# Pocket Universe — Star Map & Night Sky Guide

> Interactive night sky guide for identifying celestial objects and events. (iPhone/iPad app by John Kennedy.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe/id306916838 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John Kennedy](https://appshunter.io/developer/284943103)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: Free with in-app purchases (on sale, was $2.99)
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 254 App Store ratings · 489 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 111 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, European Spanish
- Released: 2009-03-27
- Data updated: 2026-08-14
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe/id306916838/reviews.md

## What is Pocket Universe?

There's never been a better time to get into Astronomy! Start off easy with an app that will guide you around the night sky - and even entertain you a little when the skies are cloudy.

"The app works beautifully, making astronomy a bit less mysterious—but no less remarkable", MacWorld

 "It’s truly an impressive marvel. 5 Mice out of 5", MacWorld.

 "..one of the prettiest and easiest to use. And at three bucks, it’s a steal", Cult of Mac.

Apple App Store Staff Favorite

Voted Best Educational iPhone Application by AppAdvice


---

Pocket Universe 2 turns your iPhone or iPad into an intuitive guide to the night sky. Just point your device upward to instantly identify what’s overhead—planets, constellations, comets, satellites, and deep-sky wonders.

Designed for clarity and ease of use, Pocket Universe 2 helps you learn the sky naturally, whether you’re stepping outside for a quick look or exploring in detail from your couch.

Key features

	•	Live sky view: Aim your device to identify stars, planets, the ISS, satellites, comets, and bright deep-sky objects in real time.

	•	Time travel: Scrub hours or days forward and back, jump to sunrise, sunset, golden hour, moonrise, or moonset - and return to “now” instantly.
	•	Explore mode: Discover what’s worth looking for tonight, with summaries of upcoming events, solar activity, Moon phases and maps, Jupiter and Saturn’s moons and rings, a full Solar System orrery, and dedicated ISS and satellite views.
	•	Find anything fast: Search by name, browse curated “cool things” lists, or jump straight to planets and other Solar System bodies.
	•	Rich object details: Learn about thousands of objects, including planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae, and more.
	•	Widgets: Add Sun and Moon times and Moon phase to your Home Screen or desktop.
	•	Deep customization: Night vision mode, labels, grids, constellation lines, satellites, comets, and more. Save presets to switch instantly between your favorite viewing modes.

Pocket Universe 2 is the sequel to Pocket Universe, one of the first astronomy apps on the App Store. It has been completely rewritten using modern frameworks and tools to deliver a faster, cleaner, and more immersive stargazing experience. 

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Live sky view with object identification
- Time travel for celestial event prediction
- Explore mode for upcoming events and solar activity
- Search and browse celestial objects
- Detailed information on thousands of objects
- Home Screen widgets for Sun/Moon times and Moon phase
- Customizable viewing modes with night vision

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $4.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Universe Lifetime unlock | $19.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Pocket Universe?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Great app
- 👍 Useful for astronomy
- 👍 Excellent educational tool
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Accurate
- 👍 Customizable
- 👍 Impressive features
- 👍 Helpful for identifying objects in the sky
- 👍 Comprehensive
- 👍 Regularly updated

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes
- 🐛 Inaccurate compass/tracking
- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 🐛 Doesn't work on older devices
- 🐛 Location issues
- 🐛 Text too small
- 🐛 Lack of updates for new astronomical events
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Compass issues
- Inaccurate sky positioning
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Most requested features**

- Ability to set time and date
- Improved motion tracking and compass calibration
- Larger text size options
- More detailed information on stars, galaxies, etc.
- Comet and asteroid tracking
- Satellite tracking
- Southern hemisphere sky view
- Wikipedia integration for more objects

## Recent user reviews (10 of 489)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe/id306916838/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Bad to worse!

*2026-07-30, version 20.8*

I’m pretty damn sure that I already paid for this app, about 5 years ago. But it was almost useless, due to tiny text on-screen. Now you’ve fixed the text, and supposedly improved the app.. Now I’m supposed to pay again thru IAP??
No thanks. I don’t recall having MUG tattooed on my forehead, so you can take a running jump.

### 5/5 — New version works decently once you get used to the new layout.

*2026-05-12, version 20.5*

I had a good email exchange with the developer and am convinced he is making every effort to improve Pocket Universe and make it more enjoyable to use.  Much to his credit, John responded very quickly to my initial review.

### 1/5 — Not very user friendly

*2026-05-10, version 20.5*

I prefer the older version, this version is not easy to configure, it is not intuitive.

### 1/5 — Ruined

*2026-04-29, version 20.3*

You have ruined a good app. Will delete.

### 5/5 — Still great

*2026-04-22, version 20.3*

I’ve had this app since the iPhone 3GS. It has been updated many times over the past decade and still is great. 

My “go to” astronomy app. 

The only request: it should play nicer with accessibility display settings, including the “zoomed” view.

### 5/5 — Best sky app

*2026-04-13, version 20.2*

Has an answer for all kinds of vewing and fun to use. Wish it could sync with the Apple Watch

### 3/5 — How did it go so wrong

*2026-04-09, version 20.2*

The original pocket universe took the world by storm. I had it and we used it every time we went camping. 
So while away this Easter holiday I went looking for the original app and it’s gone. So downloaded this version and it’s lost its way. 
All I wanted to do was aim my camera at the night sky and find out what the kids and I could see, it’s the one premise of the app, and somehow the one thing it no longer does intuitively. 
Spent 20 mins trying to figure it out before deleting it.

