# Moon Globe > Interactive 3D lunar globe with real-time lighting and celestial positioning. (iPhone/iPad app by Midnight Martian.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-globe/id333180321 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Midnight Martian](https://appshunter.io/developer/284473660) - Category: Education, Reference - Price: Free - Rating: 4.60/5 from 563 App Store ratings · 282 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 7.0 · 81 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2009-10-07 - Data updated: 2026-09-03 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-globe/id333180321/reviews.md ## What is Moon Globe? Hold the Moon in your hands. Moon Globe turns your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a precision instrument for viewing Earth's Moon. Satellite imagery and topographic laser altimeter data are combined to render the Moon with realistic lighting in realtime 3D. Use the multitouch screen to manipulate the view. Spin above the surface, or switch to Telescope mode to see the Moon as it appears from your location on Earth. Adjust the display time and watch the sunlight shift over the lunar landscape. A "tag cloud" floats just above the surface, labeling terrain features and spacecraft; touch any label to find out more about that feature. Moon Globe also shows you where the Moon and Sun are in the sky with its dynamic sky compass. This sophisticated astronomy simulation is FREE so that you can learn about Earth's Moon and wow your friends with what your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad can do. For Moon Globe fans, Moon Globe HD is also available with twice the map resolution. ## Key features - Real-time 3D Moon rendering - Realistic lighting and topography - Multitouch manipulation - Telescope mode for Earth-based view - Adjustable display time for lighting shifts - Labeled terrain and spacecraft - Dynamic sky compass ## What do users think of Moon Globe? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Detailed moon topography - 🔍 Helpful for identifying lunar features - 👍 Intuitive and easy to use - 🔭 Useful for amateur astronomers - 🌙 Realistic moon visualization **Cons** - 🔍 Limited zoom capability - 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs - 📱 Small screen size limitations - 💡 Lack of advanced features (e.g. 3D mode, landing site markers) **Commonly reported bugs** - Gear button crashes the app - Inaccurate moon phase and position information **Most requested features** - Add option to show spacecraft landing sites - Improve zoom and detail level - Implement red night mode for preserving night vision - Provide more customization options (labels, views, etc.) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 282) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-globe/id333180321/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Nice details this app has of the moon. *2026-05-04, version 2.3* I love the ability it gives you to zoom in on certain areas of the lunar surface, even the Apollo Landing sites. ### 1/5 — Fair *2025-11-23, version 2.3* Wish it would be able to get up closer ### 4/5 — 21st century exploration? *2025-08-27, version 2.3* Enjoyable way to explore moon topography. But it would be great if the spacecraft mode could include 21st century landing sites of craft from China, India and Japan. ### 5/5 — This is very cool! *2025-03-16, version 2.3* I use this app in conjunction with a telescope to visit and understand the moon. It is better than the telescope alone! ### 5/5 — Tolle App *2024-12-14* Toll sich den Mond so anschauen zu können ### 5/5 — Really Useful and Facinating Moon App *2024-07-28, version 2.3* UPDATE: Now I've gotten more used to using the iPhone and Mac Silicone versions (I've not got an iPad). It's an absolutely brilliant app! I'm going to upgrade to the HD version. Although only slightly better resolution the HD version is only 99p so nothing really. I'm disabled and use the Moon Globe in conjunction with my 6" reflector telescope. PREVIOUS REVIEW: I have had this app on my iphone for a number of years, but as my phone screen is only small I'd not used it much. And it wasn't till recently that I realised it might run on an apple silicon mac, it does and being able to use the app full screen on a mac is so much better for me! The reason why only 4 stars is that for me it's a little bit buggy and I have to quit the app and re launch it again. Although it might be me, I'm not very techy. I use the app on cloudy nights when I can't get there with my small telescope ### 4/5 — Very good but… *2024-06-09, version 2.3* very good, but it actually crashes once you go press the the gear button on the bottom right ### 5/5 — Wow! *2024-01-22, version 2.3* This app is an amazing start to astronomy and the moon for beginners, and you’d still find it useful if you were a pro astronomer! ### 5/5 — Best app for the moon ever! *2024-01-22, version 2.3* this app is amazing! When i look through my telescope i can know what is what on the moon! ### 5/5 — Great maps of the Moon surface. *2023-12-07, version 2.3* I retired and recently purchased my 1st telescope. I really enjoy viewing the moon, and this is the best map I’ve found. ## Frequently asked questions about Moon Globe ### What does Moon Globe do? Moon Globe transforms your device into a precision instrument for viewing Earth's Moon in real-time 3D. It combines satellite imagery and topographic data to render the Moon with realistic lighting, allowing you to explore its surface and learn about its features. ### What are the key features of Moon Globe? Key features include real-time 3D rendering with realistic lighting, multitouch manipulation to spin and zoom, a Telescope mode to view the Moon as seen from Earth, adjustable display time to observe lighting changes, labeled terrain and spacecraft, and a dynamic sky compass showing the Moon and Sun's positions. ### Is Moon Globe free to use? Yes, Moon Globe is a free application. This allows users to learn about Earth's Moon and explore its features without any cost. An HD version with higher map resolution is also available. ### What devices is Moon Globe compatible with? The application is designed for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices. Specific iOS version compatibility is typically detailed on the app store page. ### How can I learn about lunar features with Moon Globe? Moon Globe displays a "tag cloud" above the lunar surface, labeling terrain features and spacecraft. Touching any label provides more information about that specific feature, making it an interactive learning tool. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.3 — 2014-10-08 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. • Updated for iOS 7 and iOS 8. iOS 7 or later is required for this update. • Supports full resolution on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. • Slightly improved graphics rendering (since OpenGLES 1.x no longer has to be supported). • The Sky Compass projection is now based on angular elevation. This better indicates how high the Moon and Sun are in the sky. ### 2.2.4 — 2012-09-28 Improved spin rate, especially for iPhone 5. ### 2.2.3 — 2012-09-20 - Support for iPhone 5 and iOS 6. - The minimum required iOS version is now iOS 4.3. First- and second-generation iPhone and iPod Touch are not supported in this update. ### 2.2 — 2012-03-26 Updated to run at full resolution on the new iPad. ### 2.0.1 — 2011-04-18 - Optimized for iPad 2. - Sharper labels. Version 2.0: - Moon Globe is now a universal app supporting iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. - Support for high-resolution display on iPhone 4 and new iPod Touches. - Support for iOS 4. - Updated surface normal (lighting) map using the very latest Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. ## Apps similar to Moon Globe | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516) | 4.8 (63,711) | Free | Education | | [Space Telescope App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-telescope-app/id1603876992) | 4.1 (29) | Free | Education | | [Exoplanet](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exoplanet/id327702034) | 4.7 (956) | Free | Education | | [3D Earth & moon, sun and stars](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-earth-and-moon-sun-and-stars/id1435779669) | 4.5 (5,142) | Free | Education | | [Galaxy Map](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456) | 4.6 (591) | Free | Education | | [xSky](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042) | 4.2 (75) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Midnight Martian - [Moonlight Mahjong](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonlight-mahjong/id284943962) - [Moonlight Mahjong Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonlight-mahjong-lite/id285490012) - [Mars Globe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-globe/id324185998) - [Moon Globe HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-globe-hd/id376000038) - [Mars Globe HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-globe-hd/id376020224) All apps by Midnight Martian: https://appshunter.io/developer/284473660 ## Related topics [vaonis](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vaonis) · [celestron skyportal](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/celestron-skyportal) · [celestron](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/celestron) · [nasa globe observer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nasa-globe-observer) --- *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 2026-09-03.*