Sky Academy vs RiSet Sky
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sky Academy
Learn about constellations, stars, and deep sky objects through interactive levels and quizzes. Features realistic sky simulations, customizable learning paths, and offline access. Gamified approach makes astronomy engaging and accessible.
- Learn 88 constellations, 150+ stars, 110 Deep Sky Objects
- 123+ levels for constellations, stars, and DSOs
- Customizable learning lists
- Three difficulty modes per level
- Realistic night sky simulation
- Offline access, no ads
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Features: - 123 levels teach, train and test your knowledge of all 88 constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. - 180 levels teach, train and test your knowledge of 150+ brightest stars of the sky. - NEW! 153 levels teach, train and test your knowledge of 110 Deep Sky Objects (Messier Objects). - Create your own list of constellations, stars and DSOs for learning and practice. - 7 default presets (e.g. zodiac constellations & navigational stars) ready for use. - Three training and testing modes for each level (easy, medium and hard) to help you progress smoothly and guide you to eventually recognize the constellations, stars and DSOs in the real night sky. - Opportunity to review your mistakes after completing each level. - Device-specific pronunciation for constellations, stars and DSOs. - Realistic night sky simulation and beautiful illustrations and animations. - Combination of learning and gaming. Learn while having fun. - Explore the mysterious night sky on your own on the Explore screen. - Completely configure the game according to your preference. Adjust sounds & vibrations, change appearance of the sky (stars, illustrations, constellation lines, borders of constellations, equatorial grid lines, focus ring, Milky Way, etc.) and so on. - Night mode to reduce the strain on the eyes. - Absolutely no ads. - Works completely offline. Game The game is designed to teach the user to recognize all the 88 modern constellations, brightest stars and 110 Messier Objects by taking them through a number of levels. Levels are divided into categories (constellations, stars & DSOs), regions (north, equator, south) and difficulties (easy, medium, hard). Each level teaches only a small number of objects and then trains the knowledge in a quiz game to aid memorization. Later levels also review and retest the knowledge of previously learnt objects. Levels In each level, you're first given an opportunity to see and memorize the objects (constellations, stars or DSOs) of that level. Use the arrows to go through all of them, and click 'Start' once you're ready. The description of each object is displayed on the panel at the bottom of the screen. The panel can be expanded by dragging it up to show more details about the object. After clicking “Start”, an object will be shown and you’ll be presented with 4 options. The level ends when you answer a certain number of questions (shown in the top-left corner) correctly. At the end of the level you'll have the opportunity to review the mistakes you’ve made before progressing further. Please note, in challenge levels, no hints are available and you are given only a limited number of lives to pass them. Difficulties Each level is available in 3 difficulties: easy, medium, and hard. Easy levels show the lines of the constellations, making the experience less similar to the real night sky, but it's the first step of learning. Medium levels hide the lines of the constellations, but show their precise borders and the lines of the surrounding constellations to help the recognition. Hard levels are closest to the real night sky: they only show the approximate location of the objects, instead of the exact shape (the borders), and randomly choose the orientation each time, so that you learn to recognize the objects from another angle. We recommend going through each difficulty, from easy to hard. Explore screen The explore screen (third button on the main screen) allows you to explore the sky on your own. Tapping on the objects (e.g. names of the stars or constellations) shows more information about them (e.g. abbreviation, brightest star, area of the sky, distance etc.). You can also use the same double-tap gesture to quickly hide/reveal all the decorations. The search icon (top-right corner) allows you to quickly find a particular object you're interested in. Privacy Policy: https://www.dong.digital/skyacademy/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.dong.digital/skyacademy/tos/
RiSet Sky
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RiSet Sky: Essential sky information at a glance, right when you need it. Created by a professional astronomy educator for amateur astronomers, astronomy communicators, and curious observers, RiSet Sky puts the essential information about our celestial neighborhood and the International Space Station right at your fingertips. Know when the Sun, Moon, and planets rise, set, and transit, with information for both the date you are observing and the following day. Quickly see an object's current constellation location, apparent magnitude, angular size, and transit altitude, all in a clear, concise format designed for real-world observing. Explore Our Celestial Neighborhood Select the Sun, Moon, or any planet for a detailed observing profile. For Jupiter and Saturn, RiSet Sky shows the relative positions of their brighter moons, helping you know what to expect before you begin observing through an eyepiece. Select the Moon for additional information including its current phase, illumination percentage, rise and set times, angular size, as well as the date for upcoming Full and New Moons. For the Sun, RiSet Sky also provides a daily assessment of solar activity. Track the International Space Station RiSet Sky makes ISS observing simple. See upcoming rise and set times, visible duration, and future passovers. When an ISS opportunity is approaching, a single tap activates an observing aid that helps you determine where to look in the sky, accompanied by a convenient countdown timer. Built for Observers and Educators RiSet Sky was created around the things astronomers consider and the questions they hear from others: When can I see it? Where will it be? How high will it get? How bright is it? What should I expect to see? Whether you are planning an observing session, preparing an astronomy program, working with the public, or simply curious about the objects closest to us in space, RiSet Sky brings the essential information together in one clear, concise observing companion. Less time searching. More time looking up. RiSet Sky — Rise. Set. Observe.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Sky Academy at Free against RiSet Sky's $1.99. Sky Academy also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). RiSet Sky's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads and device support 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
Sky Academy is free to download; RiSet Sky costs $1.99 up front. Sky Academy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RiSet Sky asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Sky Academy | RiSet Sky |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (194 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 194 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Xiang Dong | MICHAEL K D SIBBERNSEN |
In-app purchases
Sky Academy
- Lifetime Premium$4.99
RiSet Sky
No in-app purchases









