# Starlight® - Explore the Stars — Find Stars and Constellations

> Augmented reality stargazing app to identify celestial objects. (iPhone/iPad app by ION6, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlight-explore-the-stars/id762002305 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [ION6, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1489492451)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 3,087 App Store ratings · 646 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16 · 39 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, European Portuguese, European Spanish
- Released: 2013-11-28
- Data updated: 2026-08-30
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlight-explore-the-stars/id762002305/reviews.md

## What is Starlight®?

Point your iPhone or iPad like a magic lens into the night sky, and see in real time what stars, planets, and constellations hover above.   Stargazing has never been so easy!

This app is a streamlined starmap that is gorgeous to look at. See constellations come to life against a vibrant backdrop of stars, each colored according to their actual stellar classification. Track the movement of planets.  See the phases of the moon.  Discover detailed information about stars.  Amaze your friends and educate your kids with this impressive app. 

FEATURES: 

* New Augmented reality mode!

* Information at your fingertips. Learn about stars and planets. Discover trivia connecting stars to some of your favorite science fiction Learn the folklore behind constellations. 

* Lightning-fast navigation. 

* Over 100,000 stars from the Hipparcos database, painted accurately according to their spectral type. 

* All 88 western constellations. 

* Planets of the solar system.

* See a real-time map of the sky, day or night.

* Detailed information on hundreds of celestial objects from stars to planets to solar system objects.

* Powerful zoom feature allows you to pinpoint star clusters and examine planets.

* View the sky beneath the horizon.  Know where the sun is, even at night!

* Supports both motion and touch navigation.  Point your device at the sky and the app will track what you see.


_______________________________________ 
Starlight is an ever-expanding tour of the Cosmos with new content planned regularly.

## Key features

- Augmented reality mode
- Real-time sky map
- Detailed celestial object information
- Planet tracking
- Moon phases
- Over 100,000 stars
- 88 western constellations

## What do users think of Starlight®?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🌟 Excellent
- 🔍 Simple and easy to use
- 🌌 Beautiful graphics
- 🔭 Informative and educational
- 🌍 Useful for stargazing and learning about the night sky

**Cons**

- 🧭 Inaccurate compass/orientation issues
- 🌑 Moon phase/cycle inaccuracies
- 🔄 Glitches and freezing issues after updates
- 💰 Hidden paywalls/subscription requirements

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Compass/orientation not working correctly
- Moon phase display not matching actual moon
- App crashing or freezing on newer iOS versions

**Most requested features**

- Add support for Southern Hemisphere constellations
- Implement calibration/orientation settings
- Include real-time updates for moon phases and celestial events
- Add animated/moving stars and planets

## Recent user reviews (10 of 646)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlight-explore-the-stars/id762002305/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Such a useful app for the sky!

*2026-08-05, version 4.1.3*

You can spend hours interacting with the sky. One issue is that in the description of the planets, it is mentioned that they are named after Roman gods(!) and not Greek gods.

### 5/5 — Fantastic job

*2026-07-30, version 4.1.3*

Starlight has been one of the most useful tools I have on my phone!!

### 3/5 — No art on 4.1.2

*2026-06-29, version 4.1.2*

4.1.2 show green block and no art

### 1/5 — Fecha sem razão alguma

*2026-06-24, version 4.1.1*

Funcionava normalmente, mas começou a fechar sozinho com o iPhone 16 Pro. Alguma coisa foi muito mal feita em alguma atualização.

### 2/5 — Fallos

*2026-06-18, version 4.1.1*

La aplicación es preciosa, pero cada vez que la oriento hacia el norte se cierra sola y no me permite usarla. antes no me pasaba. No logro solucionarlo ni desinstalando y volviendo a descargarla. :(

### 2/5 — Aplicativo desligando

*2026-06-17, version 4.1.1*

Meu aplicativo desliga quando aponto para oeste, acima da linha do horizonte

### 5/5 — Cosmos

*2026-06-17, version 4.1.1*

J’adore regarder la position des planètes, des étoiles et des galaxies dans cet univers incroyable. Cette application est très bien faite. Merci aux inventeurs de cette app.

### 1/5 — Falla

*2026-06-16, version 4.1.1*

Se cierra apenas se abre

### 1/5 — Se cierra constantemente

*2026-06-13, version 4.1.1*

Tengo un iPhone 17 pro actualizado todo en la última versión, tengo la versión pro de aplicación y al usar la aplicación con la brújula suele cerrarse la aplicación instantáneamente por lo cual no puedo usar la aplicación

### 4/5 — Très bien mais …

*2026-06-12, version 4.1.1*

… de grâce corrigez le texte français relatif aux explications.
C’est devenu illisible après une récente mise à jour.

## Frequently asked questions about Starlight®

### What does Starlight do?

Starlight allows you to explore the night sky in real-time by pointing your iPhone or iPad upwards. It identifies stars, planets, and constellations, providing detailed information about them. The app uses augmented reality to overlay celestial data onto your device's camera view.

### What are the key features of Starlight?

Key features include an augmented reality mode, a real-time sky map, detailed information on over 100,000 stars and all 88 western constellations, planet tracking, moon phases, and the ability to view the sky beneath the horizon. It also supports both motion and touch navigation.

### Is Starlight free to use?

Yes, Starlight is a free application. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, allowing for an uninterrupted stargazing experience.

### What devices is Starlight compatible with?

The application is designed for iPhone and iPad devices. Specific iOS version compatibility is not detailed in the provided description, but it is optimized for these Apple mobile devices.

### Who is Starlight for?

This app is ideal for anyone interested in astronomy, from casual stargazers to educators looking for a tool to teach children about the cosmos. It makes learning about stars, planets, and constellations accessible and engaging for all ages.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.1.3 — 2026-07-01

This update fixes a graphics glitch that could make the constellation artwork appear as green rectangles on some devices. The classic illustrations now display correctly.

### 4.1.2 — 2026-06-28

Fix for a crash happening with the Spanish-language translation when panning the view.

### 4.1.1 — 2026-06-02

*  Now on Metal. Smoother rendering, crisper lines, lighter on battery.
* Steadier overall. Reworked motion handling, a full-circle AR horizon, and on-screen cues when you switch between motion and touch.

### 4.1.0 — 2026-05-28

*  Now on Metal. Smoother rendering, crisper lines, lighter on battery.
* Steadier overall. Reworked motion handling, a full-circle AR horizon, and on-screen cues when you switch between motion and touch.

### 4.0.0 — 2026-05-27

*  Now on Metal. Smoother rendering, crisper lines, lighter on battery.
* Steadier overall. Reworked motion handling, a full-circle AR horizon, and on-screen cues when you switch between motion and touch.

## Apps similar to Starlight®

| 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 (94,916) | Free | Education |
| [SkyView® Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyview-lite/id413936865) | 4.5 (18,744) | Free | Education |
| [Star Gazer: Sky Map& Astronomy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-gazer-sky-map-and-astronomy/id1441048929) | 3.9 (6,855) | Free | Education |
| [Star Walk 2 Pro: Sky Map Live](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-walk-2-pro-sky-map-live/id892279069) | 4.7 (67,054) | $2.99 | Education |
| [Stellarium Mobile - Star Map](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890) | 4.8 (35,824) | Free | Education |
| [Star Walk：Find Stars & Planets](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-walkfind-stars-and-planets/id295430577) | 4.7 (25,023) | Free | Education |

## More apps by ION6, LLC

- [Vector Ball 3D](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vector-ball-3d/id581417149)
- [Dial a Farm](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dial-a-farm/id1184062417)

All apps by ION6, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1489492451

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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 2026-08-30.*