SkyORB ∞ Astronomy vs Star Archive
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SkyORB ∞ Astronomy
Explore the universe with an interactive 3D star map, real-time celestial positions, and a 14-day schedule of astronomical events. Identify stars and planets using augmented reality and access detailed information about celestial bodies.
- Interactive 3D star map
- Real-time celestial positions
- Augmented Reality (AR) identification
- 14-day astronomical event schedule
- Detailed planet and celestial body information
- Time shift feature for celestial events
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SkyORB ∞ — The Premium Version of SkyORB Classic SkyORB ∞ is the premium edition of SkyORB Classic, created for users who want the most complete and refined SkyORB experience. It features better sky maps, more advanced 2D and 3D charts, richer astronomy information, improved navigation, and a modern interface for exploring the night sky. Built on more than 20 years of astronomy app development, SkyORB ∞ brings together interactive 2D and 3D sky maps, real-time planet and star positions, Augmented Reality sky identification, detailed Moon and Sun information, astronomy events, Apple Watch support, and a refined interface optimized for the latest Apple devices. SkyORB ∞ is a one-time purchase with no ads, no subscriptions, and no in-app purchases. Every feature is included. ### Why choose SkyORB ∞? SkyORB Classic makes astronomy accessible to everyone. SkyORB ∞ goes further with clearer and more detailed sky maps, improved stereographic and orbit charts, a cleaner interface, deeper sky information, and premium features designed for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. ### Main Features Explore an interactive 3D sky map with stars, planets, constellations, comets, satellites, and deep-sky objects. Navigate redesigned 2D sky and orbit charts with curved labels, clearer constellation names, smart overlap reduction, panning, automatic framing, and detailed satellite and comet trails. Use Augmented Reality to identify stars, planets, and constellations by pointing your device at the sky. Follow the Sun and Moon with rise and set times, moon phases, and daily sky information for your location. Travel through time to see the sky in the past or future and prepare for upcoming celestial events. Check a 14-day astronomy calendar with Moon phases, planetary events, meteor showers, and other sky highlights. Discover detailed information about planets, the Moon, Messier objects, and famous astronomers. Stay connected with Apple Watch support, including quick access to useful astronomy information from your wrist. Enjoy a modern, refined interface designed for recent iPhone and iPad models. ### Premium, Simple, Yours SkyORB ∞ is made for users who want the best version of SkyORB: more complete, more precise, more comfortable to use, and entirely free from ads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases. Whether you are a casual stargazer, an astronomy enthusiast, or a long-time SkyORB user, SkyORB ∞ gives you a powerful and beautiful way to explore the universe. Upgrade from SkyORB Classic to SkyORB ∞ and enjoy the premium way to discover the night sky.
Star Archive
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An app for visual astronomy — observing through a telescope or binoculars with your own eyes. · Sky chart — 5.5 million stars with your own fields of view overlaid, opened from plans, observing and object pages. · Plan and recommend — only what your aperture can show under your site's sky (1,272 objects judged in advance), placed into hour slots, rehearsed on the chart. · Observe and record — step through objects on the chart, check, rate and write; review by night or by object. ■ A built-in sky chart · About 5.5 million stars to 13th magnitude and 16,000+ deep-sky objects. Drag and pinch anywhere. · Sky as it looks right now (zenith up) or north up — one tap on the compass at top left. · Build fields of view from your telescope, eyepieces and finder and overlay several at once. Plan objects as rings, observed ones checked. · Open the chart from a plan, the observing screen or an object page, and come straight back. ■ One unbroken night · Plan — added objects settle into hour slots on their own; drag to rearrange. Tap an object for its altitude curve and suggested magnification right there. · Rehearsal — walk the night on the chart before you leave. Course editing handles hour slots, order and start stars on one screen. · Observing — step through objects on the chart, check them off, rate and write notes. Dictate by voice. · Records — enter the night's conditions once, then review by night or by object. Long-term plans spanning months, too. ■ Data and learning · 2,400+ visual guides — how to find it and what each aperture shows. 4,600+ observing points to rate. · Lists such as Messier, Caldwell, Herschel 400 and 1001, plus your own lists and courses. · Star hopping with 126 routes (using the chart's field-of-view settings); Messier marathon prep and a 110-object night. ■ Also Night mode (red screen, shake to toggle, automatic after sunset) · six themes · sketch albums · eyepiece-view simulator · tonight's clouds and seeing · real-time planets · spreadsheets in and out, full backup · on a bigger screen at starnotearchive.com · Korean, English and Japanese. Free. No ads, no purchases. No account in the app; make a web account only if you want the website. Records stay on your phone; only what you send goes up to the web (site names visible only to you). With weather on, the forecast point's location is passed to the weather service. The 13th-magnitude star data downloads only when you ask. Made as a hobby by one observer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Star Archive at Free against SkyORB ∞ Astronomy's $2.99. Star Archive also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). SkyORB ∞ Astronomy's advantage is device support (5 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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
Star Archive is free to download; SkyORB ∞ Astronomy costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SkyORB ∞ Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, Star Archive every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SkyORB ∞ Astronomy | Star Archive |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 303 MB | 174 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stephane Denis | Kyungil Myung |
In-app purchases
SkyORB ∞ Astronomy
No in-app purchases
Star Archive
No in-app purchases








