# SkyORB Classic Astronomy — 3D Planetarium Stargazing News

> 3D astronomy companion for exploring stars, planets, and celestial events. (iPhone/iPad app by Stephane Denis.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Stephane Denis](https://appshunter.io/developer/295455703)
- Category: Education, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.48/5 from 23 App Store ratings · 279 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 143 MB
- Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
- Released: 2009-12-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-16
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358/reviews.md

## What is SkyORB Classic Astronomy?

Unleash the power of the universe with SkyORB, your all-in-one astronomy companion. Explore the stars, planets, and celestial events like never before. Discover the wonders of the cosmos and stay informed about astronomical phenomena.

Why Choose SkyORB?

Astronomy at Your Fingertips: SkyORB is a lightweight and fast astronomy app designed to put the universe in the palm of your hand. With a 3D star map, a feature-packed planetarium, ephemeris with notifications, and much more, it's your gateway to the cosmos.

Real-Time 3D Universe: Immerse yourself in a breathtaking 3D representation of our solar system. Watch as planets orbit the sun in real-time. Zoom in for a closer look at the planets or zoom out to explore the entire Milky Way.

Explore the Night Sky: SkyORB brings the night sky to life. Use your device to point at a star or planet, and our app will identify it for you. Whether you rely on GPS positioning, compass orientation, gyroscope data, or ARKit, we've got you covered.

Stay Informed: Keep track of comets and satellites with updates from the web. Stay on top of celestial events with personalized ephemeris that covers the next 60 days. Whether it's the peak of a meteor shower or a planetary elongation, we'll make sure you're in the know.

Universal Search: Looking for a specific celestial object? Our universal search engine lets you find everything from constellations and planets to space probes and more with just a few keystrokes.

Moon Phases: SkyORB provides moon phase information, including rise and set times. Explore the moon's changing faces and understand its impact on the night sky.

Worldwide Simulations: Simulate the night sky from any location on Earth or even from other planets like Mars. SkyORB Classic lets you explore the universe from wherever you are.

Notifications: Receive local notifications for significant astronomical events like planet visibility, full and new moons, and eclipses. Plus, get the latest astronomy news delivered right to your device.

Upgrade to SkyORB Premium and Unlock Even More:

Ad-Free Experience: Say goodbye to ads and enjoy uninterrupted stargazing.
Enhanced Planetarium: Go full-screen in planetarium mode, unlocking more views.
Extended Information: Get more details on moon phases and ephemeris.
Comprehensive Search: Unlock the full potential of our search engine.
Multi-Device Access: Access your premium features on all your devices connected to your account with iOS cloud storage.
And Much More: Enjoy a host of additional premium features.
Apple Watch Support: Now you can explore the cosmos right from your wrist with vocal search, digital crown functionality, an equation of time complication, and standalone use.
Upgrade and Renewal: The 12-month Premium Membership automatically renews, ensuring uninterrupted access to premium features. Manage your subscription in your iTunes account settings.

Step into the world of astronomy with SkyORB. Download it today and embark on your cosmic journey. The universe is waiting

## Key features

- 3D star map and planetarium
- Real-time planet orbits
- AR night sky identification
- Celestial event notifications
- Universal search for celestial objects
- Moon phase tracking
- Worldwide sky simulations

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year Premium Subscription | $1.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version | $3.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of SkyORB Classic Astronomy?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🌟 Great app for stargazing
- 🔍 Useful for identifying stars, planets, and constellations
- 📅 Helpful calendar of astronomical events
- 🌍 Accurate representation of the night sky

**Cons**

- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🔍 Inaccurate or missing information
- 🔌 Drains battery quickly

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Compass and orientation issues
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Incorrect or outdated celestial data
- Persistent login and subscription problems

**Most requested features**

- More detailed instructions and tutorials
- Improved search and navigation
- Ability to track comets and asteroids
- Seamless integration with telescopes

## Recent user reviews (10 of 279)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358/reviews.md

### 5/5 — “SkyORB” 2021

*2023-10-22*

While the app is labeled “SkyORB”, it also presently appears elsewhere as SkyORB 2021 - which now going on 3 years ago.

While I find no fault in the app, the nomenclature is both misleading & inconsistent.

### 1/5 — This app got too big for its britches

*2023-02-15, version 2021.12.9*

This app used to be amazing, now it is buggy and NEVER works. You need to be a CalTech scientist to figure it out. Save your time and money.

### 1/5 — I should have known better!

*2022-08-07, version 2021.12.6*

I should have known better than to spend money on the premium add-on for an app that hasn't had any reviews in 2 years, with many of those old reviewers complaining they paid for premium but didn't get the premium functionality.

That's exactly what happened to me - I bought the premium add-on so I would have the Apple Watch functionality.  Apple knows I paid (I received the receipt from them) but the app does not and the Apple Watch functionality isn't there.  I've reinstalled the app multiple times on both devices and have rebooted both of them many times.

So that's $4 down the drain that I spent for functionality that would be very useful if it existed, but it does not.  I have contacted the developer but haven't yet received a reply. I will gladly update this review and award 5 stars if I ever get the premium SkyORB functionality I paid for.

