# Solar Explorer 3D — Surface Atlas & Mission Replay

> Realistic 3D Solar System simulation with detailed celestial body and spacecraft exploration. (iPhone/iPad app by Shenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-explorer-3d/id6752232739 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Shenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838373818)
- Category: Education, Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 22 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 808 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish, Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan)
- Released: 2025-09-24
- Data updated: 2026-09-06
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-explorer-3d/id6752232739/reviews.md

## What is Solar Explorer 3D?

Embark on an unprecedented immersive journey through the cosmos!
Solar Explorer presents a stunning 3D simulation of the Solar System based on real astronomical data, allowing you to experience the grandeur and mystery of the universe right in your hands.

Key Features

• Realistic Simulation – Accurately models the orbital and rotational motion of Solar System bodies and spacecraft in a true 3D environment.
• Close-Up View – Explore surface details, rotation, and the orbits of moons within planetary systems, including detailed 3D models of spacecraft.
• Landing View - Touch down at designated spots on different celestial bodies and look up at a realistic starry sky and the Milky Way.
• Time Acceleration – Speed up time to intuitively observe the motion of Solar System objects and spacecraft.
• Mission Replay – Selected mission and event replay feature, allowing you to review panoramic trajectories of major space missions and close-ups of key events.
• Surface Maps – Zoom in to the surface in close view and watch surface features emerge across the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies.

Professional-Grade Experience

• Real-time orbital positions of planets, moons, and spacecraft are precisely computed using celestial mechanics, with extensive real-time data displayed in the information panel.
• In celestial close-up view, observe high-resolution surface textures, realistic rotation, and the trajectories of major moons.
• Spacecraft close-up view features high-quality 3D models, including all five probes that have traveled beyond Neptune’s orbit, with real-time speed and distance-from-Earth data.
• Observe every successful soft-landing probe in history on the Moon, Mars, and Venus, along with detailed surface feature data.
• In Landing View, the system accurately simulates the local sky and celestial motion based on celestial mechanics and spatial geometry, including phenomena such as lunar tidal locking and Venus’s retrograde rotation.
• Beautifully rendered planetary rings and solar halos, precisely simulated asteroid belt and Kuiper belt — even shadows and transit phenomena are faithfully recreated, capturing the wonder of space.

Intuitive Controls

• Tap any celestial body or label to enter close-up view, with a catalog available to browse all celestial bodies and spacecraft.
• Use one-finger rotation and two-finger zoom to adjust viewing angle and range.
• In close-up view, a locator allows easy selection of target locations; on Earth, your current location can be used directly.
• In orbit view, close-up view, and landing view, multiple time-acceleration levels are available to observe rotation and revolution.

Whether you’re an astronomy enthusiast, an educator, or a curious explorer, Solar Explorer opens a gateway to the mysteries of the universe. Download now and begin your space adventure!

## Key features

- Realistic 3D Solar System simulation
- Detailed celestial body and spacecraft models
- Surface exploration and landing views
- Time acceleration for observing motion
- Mission replay functionality
- Real-time astronomical data display

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

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


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-explorer-3d/id6752232739/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Dnt get

*2026-02-02*

You can’t even click on planets

**Developer response:** Thank you for reporting this, and we’re really sorry about the experience.
A bug in version 1.4.0 could indeed cause crashes and prevent interactions like tapping on planets. We’ve fixed this issue in version 1.4.1, which is now available on the App Store.

Please update to the latest version and let us know if everything works as expected. Your feedback helps us improve, and we truly appreciate your patience.

### 5/5 — 诗意

*2025-10-23*

成人也会喜欢这个app，互动性、沉浸感，生命中的远方

**Developer response:** 多谢您的支持，我们会继续努力的！

## Frequently asked questions about Solar Explorer 3D

### What is Solar Explorer 3D?

Solar Explorer 3D is a 3D simulation app that allows users to explore the Solar System with realistic models of celestial bodies and spacecraft. It features detailed surface views, mission replays, and real-time astronomical data.

### What learning methodology does Solar Explorer 3D use?

Solar Explorer 3D employs an immersive learning methodology through its realistic 3D simulation. Users learn by direct observation and interaction with celestial bodies and their movements, fostering a deeper understanding of astronomy.

