Astro vs Gravity by Vaonis
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Astro
This app provides real-time alerts and multi-wavelength context for astronomical events. It offers advanced planning tools, interactive sky maps, and data enrichment for professional researchers and citizen scientists.
- Real-time astronomical event alerts
- Multi-wavelength observational context
- Advanced observing condition planning
- Interactive sky map visualization
- Real-time photometry and lightcurve data
- Pro-amateur astronomer collaboration tools
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Astro-COLIBRI: The Real-Time Multi-Messenger Discovery Engine Flares of known astronomical sources and new transient phenomena occur on timescales from sub-seconds to weeks. The discovery potential of both serendipitous and multi-messenger (MM) follow-up observations is maximized with a tool that provides an instantaneous, comprehensive overview of both persistent sources and transient events in the relevant phase space. Astro-COLIBRI is a state-of-the-art research infrastructure designed for the era of Time-Domain and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (TDAMM). Our architecture comprises a RESTful API, a real-time database, and a cloud-based alert system that evaluates incoming VOEvent and GCN messages (via Kafka streams) in real-time. Key Features: - Real-Time Alerts: Immediate push notifications for GRBs, Gravitational Waves (GW), High-Energy Neutrinos, Supernovae, and more, filtered by your custom criteria. - Multi-Wavelength Context: Automatically place events into their MWL context with integrated data from major observatories (Swift, Fermi, SVOM, Einstein-Probe) and catalogs (4FGL, TeVCat, HMXB/LMXB). - Advanced Planning Tools: Assess observing conditions at professional observatories or your own custom coordinates. Includes Sun/Moon positions, altitude plots, and weather assessments. - Interactive Visualization: An interactive SkyMap with selectable events, manual zoom, and specialized Tilepy support for planning coverage of large localization uncertainties (e.g., Gravitational Waves). - Data Enrichment: Access real-time photometry, lightcurves updated twice daily, and galaxy cross-matching to identify potential hosts of transient events. - Pro-Am Collaboration: Dedicated support for amateur networks (e.g., RAPAS, Kilonova-Catcher, BHTOM), allowing for the submission and tracking of observations directly within the global community. Optimized for performance and reliability, Astro-COLIBRI exploits concepts such as multi-index database queries and a global content delivery network (CDN) to provide a seamless user experience for professional researchers and citizen scientists alike. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Gravity by Vaonis
Transform your smartphone into a smart telescope to explore the cosmos. Capture stunning images of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters with advanced image stacking. Observe the Sun and Moon with dedicated modes and educational content.
- Smartphone as smart telescope
- 25x optical zoom
- Live image stacking
- Sun and Moon observation
- Deep sky object photography
- Landscape and wildlife photography
- Educational cosmic content
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Gravity by Vaonis is the dedicated application for the Hestia instrument, transforming your smartphone into a smart telescope! Intuitive and user-friendly, this mobile application enables you to explore the Cosmos with ease. Track the activities of the Sun and the Moon, and immortalize your journey through the Universe by photographing galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters at your fingertips. CAMERA MODE Boost the power of your smartphone to achieve a 25x optical zoom on your mobile's camera, allowing you to observe the wonders of the Universe up close. IMAGE PROCESSING Make the invisible visible with Hestia's live image stacking technology. Choose your target and let the magic happen. Gravity by Vaonis enhances your observation experience using exclusive image processing algorithms. It intelligently combines and aligns multiple short-exposure images captured by your smartphone to create a single high-quality photograph. SPACE CENTER Monitor the real-time activity of the Moon and the Sun. LANDSCAPE MODE With Gravity by Vaonis, your surroundings become a new playground. Observe and photograph distant landscapes or even wild animals in their natural habitat. SOLAR AND LUNAR MODE Easily and safely observe the closest star to Earth during the day using Hestia's solar filter. Track the sun's activity and witness the evolution of solar spots and faculae. Track the sun's activity by examining the variations on its visible surface. Once night falls, admire the details of the lunar craters and track the different phases of the Moon. DEEP SKY MODE Observe the brightest objects in the deep sky. The Gravity by Vaonis application will guide you step by step to help you take your own photos of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. EDUCATIONAL CONTENT Gravity by Vaonis offers a comprehensive educational journey, providing you with the opportunity to explore the mysteries of the Universe.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gravity by Vaonis at none against Astro's 2. Astro's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Astro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Gravity by Vaonis asks for nothing beyond the download.
Astro ships an update every 6 weeks, Gravity by Vaonis every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Astro | Gravity by Vaonis |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 2.7 (49 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 47.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 49 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 94 MB | 331 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fabian Schussler | Vaonis |
Customer experience
Astro
Gravity by Vaonis
In-app purchases
Astro
- Astro-COLIBRI AR7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Astro-COLIBRI AR7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Gravity by Vaonis
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Astro free?
Is Gravity by Vaonis free?
Do Astro or Gravity by Vaonis have ads?
Which is updated more often, Astro or Gravity by Vaonis?
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