(Several 2021 updates to the app claim to have dealt with this problem but they haven't.)

### 1/5 — Dec’21 version

*2021-12-19, version 2021.12.1*

Most features are useless without a subscription. But it will still tell you dates of new&full moons, which is all I use it for.

### 1/5 — Look Elsewhere

*2021-10-23, version 2021.10.2*

The advertising part works extraordinarily well. 
Nothing else does unless you pay money. 
Look elsewhere.

### 1/5 — Broken again

*2021-10-14, version 2021.10.1*

Used to be a great app, however now it seems every week its reset on the update. Now you have to accept tracking to get into app to reactivate subscription, but the privacy settings link is broken so you cant see what the app is doing. And to add insult to injury it forgets every time you close app you have premium subscription so you have to reapply it before you get overwhelmed by adds that take you away from the app.

### 1/5 — Crashes

*2020-07-29, version 2020.7.2*

Crashes every-time I select Live Sky (telescope icon), and other times as well. EXTREMELY difficult to read font and no scaling there of. 
Looks useful, but unable to navigate the interface.

### 1/5 — Ripoff

*2020-07-25, version 2020.7.2*

Ads come back every time I open the app, even though I paid to remove them. This is crap. Uninstalled in spite of having my purchase price stolen.

### 1/5 — SkyORB

*2020-07-22, version 2020.7.2*

2020 version just keeps crashing at splash scree even after numerous re-installs on my iPhone 5C running IOS 10.3.4

### 2/5 — Looks great, but....

*2020-05-23, version 2020.5.1*

How on earth do you drive it? Completely unusable for me.

## Frequently asked questions about SkyORB Classic Astronomy

### What does SkyORB do?

SkyORB is an astronomy companion app that provides a 3D planetarium, real-time celestial event tracking, and AR capabilities to identify stars and planets. It helps users explore the universe, stay informed about astronomical phenomena, and simulate the night sky from any location.

### What are the key features of SkyORB?

Key features include a 3D star map, real-time planet orbits, AR night sky identification using device sensors, notifications for celestial events, a universal search for celestial objects, moon phase tracking, and worldwide sky simulations. Premium users also get an ad-free experience and enhanced features.

### How much does SkyORB cost?

The app offers a freemium model. Basic features are available for free, and users can upgrade to SkyORB Premium via a 12-month subscription for an ad-free experience, enhanced planetarium views, extended information, and multi-device access. The subscription automatically renews.

### What devices is SkyORB compatible with?

The app is designed for iOS devices and supports ARKit. It also offers Apple Watch support for exploring the cosmos from your wrist. Premium features can be accessed on multiple devices connected to your account via iOS cloud storage.

### What are common use cases for SkyORB?

Common use cases include identifying stars and planets in the night sky using AR, tracking upcoming celestial events like meteor showers or eclipses, learning about the solar system's real-time movements, and simulating the sky from different locations on Earth or even other planets.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2026.6.8 — 2026-07-03

SkyORB 2021 is now SkyORB Classic — same trusted app, refreshed for the long run.

• New app icon and visual design, new font
• New 3D engine: faster, smoother, uses less memory
• Reworked planet orientation, moon page with improved accuracy.
• General performance and stability improvements

This hotfix improves Local View, adds the new galactic ruler display, and includes minor bug fixes.

Thanks for being part of the SkyORB community.

### 2026.6.1 — 2026-06-25

SkyORB 2021 is now SkyORB Classic — same trusted app, refreshed for the long run.

• New app icon and visual design, new font
• New 3D engine: faster, smoother, uses less memory
• Reworked planet orientation, moon page with improved accuracy.
• General performance and stability improvements

Thanks for being part of the SkyORB community.

### 2021 LTS 11 — 2025-07-11

We're continuing to improve the SkyORB 2021 LTS experience with a fresh update focused on usability and stability:

* Redesigned Search Interface: We've given the search experience a modern refresh, now optimized for iOS and iPadOS to make exploring the sky easier and faster than ever.
* Today Widget Returns: The "Astronomy News" widget is now available again in your Today View (requires iOS 15 or later). Stay up to date with the latest events right from your Home Screen.
* General Improvements: Includes various bug fixes and performance optimizations.
Note: iOS widgets introduced since iOS 14 allow users to place live, glanceable information from apps directly on their Home Screens or Today View.

### 2021 LTS 9 — 2025-04-22

Fixed stability issues in the 3D space view
Improved rendering of bullet points in the navigation
Other bug fixes and performance improvement

### 2021 LTS 8 — 2025-03-27

This version adds improved date / time for partial solar eclipse, updated renderer engine and bug fixes.

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| [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 |
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## More apps by Stephane Denis

- [Iron Fist Boxing](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iron-fist-boxing/id298673200)
- [Iron Fist Boxing Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iron-fist-boxing-lite/id336555192)
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All apps by Stephane Denis: https://appshunter.io/developer/295455703

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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 2026-08-16.*