# Planisphere — user reviews

> 27 indexed App Store user reviews of Planisphere by Julian James, rated 3.00/5 from 4 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id331897327/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planisphere/id331897327.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 0 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1

## Newest reviews (7 of 27)

### 4/5 — It works

*2013-09-20*

It's works, not a super awesome app, but for 99cents it's good. If you have an astronomy class it comes in handy or if you just like to know what's above you.

### 4/5 — Excellent Digital Planisphere With One Glaring Hitch:

*2011-08-21*

YOU have to update the time manually by going into the settings.

The graphics, zoom function, and other features are first rate for a no-cost download.  It sure beats carrying around one of the plastic plansipheres!

But back to the major issue I have with this app.

Step 1: Set your Location
Step 2: Set current/use device time
Step 3: Exit to the planisphere(main) window.

Suppose it's 8:00AM in Chicago on August 23rd.  The planisphere displays accordingly.  But now you want to see the sky in the Philippines - where you know its after dark.  So you look up "Manila" in the location list, select it, and exit back out to the planisphere.  Instead of a dark sky correctly showing what is overhead for the Philippines at 8PM - you see what 8:00AM would look like from that country!  What the . . .?!

Budapest Hungary: Same thing - except at 8AM there the sun(and the ecliptic) are much lower in the sky than in Manila.  BUT - don't forget - while you were looking at the sky you pulled up at 8AM the time has become 8:06!  Oops, gotta go back into the Settings and touch Time Now again!  And now you can see what the sky looks like at 8:06AM in Paris, Rio De Janeiro, Tokyo, or anywhere your heart desires.  Come on!!

So basically this is just like the plastic plansiphere you may have had in school or seen in a nature shop - plastic horizon simulating your latitude, with disk below with all the stars and coordinates on it - that you have to set yourself!

Otherwise, I'd give it five stars.

### 4/5 — Well conceived, expertly coded

*2010-05-16*

This app has five-star underpinnings, the kind you'd expect from a developer whose Moon Map is coded as a fully rotateable, zoomable, rendered sphere, rather than just a bunch of photographs. With so much information presented with such clarity and ease of use at such a low price, this new entry is poised to become a favorite. Experienced astronomers will want it as a comprehensive quick reference, and beginners will be well rewarded with a fine download worth well more than its $0.99.

This first release feels perfected like a third or fourth update, especially with its simple, efficient operation. Even so, for its fifth star, I'd like to see more flexible hiding of objects not of current interest, to render the display easier to read: dim stars, constellation boundries, and the like. I'd also appreciate if the delicate images were beefed up for forty-year-old eyes.

Such a fine astronomy app at this price point could tip the curious into becoming ametuer astronomers. Support this developer. He deserves it.

<><><><><>

A Note to Dave Moore of South Boston:

Serious planetaria (star charting apps) do not list Earth because they look outward; they list other objects one can see from Earth at a given time. Orreries (apps showing the relative motions of the planets) do show Earth, because they look inward, as though from outside the solar system, with Earth just another object to be studied. A few planeteria list the Earth as "always visible," a corny joke that can confuse beginners, an important clientele that deserves more respect. It sounds sarchastic, but is not: It's understood that if you want to see the stars and Messier objects, look up using Planisphere as a guide, but if you want to see the Earth, look down at your feet.

### 4/5 — Planisphere!

*2009-12-13*

Very happy with this program; it does exactly what I want without a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles!

### 5/5 — Nicely implemented

*2009-10-31*

Very well designed app - good functionality yet straightfoward to use. Particularly like the fact that it offers both a planisphere/whole sky view and a directional/part-sky view. Surprisingly, a number of more expensive apps don't.

Would like to see option to toggle on and off constellation boundaries, adjust the minimum star magnitude and show planet labels on the unzoomed planisphere view.

Highly recommended!

### 5/5 — Super value and functionality

*2009-10-19*

I found planisphere searching thru the astro apps and, despite a lack of ratings took the plunge for 59p. 
Very glad I did. It's brilliant and much more than the 'first astronomy app' I was expecting. 
The nightlight feature is very usef though if you flick to settings they are the iPhone default and rather blinding. 
Another minor jiggle is a lack of distance from earth for objects - but maybe this is not in the database?

Navigating the planisphere is very simple and intuitive and double clicking an object brings up an info panel. The search feature works very well and the constellations and labelling is very nice too. 

As a fellow app developer I appreciate the time and effort that must have gone into this app and I sincerely wish the developer well with it. Hopefully another review might give it the prominence it deserves over many of the more expensive competitors. Cheers.