### How does Solar Explorer 3D track user progress?

Solar Explorer 3D does not explicitly track user progress in a formal sense. Its focus is on providing an educational and exploratory experience, allowing users to revisit missions and celestial bodies at their own pace.

### Does Solar Explorer 3D offer certifications?

Solar Explorer 3D does not offer formal certifications. It is designed as an educational tool for exploration and learning about the Solar System, rather than a credentialing program.

### What devices is Solar Explorer 3D available on?

Solar Explorer 3D is available on iPhone and iPad devices. It requires iOS 13.0 or later.

### How often is Solar Explorer 3D updated?

Solar Explorer 3D was last updated on March 25, 2026, with version 1.5.0. This indicates a relatively recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support.

### What do users like about Solar Explorer 3D?

Based on its description, users likely appreciate the realistic 3D simulation, detailed models, and immersive exploration features. The ability to replay missions and view celestial bodies up close are highlighted as key attractions.

### Is Solar Explorer 3D free to download?

Yes, Solar Explorer 3D is free to download. However, it does offer in-app purchases, which may unlock additional content or features.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.7.2 — 2026-08-24

- Added ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE).
- Added notes for major celestial bodies and spacecraft.
- Added a pulsing hint animation when content overflows in information panels.
- Improved hit detection for the Sun at true scale.
- Updated the driving distances for Yutu-2, Curiosity, and Perseverance.
- Fixed several stability issues, making the app more reliable.

### 1.7.1 — 2026-08-03

- Added star background labels, including the Galactic Center, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, Sirius, Polaris, and more — you can toggle their visibility in Settings.
- Improved tap interactions — you can now tap other celestial bodies or spacecraft to switch to their close-up views directly from a spacecraft close-up view.
- Asteroid info panels now show the provisional designation.

### 1.7.0 — 2026-07-12

- Added 5 asteroids, available in the celestial catalog.
- New "Realistic Body Scale" toggle in Orbit View.
- A new, realistic Milky Way background built from NASA all-sky star maps, accurately rendered across every scene, including Landing View.
- More realistic Sun glow.
- Fixed various interface and stability issues for a smoother experience.

### 1.6.5 — 2026-06-15

- Added 16K ultra-high-definition textures for the Moon and Mars, significantly enhancing the detail of crater rims and surface valleys.
- Comprehensively upgraded texture quality for the satellite systems of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as the Pluto–Charon binary system.
- Continued adding dozens of surface feature datasets for the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies.
- Titan now also features major surface feature labels, with support for both default and atmospheric textures.
- Added IAU approval year information for all surface features.
- Added temperature data to the celestial body info panel.
- Improved interactive experience — when zooming in during close-up view, pan sensitivity now adapts automatically based on camera height above the surface, delivering a more responsive feel.
- Further optimized memory usage, resulting in smoother close-up view animations.
- Fixed several minor issues.

### 1.6.2 — 2026-05-31

- Added several crater names near the lunar south pole.
- Optimized memory usage and fixed crashes caused by insufficient memory on some older devices.
- Improved overall stability and performance.
- Fixed an issue where dragging the progress bar during mission playback could cause unexpected jumps.

## Apps similar to Solar Explorer 3D

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Planets AR - Our Solar System](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planets-ar-our-solar-system/id6483760783) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education |
| [Planet Fun](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-fun/id1525941640) | 4.8 (8) | Free | Education |
| [Teia - 3D Solar System](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/teia-3d-solar-system/id1672118518) | 4.0 (5) | Free | Education |
| [GPT Solar System Explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gpt-solar-system-explorer/id6743086286) | 4.7 (90) | Free | Education |
| [Intergalactic Solar System](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intergalactic-solar-system/id1505399254) | 4.0 (25) | Free | Education |
| [Heliosphere - Solar System](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliosphere-solar-system/id6757491622) | 3.0 (2) | Free | Education |

## Related topics

[space facts explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/space-facts-explorer) · [solar system](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/solar-system) · [explorer space](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/explorer-space)

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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 2026-09-06.*