Comparison

Celestial Nav vs Star Tracker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Celestial Nav

This app provides tools for celestial navigation, offering computations for celestial bodies and sight reductions. It includes an offline perpetual almanac and allows for quick capture of observation data for accurate course adjustments.

Highlights
  • Celestial navigational computations
  • Offline perpetual almanac
  • Quick celestial observation data capture
  • High accuracy sight reductions
  • Sight planning and reduction tools
  • Celestial fix computations
Features
Read full description

We believe celestial navigation is an amazing skill and develop Celestial Nav to offer a simple, yet powerful and all encompassing app for our users. Celestial Nav is an easy to use, all-in-one tool which offers: • Celestial navigational computations for your device • Simple toolbar menu for quick access • Internally stored perpetual Almanac • Offline ready and functional without the need for other external tools • Quick and easy capture celestial observation data • High accuracy sight reductions • Star reference tables SIGHT PLANNING • Local Hour Angle (LHA) for Aries • Star tables sorted by name, magnitude, declination, and SHA • Sunrise, sunset, twilight, and location reference • Moon phase reference SIGHT REDUCTION • High accuracy sight reduction algorithm • Perpetual Almanac offering accurate data for years 1600 - 3000 • Almanac data for Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn • Detailed Almanac data for 58 navigational stars • Assumed Position (AP) for any user defined position • Line of Position (LOP) intercept data for accurate course and speed adjustments • Computational variables displayed for accuracy and validation CELESTIAL FIX • Computations by USNO algorithm in the Nautical Almanac • Save all your LOP in an easy reference table BASIC VERSION Free daytime celestial navigation tools using the sun: • Unlimited sextant sight reduction calculations • Sight reduction to a line of position using the sun • Perpetual almanac for the sun • Advanced sight corrections for index error, eye height, temperature, and pressure • Support for upper and lower limb reference • Star Table with navigational references • Detailed Sun references • Limited Moon references PRO FEATURES (IN-APP PURCHASE) Advanced Day & Night Celestial Navigation includes all BASIC features plus: • Almanac data for 65 navigational bodies for years 1600 through 3000 • Map display for saved LOPs • View intercepts with course and speed corrections • Metric and imperial unit support with automatic conversions • Support for coordinate entries in different formats (H° M’ S” or Decimals) • Save all your LOP calculations for future reference • Save user preferences and settings • Unrestricted moon references • Almanac and algorithmic models for 65 navigational bodies: • Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn • 58 navigational stars Supported stars: Acamar, Achernar, Acrux, Adhara, Aldebaran, Alioth, Alkaid, Alnair, Alnilam, Alphard, Alphecca, Alpheratz, Altair, Ankaa, Antares, Arcturus, Atria, Avior, Bellatrix, Betelgeuse, Canopus, Capella, Deneb, Denebola, Diphda, Dubhe, Elnath, Eltanin, Enif, Fomalhaut, Gacrux, Gienah, Hadar, Hamal, Kaus Australis, Kochab, Markab, Menkar, Menkent, Miaplacidus, Mirfak, Nunki, Peacock, Polaris, Pollux, Procyon, Rasalhague, Regulus, Rigel, Rigil Kent., Sabik, Schedar, Shaula, Sirius, Spica, Suhail, Vega, Zubengenubi REFERENCES Sight reductions and celestial calculations use various internationally accepted references for the most accurate results: • Jean Meeus - Astronomical Algorithms • US Naval Observatory (USNO) Almanac and Algorithms • Hipparcos New Astrometric Catalog, Published 2007 • ELP2000-85 SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Celestial Nav is free to download and the basic features free to use. A paid upgrade to the PRO version provides access to premium features and additional tools. We may offer trial subscriptions that give limited time access to all PRO features and premium content for the duration of the trial period. Trial subscriptions automatically expire and the app will revert back to the Basic version thereafter. No data is lost but access and use of premium features will no longer be available.

About

Star Tracker

Explore the night sky in real-time by pointing your device upwards. Identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites with an easy-to-use interface. Discover celestial events and a vast collection of deep sky objects.

Highlights
  • Real-time celestial object identification
  • Accurate night sky simulation
  • Extensive database of stars and planets
  • Satellite tracking (ISS included)
  • Simulation of landscape and atmosphere
  • Information on meteor showers and celestial events
Features
Read full description

Identify stars, constellations, planets, comets, satellites, and other deep sky objects in real time in the sky above you in just a few seconds, just by pointing the phone at the sky!.This application is easy to use and minimalist user interface, that makes it one of the best astronomical applications for adults and children who want to explore the night sky. Now have the planetarium that fits in your pocket, puts the universe at your fingertips, and is incredibly easy to use! Features: * View an accurate night sky simulation of stars and planets for any date, time and location. * Dive in a collection of many stars, nebulas, galaxies, star clusters and other deep sky objects. * Track artificial satellites, including the International Space Station. * Simulate landscape and atmosphere with realistic sunrise, sunset and atmosphere refraction. * Meteor showers, equinoxes, conjunctions, full/new Moon and etc. * Solar system bodies (solar system planets, the Sun, the Moon, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets) Stars: Sun, Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri, Arcturus, Vega, Capella, Spica, Castor, etc. Planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, etc. Meteor showers: Perseids, Lyrids, Aquarids, Geminids, Ursids, etc. Constellations: Andromeda, Aquarius, Cancer, Capricornus, Cassiopeia, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpius, Ursa Major, etc. Satellites: Hubble, SEASAT, ERBS, ISS, Aqua, Envisat, Suzaku, Daichi, Genesis, etc. For more information : Privacy Policy : http://nhapplab.in/privacy_policy.html Terms of Use : http://nhapplab.in/terms_of_use.html

Screenshots

Celestial Nav4 screens
Star Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

Celestial Nav and Star Tracker both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 58% of Celestial Nav's written reviews are positive against 0% of Star Tracker's. Celestial Nav also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 41 months). Star Tracker's advantage is ratings volume (126 vs 10). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Celestial Nav sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Star Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Celestial Nav against 4.2 for Star Tracker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Tracker has 126 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 58% of Celestial Nav's written reviews are positive against 0% of Star Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Celestial Nav ships an update every 3 weeks, Star Tracker every 41 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Celestial Nav versus Star Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCelestial NavStar Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (10 ratings) — better4.2 (126 ratings)
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings10126 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 41 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB107 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSkytip LLCNalin Savaliya

Customer experience

Celestial Nav

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative33.3%

Star Tracker

All ratings126 ratings
Positive80.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Celestial Nav

Subscriptions3
  • PRO Version$1.991 Month
  • PRO Version$7.996 Months
  • PRO Version$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • 7 Day Trial License$0.99
  • 30 Day Trial License$2.99
  • PRO Version Lifetime$24.99
3 purchases

Star Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • star tracker night one week$4.997 Days
  • star tracker night one year$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Star Tracker - Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Celestial Nav free?
Celestial Nav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Star Tracker free?
Star Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Celestial Nav or Star Tracker?
Celestial Nav is rated higher. Celestial Nav averages 4.3 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Star Tracker averages 4.2 from 126 ratings.
Do Celestial Nav or Star Tracker have ads?
Star Tracker shows ads; Celestial Nav does not.
Which is updated more often, Celestial Nav or Star Tracker?
Celestial Nav ships an update every 3 weeks, and Star Tracker every 41 months. Most recently, Celestial Nav was updated on September 13, 2026 and Star Tracker on August 28, 2026.

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