### 5/5 — A Brilliant Astronomy App!

*2009-10-06*

A great deal of effort has obviously gone into the design and presentation of this astronomy app which clearly shows all 88 constellations. I really like the GPS and 'Night Light' features. Ideal for all budding astronomers and comes highly recommended.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 2/5 — Can’t use it anymore

*2026-01-03*

Used to be brilliant but now I can’t work out how to search fir planets. So frustrating.

### 3/5 — I'll stick to paper thanks.

*2018-01-08*

Constellation boundaries make the overview cluttered and difficult to read. No ecliptic is a major omission I think. Zoom feature is nice, but if a closer view is needed, apps such as Star Walk are far superior. Good value for a few pennies, but not enough here to persuade me to give up my paper planisphere.

### 3/5 — Just needs one fix

*2017-01-31*

Downloaded this app for my astronomy lab. Cool app, everything is really clear, but the GPS function does not work. My phone's GPS is completely functional when I use maps, compass, etc., but not when I use this app. I'll point it clearly at one constellation and it will give me a completely different one. No complaints about anything else in the app. If this one fix is made, it'll be perfect.

### 3/5 — Good Concept but needs much improvement

*2014-03-25*

The idea is great but the calibration is inaccurate and there is no option to recalibrate at will. If calibration issues are fixed I would highly recommend this to friends. I hope to see some updates.

### 3/5 — Needs work

*2012-08-13*

The compass function displays incorrectly

### 3/5 — Easy to use, but. . .

*2012-03-27*

I found the Planisphere one of the easiest to use to navigate the night sky.
My only problem with it was the ability to read the names of stars/ features in night mode; the colour, plus the fact that no matter how far you zoom in, the words stay the same size( small).

### 3/5 — Works but ...

*2012-03-19*

I just hate planispheres that you have to hold over your head. I want a map view, i.e. projected on the ground, not on the sky. I was hoping this app would give me the option of having it either way. Compass only works sometimes on my iPad 2.

### 3/5 — Bj

*2010-04-20*

Dissappointing
Information is very good but names are too faint and difficult to read
Impossible to pan properly when zoomed in

### 3/5 — I LIKE IT......................,............B..U...T

*2010-03-19*

WISH I COULD GIVE THIS ,BUT NOT JUST YET.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHY
EARTH WASN'T LISTED AS PART OF
OUR SOLAR SYSTEMI MEAN.....IS
IT MEAM I WRONGI FOUND THE LIST TO HAVE EVERYONE ELSE ON IT.....EXCEPT EARTH.IF I'M
MISTAKEN,OK.IF NOT,COULD YOU
PLEASE INCLUDE IT IN YOUR NEXT
UPDATEALSO,I'VE FOUND THAT
THE LETTERING IS WAY TO SMALL
TO READ,COULD YOU IMPROVE
UPON THAT AS WELL PLEASE
I LIKE WHAT YOU'VE DONE,I HOPE
TO SEE SOME UPDATE'S SOON.

DAVE MOORE
SOUTH END
BOSTON,MASS.

 MY EYE'S AREN'T WHAT THEY
USED TO BE.

### 4/5 — Great app!

*2014-10-12*

This is a great app to play around with!  Works great!  I just wish I could choose a specific date to view directly instead of going hour by hour into the future or past.  Other than that minor issue, I love it!

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — This is great fun!

*2014-10-14*

I play around with this with my grand kids. It teaches them while having fun. Great app

### 5/5 — Worth it

*2013-11-28*

Totally awesome :D nice features

### 5/5 — A winner

*2011-10-16*

Does what it says. Lot's of layering options including deep sky objects so you can focus on what you want and leave out the other stuff. Very reasonable price. Nightlight. Nice job. I recommend it. Made for someone that will use it in the field.

### 5/5 — Planisphere

*2011-01-10*

splendid

### 5/5 — Fonctionne bien

*2010-06-25*

Je l'ai payé 0,79€ donc c'est une affaire ! Il fonctionne bien avec l'iPhone 4 et utilise la boussole et le GPS.

### 5/5 — Awesome

*2010-05-04*

This is just unbelievable. I thought I knew some constellations but this is just tremendous. Was a bit reluctant to pay the 59p but I can assure it is well worth it.

### 5/5 — value for money

*2010-04-28*

for what's in the package 59p is a steal. the information provided is amazing almost overload if I could I would give it six stars still not as good as distant suns 2

### 5/5 — Just what i've been looking for

*2010-03-19*

I know nothing about astronomy but this little app lets you look up and begin to recognise stars and planets. Last night I looked up and saw Mars!!! I'd never have known it was mars without this app. How brilliant is that for 59p!!!!!!!!!!

### 5/5 — .

*2009-12-08*

Excellent - great value for money!

### 5/5 — Brilliant

*2009-11-26*

Excellent app. Does exactly what I was hoping for. Uses the gps and compass to tell me what I am looking at. Also an absolute bargain. 
Highly recommended.

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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 2026-08-23.*