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Emerald Observatory for iPad

Emerald Observatory for iPad

by Bjorn Freeman-Benson

102 ratings
149 reviews
๐Ÿ“š Education
๐Ÿ”ง Utilities
Free

Details

Released
April 1, 2010
Updated
November 7, 2026

Features

Developer

Bjorn Freeman-Benson
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Reviews summaryโ†˜๏ธŽ
โญ149
Reviewsโ†˜๏ธŽ
๐Ÿ”„6+ apps
Alternativesโ†˜๏ธŽ
โ“5 answered
FAQโ†˜๏ธŽ
๐Ÿ“ฆ~ in 3 months
Updates frequencyโ†˜๏ธŽ
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About

This app provides a comprehensive astronomical display on a single screen, offering detailed information about celestial bodies and timekeeping. It features a heliocentric orrery, rise and set times, twilight information, and moon phase details. Users can navigate through time and set alarms for astronomical events.

โœ“Astronomical information display
โœ“Heliocentric orrery
โœ“Rise and set times for Sun, Moon, planets
โœ“Twilight times
โœ“Moon phase and orientation
โœ“World map of day/night regions
โœ“Eclipse simulator
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What users say about Emerald Observatory for iPad

Emerald Observatory for iPad is a Utilities app rated 4.9/5 from 102 App Store ratings. What users like most: visually stunning and beautiful design, extremely informative and data-rich. Top complaints: last update a year ago, interface can be tough to decipher initially. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • โœจVisually stunning and beautiful design
  • ๐Ÿ’กExtremely informative and data-rich
  • ๐Ÿ‘Elegant and exquisite user interface
  • ๐Ÿš€Flawless UX and intuitive design
  • ๐ŸŒŸUnique and nonpareil functionality
  • ๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธExcellent timepiece and clock functionality
  • ๐Ÿ”ญGreat for astronomy enthusiasts
  • ๐ŸŽจMasterpiece of form and function
  • ๐Ÿ’ฏPerfection in design and information display
  • ๐Ÿ’ŽA work of art and a feast for the eyes
  • โœ…Does exactly what it says, and does it well
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐIncredible value for the price
  • ๐Ÿ“šEducational and informative
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธGreat as a display or wallpaper

Negative things

  • โณLast update a year ago
  • ๐Ÿค”Interface can be tough to decipher initially
  • ๐Ÿ”„Lack of recent updates
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑNot available on iPhone/Apple Watch
See all reviews
+1

What's New in Emerald Observatory for iPad

1.7.1

November 7, 2026

Sharper, faster maps in the location picker. The alarm now follows the clock's time zone. The alarm's last chime now rings out in full.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Great app, needs an iPhone version

This is one of those apps that deserve to live on even though nowadays everything is about monetisation and social media. Apps like these serve a purpose and are a testament to human ingenuity.
I wish one day to be able to have it on my iPhone as well, even if I have to pay for it.
LLoLaMC

Thank You

I'm delighted to see this most beautiful of all IOS clocks being supported again.
CCopaGuy

My favorite astronomy app

This is my favorite astronomy app. So much information is displayed on one simple screen. Iโ€™m glad itโ€™s available on the App Store again
NNNick Nagm

Long Live Observatory!

So excited to see an app update for this one. When I heard the original developers were no longer supporting it I was so bummed that it could one day disappear. It is such a beautiful app along with being a great tool and resource, and just plain fun. Thanks so much for taking it on.
GGm-NY

So glad itโ€™s backโ€ฆ

I love this app and was disappointed when it left the store.
But now itโ€™s back Iโ€™m so happy, love it. Thanks for bringing it back..
KKirkup
See 144 more reviews

User experience

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Requested Features

14 requests

Port to screen wallpaper

Feature

Large wall clock version

Feature

Apple TV version

Feature

Support for Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto

Feature

iPhone and Apple Watch versions

Feature

Alarm functionality

Feature

Screen dimming for night use

Feature

Numeric display of values

Feature

Switch altitude/azimuth by touching planet

Feature

Push notifications for specific events

Feature

Custom chime sounds for events

Feature

Round earth display to match moon display

Feature

iPad version of Chronometer iPhone app

Feature

Tutorial mode or on-screen help

Feature

FAQ

What does Emerald Observatory do?

Emerald Observatory displays a wide range of astronomical information on a single screen. This includes clock times, rise and set times for celestial bodies, twilight periods, a heliocentric orrery showing planetary orbits, and details about the Moon's phase and appearance. It also shows day and night regions on a world map and simulates eclipses.

What are the key features of Emerald Observatory?

Key features include a heliocentric orrery, times for the rise and set of the Sun, Moon, and planets, twilight times, current moon phase and orientation, a world map showing day and night, and an eclipse simulator. It also offers various time displays like solar, UTC, and sidereal time, and allows for daily alarms.

How much does Emerald Observatory cost?

Based on the provided information, Emerald Observatory is a paid application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or a subscription model, indicating a one-time purchase price.

What devices is Emerald Observatory compatible with?

The application is specifically designed for the iPad. It utilizes iPad location services or allows manual setting of latitude and longitude. It also requires an internet connection for NTP synchronization.

How can I navigate through time in the app?

You can navigate through time by tapping on the display. Tapping allows you to move forward by a month, day, hour, or minute. This feature enables users to explore astronomical events and positions at different points in time.