# Fireballs in the Sky — Desert Fireball Network

> Citizen science app for reporting and analyzing meteor sightings. (iPhone/iPad app by Curtin University.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireballs-in-the-sky/id709019924 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Curtin University](https://appshunter.io/developer/366617505)
- Category: Education, Weather
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.10/5 from 8 App Store ratings · 30 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 7 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-09-23
- Data updated: 2026-06-11
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireballs-in-the-sky/id709019924/reviews.md

## What is Fireballs in the Sky?

Fireballs in the Sky is an award-winning citizen science program that connects the public with the research of the Desert Fireball Network [DFN], based at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. 
Through augmented reality, an intuitive interface and sensing technology of this smartphone app, anyone anywhere in the world can recreate their fireball sighting to contribute scientifically useful data. 
If you’ve ever seen a meteor, or a bright fireball, then you’ve experienced one of nature’s true wonders. If you’ve ever wondered what they are, where they come from (and want to contribute to the science) this app is for you.

Together with NASA the DFN is expanding to become a Global Fireball Observatory that aims to understand the early workings of the solar system by studying meteorites, fireballs and their pre-Earth orbits. Using an autonomous network of cameras, the DFN captures the paths of fireballs in the sky, triangulating trajectories from multiple viewpoints. Fireballs in the Sky extends the reach of the observations via the app, with your sightings contributing to this innovative research project.

This app is the only one of its kind, designed for you to:

•   Pinpoint the altitude and azimuth of the start and end of the fireball you saw

•   Build your own fireball. Select different options for duration, shape, brightness, colour and hue, and watch how an animated fireball changes to match what you’ve just seen. If it looked like it fragmented as it came through the atmosphere you can select different options for number of fragments, and see the animation change accordingly.

•   Add any other notes or details to your sighting report.

•   Keep track of your sightings, and those of other users.

•   Get updates on your sightings, and see levels of detail in feedback: Was it seen by other users? If it was, then how many other users saw it? Was there enough information to work out a trajectory? What was its orbit: where did it come from in the solar system? 

In addition, you’ll be able to:

•   Find out when and where in the sky meteor showers are occurring, using the augmented reality heads-up display

•   Get fireball news, and see updates on the DFN project, announcements and events

•   Access our gallery of zoomable images – the fireballs we’ve seen and the meteorites that we’ve found. A great thing about the project is that the data are in the form of beautiful images. You’ll have access to all that and be able to see the best of the bunch for yourself.

## Key features

- Recreate fireball sightings with AR
- Pinpoint altitude and azimuth
- Build and animate fireballs
- Add notes and details to reports
- Track your and other users' sightings
- Get updates on sighting analysis
- View meteor shower locations with AR

## Recent user reviews (10 of 30)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireballs-in-the-sky/id709019924/reviews.md

### 1/5 — ?

*2024-05-21, version 1.4.1*

Looks like app hasn’t been updated in a while, I saw a meteor and thought it would be cool to put it on here but I can’t do the report. It freezes when I try to put in the info.

### 2/5 — Doesn’t work

*2024-02-13, version 1.4.1*

Hi there, trying to report a fireball over South Australia and app has frozen on me 5 times now as I’m trying to submit. I’ve given up now. Please fix! Would be very cool to see all reported meteors. ☄️

### 1/5 — Outdated! Don’t bother

*2023-08-13, version 1.4.1*

I tried to find the Persied meteor shower … nothing! App is pretty useless :(

### 2/5 — Uploading issue

*2022-12-03, version 1.4.1*

Entered a sighting but it’s stuck in ‘Waiting to upload’ state so unsure if it’s the app or if the backend server is no longer running?

### 4/5 — Update required

*2022-11-17, version 1.4.1*

I spend a lot of time in the bush and have use this app a lot but have only made one report. 

It was useful but now no longer scrolls in the articles. 
iPhone 12 mini
iOS16.1.1
Hope it gets some love.

### 5/5 — PLEASE UPDATE!!!

*2022-08-29, version 1.4.1*

Great app. I love it but it needs to be updated. Would like to use it again.

### 5/5 — It was great

*2022-07-28, version 1.4.1*

It was one of our most used apps. I hope it does continue on though it seems it may be finished.

### 4/5 — Is it still logging data?

*2022-04-15, version 1.4.1*

Are the developers still using this app? 

Just logged a daytime event!

### 4/5 — Needs Fixing

*2022-01-29, version 1.4.1*

This app really needs an update because of the dates shown in the sightings board is not up to date with the month and year we are in now.!!

### 1/5 — App crashes. Not working.

*2021-05-23, version 1.4.1*

When trying to enter a correct date/time of sighting the app crashes and I can’t submit my sighting. (23 May 2021) I have deleted the app restarted my iPhone 12 Pro on iOS 14.5.1 and reinstalled the app and it still crashes.

## Frequently asked questions about Fireballs in the Sky

### What does the Fireballs in the Sky app do?

This app allows you to report your sightings of meteors or bright fireballs. You can recreate your observation using augmented reality and intuitive tools, contributing scientifically useful data to the Desert Fireball Network. It helps researchers study meteorites and the early solar system.

### What are the key features of the app?

Key features include recreating fireball sightings with augmented reality, pinpointing the start and end altitude and azimuth, building and animating custom fireballs with options for duration, shape, brightness, and fragmentation, adding notes to reports, tracking your own and other users' sightings, and receiving updates on the analysis of your reports.

### Is there a cost to use the Fireballs in the Sky app?

No, the Fireballs in the Sky app is completely free to use. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, allowing all users to contribute to scientific research without any financial barriers.

### What kind of information can I contribute with my sightings?

You can contribute scientifically useful data by recreating the visual aspects of the fireball you saw, including its duration, shape, brightness, and color. You can also pinpoint its altitude and azimuth. If the fireball fragmented, you can specify the number of fragments. This detailed information helps researchers determine trajectories and orbits.

### How does this app help with scientific research?

Your reported sightings contribute to the Desert Fireball Network's research, which is expanding into a Global Fireball Observatory with NASA. By collecting data on fireballs and meteorites, scientists aim to understand the early workings of the solar system. Your contributions help triangulate trajectories and determine the origin of these celestial objects.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.1 — 2017-12-11

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- Updated for iOS 11
- Link to share report on Facebook

### 1.3.1 — 2015-03-04

You can now filter by meteor shower type. Major, minor, or all.

This release also contains layout changes and bug fixes including:

- Make it easier to to read about meteor showers
- Fix to use location services properly on iOS 8
- Fix partners page to show partner logos correctly

### 1.3.0 — 2015-02-02

Find and track meteor showers!

See upcoming meteor showers and find them in the night sky when they are active. 

Layout tweaks for new iPhone sizes.

Assorted bug fixes.

### 1.1.2 — 2014-05-21

- Adjust the date and time of your sighting on the Review screen
 - View a list of collaborating organisations throughout the world on the About screen

### 1.1.0 — 2013-11-05

- Star Maps!!!
 - Capture Sound Details with Reports
 - Interface Optimised for iOS7
 - Bug fixes

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## More apps by Curtin University

- [elsie](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsie/id1019411735)

All apps by Curtin University: https://appshunter.io/developer/366617505

## Related topics

[fireballs in the sky](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fireballs-in-the-sky) · [fireball](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fireball) · [fire balls](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fire-balls)

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*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 2026-06-11.*