# Moon Atlas > Interactive 3D Moon globe with feature identification and real-time lunar data. (iPhone/iPad app by Julian James.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-atlas/id302171459 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Julian James](https://appshunter.io/developer/293642870) - Category: Reference, Education - Price: $5.99 - Rating: 4.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 57 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.6 · 738 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2009-01-16 - Data updated: 2026-09-05 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-atlas/id302171459/reviews.md ## What is Moon Atlas? Explore a 3D globe of the Moon Moon Atlas is an astronomy application that lets you use pinch and finger gestures to manipulate a 3D globe of the Moon. This is a rendered sphere and not a static map image. As you zoom in more labels appear as finer detail comes into view. You can double tap on the labels to get more information about a particular feature. Moon Atlas displays the phase and libration of the Moon from your chosen location and renders these on the globe. You can switch to a 'Globe' mode that allows you to spin the Moon around to see far side features. The feature database is searchable and can move the globe to a searched feature. The phase can be switched off and the far side is shown in a slightly darker shade of grey. Date, time and location can be changed. There is also a realtime mode that will update to the current time. The Moon globe can be shown with north or south at the top or inverted to suit different telescope views. Over 1800 named features are included as well as 26 spacecraft that reached the surface of the Moon. In addition, information about the current Moon phase and libration are provided. You can swipe left and right on the phase view to go backwards and forwards a day and on the libration chart to go backwards and forwards a month. Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn atlases are also available on the App Store! Also there is Planisphere, a star charting app, available on the App Store! ## Key features - Interactive 3D Moon globe - Feature identification and search - Real-time Moon phase and libration - Customizable globe orientation - Spacecraft landing site information - Detailed feature database ## Recent user reviews (10 of 57) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-atlas/id302171459/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2025-03-10, version 3.0.8* Great moon atlas with a lot of detail - and the app that was with me for literally a decade at this time. I love it! ### 5/5 — Fun and informative *2023-07-23, version 3.0.2* I used binoculars with this app to identify the area of the first moon landing in seconds, and named all the visible craters and mares in no time at all. Really like the tap for more info feature! Useful for beginners and advanced amateurs alike. ### 5/5 — Best Lunar App *2022-09-11* This app contains many hundreds of lunar features utilizing a dynamic zoom labeling relationship. I find the map very clear and easy to use. The app also makes use of current libration mapping for time of observation. I highly recommend this app. ### 5/5 — Everyone Will Enjoy This Atlas! *2020-06-24* Everyone can enjoy all of these atlases as works of art as well as reliable references. They are easy to use and fill the needs of astronomers of all ages. They are well worth the modest fee. It’s an investment in program improvements, and hopefully the creation of atlases for other planets. ### 3/5 — En attente *2019-09-19, version 2.6.4* En attente Fonction d’affichage pour les latitudes équatoriales C’est à dire Ouest et Est à la verticale ### 3/5 — Very featureful, but low rez images makes this useless with telescope *2019-07-09* Pros: + Takes into account libration and viewers position + Dynamic labeling based on zoom (clearest labeling I’ve seen among apps!) + Provides extra data (including libration plot), not just the map itself! + Has upside-down & mirror mode, and night vision (red) mode. + Full 3D globe if you want or explore from other angles. + All imagery has a good (though static) lighting angle such that terrain relief is clear. Cons: + This turned out to be a BIG one for me: Lowest resolution imagery or any of the moon maps. When out observing with my small (130mm) reflector Telescope, I can clearly see much smaller details than shown in this image. Indeed, the in app chart is such low resolution that I had a hard time identifying craters because identifying details were missing. I ditched for another app that, while worse at showing labels, gave me the detail necessary to identify features accurately. ### 5/5 — AWSOME *2016-07-15, version 2.5.0* don't understand why the "update" isn't available ### 3/5 — Missing important feature *2016-03-17* This is a good app for what it does, but for astronomers it’s missing a very important feature: There is no way to set the calendar for a specific date and time and read what the current day is in 10ths of a day, e.g., 9.2 days old. It would also be helpful to know the longitude of the terminator. ### 5/5 — Great moon atlas! :) *2015-11-20, version 2.2.2* Downloaded this today, and tonight it has come in so handy already finding out the names of the features on the moon. Like the way when you pinch to zoom in you get more information of some of the finer details on view. Great app, great value and great to use! Recommended! :) ### 3/5 — Nice but not great *2015-10-24* Interesting features and detailed information about the moon. Some missing items though. The moon is not shown in its real position, turning clockwise during at the sky. It would also be nice to include eclipse effects on the moon. Otherwise nice program in addition to a planetarium. ## Frequently asked questions about Moon Atlas ### What does Moon Atlas do? Moon Atlas allows you to explore an interactive 3D globe of the Moon. You can zoom, spin, and tap on features to learn more about them. It also displays real-time lunar phase and libration data. ### What are the key features of Moon Atlas? Key features include an interactive 3D Moon globe, a searchable database of over 1800 named features, information on 26 spacecraft landing sites, and real-time display of the Moon's phase and libration. You can also customize the globe's orientation. ### Is Moon Atlas free to use? Yes, the application is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the provided description. ### What information does the app provide about the Moon's phase and libration? The app displays the current Moon phase and libration based on your chosen location. You can swipe left and right on the phase view to go back or forward a day, and on the libration chart to go back or forward a month. ### Can I view other celestial bodies with this app? While this specific app focuses on the Moon, the description mentions that atlases for Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are also available on the App Store. Additionally, a star charting app called Planisphere is available. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 4.0.4 — 2026-02-13 Bug fixes and improvements. ### 4.0.3 — 2025-11-10 Added drop shadow for feature labels for greater clarity. Bug fixes and improvements. ### 4.0.2 — 2025-10-28 Bug fixes and improvements. ### 4.0.1 — 2025-10-22 Increased resolution of the Moon globe. Bug fixes and improvements. Version 4 has an improved user interface that's now more related to the new user interfaces that have been built for the iPhone, iPad and Mac versions. ### 4.0.0 — 2025-09-15 This is a big update with a whole new user interface which has been built with SwiftUI and adopting Liquid Glass for iOS and iPadOS 26. This shares much more with the Mac and Vision Pro versions that now also have new interfaces. ## Apps similar to Moon Atlas | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Night Sky](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-sky/id475772902) | 4.7 (492,103) | Free | Reference | | [Sky Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sky-guide/id576588894) | 4.8 (369,247) | Free | Reference | | [Lunar Eclipse Guide: Aug 27–28](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lunar-eclipse-guide-aug-2728/id1445813795) | 4.6 (778) | $1.99 | Reference | ## More apps by Julian James - [Zone Warrior](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zone-warrior/id293642867) - [Mars Atlas](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-atlas/id303482394) - [Apollo Eagle](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apollo-eagle/id315792821) - [Venus Atlas](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/venus-atlas/id317310503) - [Planisphere](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id331897327) All apps by Julian James: https://appshunter.io/developer/293642870 --- *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 2026-09-05.*