### 1/5 — New UI is rubbish

*2026-04-05, version 20.2*

I really hate this re Ui. I deleted the app and got Stellarium instead.

### 1/5 — Why did you change everything?

*2026-03-28, version 20.1*

I used to love this app and used it forever! But they completely changed everything and it’s awful!

### 1/5 — Dead menus

*2026-03-19, version 20.1*

Search menus are dead

## Frequently asked questions about Pocket Universe

### What does Pocket Universe do?

Pocket Universe transforms your iPhone or iPad into an intuitive guide to the night sky. It allows you to identify planets, constellations, satellites, and other celestial objects in real-time simply by pointing your device upwards. The app also offers features to explore upcoming celestial events and learn detailed information about thousands of astronomical objects.

### What are the key features of Pocket Universe?

Key features include a live sky view for real-time identification, a time travel function to scrub through celestial events, and an explore mode for discovering nightly events, solar activity, and Moon phases. It also offers fast search capabilities, rich object details, customizable widgets for your home screen, and deep customization options for viewing modes.

### How much does Pocket Universe cost?

Pocket Universe is a paid application. The description mentions it is available for a small price, described as a 'steal', indicating a one-time purchase rather than a subscription or free model with extensive in-app purchases.

### What devices is Pocket Universe compatible with?

Pocket Universe is designed for use on iPhone and iPad devices. The description explicitly states it turns your 'iPhone or iPad into an intuitive guide to the night sky', suggesting compatibility with Apple's mobile operating systems.

### Who is Pocket Universe for?

This app is ideal for anyone interested in astronomy, whether you're a beginner looking to identify stars and planets for the first time or a more experienced stargazer wanting a convenient tool for exploration. It's designed for ease of use, making stargazing accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 20.8 — 2026-07-27

Last-minute improvements for the Solar Eclipse, including an Apple Watch countdown complication.
Fixed a bug which may have failed to detect and unlock lifetime access to premier features.

### 20.7 — 2026-07-20

Lots of improvements in this release! 

Eclipse View rewrite

   - Path centerline shown on map (orange polyline of totality path)
   - Your location context - shows distance from centerline and estimated coverage %
   - Countdown timer for future eclipses (e.g. "27d 5h until eclipse")
   - Eye safety warning appears during live eclipse tracking
   - Easier timeline dragging 
   - Data-driven phase markers (Start / Max / End from NASA-verified path data)
   - Proper shadow geometry which is latitude-corrected ellipse at high latitudes
   - Improved eclipse picker that shows upcoming/past badges, magnitude

  Jupiter & Saturn Moons

   - Smart label positioning so moon names no longer overlap
   - Rewind past "now" so you can explore past positions
   - Standardized button colors with clean white instead of rainbow

Bug Fixes

   - Settings dismiss crash - fixed memory access violation (weak reference capture)
   - Constellation outlines flashing on Settings close 
   - Solar Activity data now loads immediately on view appear
   - Time buttons no longer overlap the main control strip
   - On-screen coordinates aren't hidden by buttons
   - Moon phase more accurately calculated for certain locations
   - In Motion Tracking mode, adjust the central site to make it less distracting
   - Motion Tracking on at launch by default (can be disabled in Settings)


Polish

   - Improved star and planet rendering
   - Optimized loading speed
   - Constellation label size reduced (18pt → 16pt)
   - Settings display optimized
   - Settings organized with section headers
   - Constantly reviewed and improved against Apple HIG

### 20.6 — 2026-06-08

Update the user interface to be better than ever. 
Improved motion tracking.
Added companion Watch app.
Fixed and improved many minor issues.

### 20.5 — 2026-05-06

Well, I'm still trying to make everyone happy :-)

* Corrected a bug which prevented motion tracking when there wasn't a good GPS fix.
* Updated the UI and expanded the "Classic" mode to make users of the original more comfortable.

### 20.4 — 2026-05-01

Corrected an issue with the angle at which the Moon was rendered.
Further work on the "classic mode" user interface.
One-time pop-up of what has changed since last version.

## Apps similar to Pocket Universe

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Star Walk 2 Plus: Live Sky Map](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-walk-2-plus-live-sky-map/id1112481571) | 4.6 (94,543) | Free | Education |
| [SkyView® Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyview-lite/id413936865) | 4.5 (18,744) | Free | Education |
| [Star Walk：Find Stars & Planets](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-walkfind-stars-and-planets/id295430577) | 4.7 (25,023) | Free | Education |
| [Star Gazer: Sky Map& Astronomy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-gazer-sky-map-and-astronomy/id1441048929) | 3.8 (6,827) | Free | Education |
| [Star Walk 2 Pro: Sky Map Live](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-walk-2-pro-sky-map-live/id892279069) | 4.7 (66,985) | $2.99 | Education |
| [NASA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516) | 4.8 (63,720) | Free | Education |

## More apps by John Kennedy

- [What's Up?](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whats-up/id393023070)
- [Sky Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sky-time/id473539346)
- [Spelling Test](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-test/id478561217)
- [Asstrology - Your Future Is Behind You](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asstrology-your-future-is-behind-you/id486930635)
- [Pocket Universe Classic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe-classic/id567184849)

All apps by John Kennedy: https://appshunter.io/developer/284943103

## Related topics

[10th planet belgrade](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/10th-planet-belgrade)

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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 2026-08-14.*