main goal of Black Hole Finder?

The main goal of Black Hole Finder is to enable citizen scientists to help discover black holes, particularly those formed from the fusion of two neutron stars, by analyzing real-time telescope images.

### How does Black Hole Finder contribute to scientific discovery?

Users analyze images from BlackGEM telescopes to spot fleeting light signals from cosmic events. This helps identify potential new black holes and contributes to research on gravitational waves and the formation of rare elements.

### Can I get credit for my contributions to Black Hole Finder?

Yes, participants who make significant discoveries may be offered co-authorship on scientific publications resulting from their findings, recognizing their valuable contributions to the project.

### What kind of training does Black Hole Finder offer?

The app provides training and guidance to enrich users' understanding of the cosmos and the processes involved in black hole formation. This helps users become more effective in their analysis and potential telescope direction.

### What devices are supported by Black Hole Finder?

Black Hole Finder is available on iPhones, iPads, and iPods, allowing a wide range of users to participate in this citizen science project.

### Is Black Hole Finder suitable for children?

Yes, Black Hole Finder has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for younger users interested in learning about space and contributing to science.

### How often is Black Hole Finder updated?

The latest version of Black Hole Finder is 4.3, and it was last updated on February 2, 2026. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and improvements.

### Does Black Hole Finder have ads?

No, Black Hole Finder is ad-free, allowing users to focus on the scientific analysis without any interruptions from advertisements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.3 — 2026-02-02

Performance improvements

### 4.2 — 2026-01-31

Small bug fixes (chat mainly)

### 4.1 — 2026-01-28

Fixed bug: a non responsive chat was seen when logged out.

### 4 — 2026-01-26

Added chat for registered users.
1. Click the chat icon in the toolbar (appears on home page and can be added to other pages)
2. Chat overlay slides up from bottom
3. Switch between channels using tabs
4. Type message and press Enter or click Send
5. Scroll up to load older messages
6. Click backdrop or X button to close

### 3.2 — 2025-07-03

Bug fixes and follow ups get a dedicated report page

## Apps similar to Black hole finder

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Physics Solver - AI Study](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-solver-ai-study/id6743952927) | 4.8 (19) | Free | Education |
| [Einstein's Elevator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/einsteins-elevator/id6648794228) | — | $1.99 | Education |
| [Mobile Multibody Dynamics](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mobile-multibody-dynamics/id1491149780) | 3.7 (6) | Free | Education |
| [Jupiter: Juno](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jupiter-juno/id1562173082) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education |
| [3D James Webb Telescope](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-james-webb-telescope/id1611072442) | 4.5 (26) | Free | Education |
| [To the Moon and Beyond](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/to-the-moon-and-beyond/id1514784612) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Education |

## More apps by DDQ

- [Mijn Hemel](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mijn-hemel/id419104939)
- [iSPEX](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ispex/id584360175)
- [pneumonia](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pneumonia/id584360843)
- [Triatlas](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/triatlas/id592681081)
- [Dark Sky Meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-sky-meter/id602989060)
- [Loss of the night](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loss-of-the-night/id928440562)

All apps by DDQ: https://appshunter.io/developer/418328467

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-16.*