# Planisphere > Digital planisphere app for viewing celestial bodies and sunrise/sunset times. (iPhone/iPad app by IMAGE FACTORY CO., LTD..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id1457315229 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [IMAGE FACTORY CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/882653089) - Category: Education, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 3.63/5 from 8 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 51 MB - Languages: English, Japanese - Released: 2019-04-18 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id1457315229/reviews.md ## What is Planisphere? The planetarium curators of Nagoya City Science Museum have originally designed the Planisphere app. Many people know how to use the planisphere, because we learn it at elementary school. This is the planisphere of the era of IT which added the advantage as an app, with the plain usage of the planisphere printed on paper and plastic. Please look up at the real starry sky with this Planisphere app. The Planisphere app shows the sky of the current time at the start-up. To check the sky at other time, you drag around the date scale with your fingertips to set the date and time. You can use pinch gestures to manipulate a map of the sky. It attends you to enjoy the star watching by glowing in dark place. It is the exceptional planisphere app, because it’s displayed up to the planet positions of the night that is impossible with the printed planisphere! 【Features of the Planisphere application】 ・ Anytime, anywhere: When you look up at the night sky, it stands by in your smartphone or tablet. ・ Very easy usage: The usage of planisphere is exactry same as you learned. Just touch and rotate the board. ・ Quick access : The Planisphere shows the night sky when you start the app. It is easier than a printed planisphere. ・ Prominent planets: The planets always stand out in the night sky. However, the planet positions change day by day, so it is not possible to display on the printed planisphere. The Planisphere app calculates the positions in the night of the 5 planets and the Moon that are seen by the naked eye and displays them as icons on the board. ・ Good at dark places : When we look up at the starry sky, we are of course in a dark place. We needed a torch when using a printed planisphere. But the Planisphere app can be used in the darkness because of the screen light. A tip when using the app is to reduce the screen brightness not to be dazzling. ・ Friendly to any ages: It is difficult to see small letters in a dark place. You can freely zoom in and out with the fingertips on the Planisphere app. Furthermore, it is easier to see than a printed planisphere, since the screen of smart phone or tablet have a light. ・ Sunrise and sunset : You can find the sunrise time by setting a target object to the eastern horizon and the sunset time by setting it to the western horizon on the board. On the Planisphere app, you can find the rough time and direction of sunrise or sunset, because it shows not only stars but also the planets and the Moon. ・ For education : In schools, science museums, planetariums and public astronomical observatories, there are occasions that to explain how to use a planisphere. It is small letters and hard to show to people when explaining the usage. For now, you can connect a smart phone or a tablet to a projector or a big monitor to make the planisphere image larger. There is also a more sophisticated computer version (for Windows and Macintosh) of the Planisphere app. If your school provides tablets to the students, you can use the Planisphere app instead of a printed planisphere. ・ Planetarium of Nagoya City Science Museum opened in 1962. It is the planisphere which contains a lot of curator's experience and know-how. We have made it as an application that we use printed planispheres for the citizen observation party, educational programs, astronomical exhibition room of Nagoya City Science Museum and sell at the museum shop. Bright famous stars, Moon and planets are visible even in the town. Please look up at the real starry sky with this Planisphere app. ・ Astronomical information of Nagoya City Science Museum introduces various astronomical phenomena and events. Please also click here if you would like to know more about the Planisphere app. >Astronomical information http://www.ncsm.city.nagoya.jp/study/astro/ >Planisphere http://www.ncsm.city.nagoya.jp/study/astro/hayami.html ## Key features - Real-time sky view - Adjustable date and time - Planet and moon tracking - Zoomable sky map - Sunrise/sunset times - Educational tool ## Recent user reviews (3 of 3) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id1457315229/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Excellent App *2022-02-13, version 2.1.3* Just what I was looking for, a digital planisphere for planning my evening’s astronomy sessions. I use it with other digital star chart apps. I look at this app first in order to see the constellations that will be in my sky view areas on my property in the evening. I just like the simplicity of turning the time/date dial with my finger to see what is available to my telescope. Thanks for creating this app!! ### 4/5 — Optimized for 35°N *2019-08-01, version 2.1.3* Great interface, fun app, useful for quick Sky planning throughout the year The only thing that would make it better is if they supported more latitudes: it’s currently optimized for the latitude of the planetarium that produced the app, so is most useful if you live between 30°N and 40°N latitude. ### 5/5 — AWeSOME *2019-07-06, version 2.1.3* I use it a lot good good ## Frequently asked questions about Planisphere ### What is Planisphere? Planisphere is a digital tool designed to replicate the functionality of a traditional planisphere, allowing users to view and understand the night sky from their smartphone or tablet. ### How does Planisphere display celestial bodies? Planisphere shows the sky for the current time upon startup. Users can drag the date scale to set a different date and time, and use pinch gestures to manipulate the sky map, including the positions of planets and the Moon. ### Is Planisphere suitable for use in the dark? Yes, Planisphere is designed to be used in dark places. Unlike a printed planisphere that requires a torch, its screen light allows for easy viewing. Users can reduce screen brightness to avoid glare. ### Can Planisphere help determine sunrise and sunset times? Yes, Planisphere can help find the approximate time and direction of sunrise and sunset. By setting a target object to the eastern horizon for sunrise and the western horizon for sunset, users can get this information. ### Is Planisphere useful for educational purposes? Yes, Planisphere is designed for education. It can be projected onto a larger screen for classroom or museum explanations, making it easier to teach how to use a planisphere. ### What devices does Planisphere support? Planisphere is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, making it accessible to a wide range of Apple users. ### How often is Planisphere updated? Planisphere was last updated on April 18, 2019, with version 2.1.3. This indicates the app has not received recent updates. ### What is the user rating for Planisphere? Planisphere has a rating of 3.6 stars based on 8 ratings. This suggests a mixed reception from its user base. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 2.1.3 — 2019-04-18 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Planisphere | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [HofstraSafe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hofstrasafe/id6443436868) | — | Free | Education | | [EZ PUSH-TO](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ez-push-to/id1500340494) | 4.0 (4) | Free | Education | | [Bryant Mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bryant-mobile/id598782577) | 1.8 (47) | Free | Education | | [Planet Star](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-star/id1440699578) | 4.0 (2) | Free | Education | | [Monad Calendar Clock](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monad-calendar-clock/id1437026437) | 3.7 (14) | $0.99 | Education | | [Cosmology](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmology/id1028872453) | 4.7 (505) | Free | Education | ## More apps by IMAGE FACTORY CO., LTD. - [星座早見 / Planisphere](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id882653086) All apps by IMAGE FACTORY CO., LTD.: https://appshunter.io/developer/882653089 --- *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 2026-06-10.*