Celestial Simulation vs Planet Finder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Celestial Simulation
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Celestial Simulation Experience the universe as it truly moves. Celestial Simulation is a high-fidelity, physics-based app that lets you explore and understand celestial motion through real simulations—not animations or guesses. Every event is driven by time, location, and real celestial mechanics. From eclipses and planetary motion to lunar occultations and chaotic three-body dynamics, the app turns complex astronomy into intuitive, visual experiences. Observer-Based Simulation Your location matters. Set your observing position on Earth and watch how celestial events change with latitude, longitude, and time. Every simulation adapts instantly to your chosen place and moment. Solar System Geometry Explore the mechanics of the inner solar system: - Annular and hybrid solar eclipses with umbra and antumbra geometry - Planetary conjunctions and minimum angular separations - Mercury and Venus elongations for optimal visibility - Retrograde motion visualized over days and weeks - Transits of Mercury and Venus across the solar disk Most simulations are continuous and time-accurate. Lunar Occultations See how the Moon moves through the sky: - Occultations of bright stars and planets - Local and global visibility bands - Geometry that explains why an event is visible from certain locations Three-Body Dynamics Go beyond classical orbits and explore real gravitational complexity: - Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP) - Lagrange points L1–L5 with stability insights - Chaotic motion in non-rotating frames - Extreme sensitivity to initial conditions - These simulations reveal how real spaceflight dynamics and celestial chaos work. Special Focus: Total Solar Eclipse 2026 (Europe) A total solar eclipse will cross Europe in 2026 — a rare and unforgettable event. Celestial Simulation lets you explore the full path of totality, simulate eclipse geometry from different locations, and understand how timing and position affect what you will see. Use the simulation to: - Compare observing locations across Europe - Visualize eclipse paths and shadow motion - Plan where and when to experience totality Whether you are preparing a journey or simply exploring the mechanics behind the event, the app helps you understand why the eclipse unfolds the way it does. Built for Exploration - Interactive time control - Clean, focused visualizations - Designed for learners, enthusiasts, and curious minds - No clutter, no gimmicks—just the universe in motion Celestial Simulation is a pocket laboratory for understanding how the sky actually works. Whether you’re learning, teaching, or simply fascinated by celestial mechanics, this app lets you see the physics behind the beauty.
Planet Finder
This app transforms your phone into a live celestial guide. Point it at the sky to identify planets, stars, and constellations with an on-screen pointer. It provides real-time astronomical data, a sky calendar, and detailed information on celestial objects.
- Live sky pointer
- Celestial object identification
- Rise, transit, and set times
- Sky calendar with reminders
- Red night mode
- AR photo saving and sharing
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Point your phone at the sky and Planet Finder tells you exactly what you are looking at. Planets, stars, constellations and deep sky objects, all worked out live for the precise spot you are standing on. No account, no sign up, no waiting. Ask PlatonAI anything! An astronomer built into the app. Ask anything about tonight and get an answer for your location and the hour you are asking, not a page from a textbook. It knows what has already set, what is still climbing and what the Moon is about to wash out. POINT AND FIND ANYTHING Lift your phone and a pointer walks you to any planet, star or constellation. The camera view is labelled with what is really above you. TONIGHT, AT A GLANCE Everything visible from where you are right now, with rise, transit and set times, and a plan for the moment the sky finally goes dark. A SKY MAP WITH REAL DEPTH Pinch to zoom and the map keeps going. At the deepest levels thousands of faint stars come out, the way they do through a telescope. The whole map turns with your compass. THE COMPLETE CATALOGUE All 88 constellations. 196 named stars. The full Messier catalogue of 110 galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. Real NASA photographs of the Sun, the Moon and every planet. The Milky Way drawn across your own sky. A CALENDAR THAT TELLS YOU WHEN Moon phases, meteor showers, conjunctions, eclipses, oppositions, greatest elongations and supermoons. Set a reminder, or add any event to your own calendar with one tap. SIX SKY GAMES Games built around the real night sky. One of them is free every single day. MADE FOR REAL NIGHTS OUTSIDE Red night mode protects your night vision. The astronomy is computed on the device, so it keeps working with no internet at all. PLANET FINDER PRO Pro opens PlatonAI, the entire catalogue, unlimited AR finds, the deep zoom, every game, red night mode, a best viewing card you can save and share, and the ability to pin your own photo onto any object in AR. Planet Finder offers an auto renewing subscription with a free daily allowance. Weekly and yearly plans are available. Payment is charged to your Apple ID and renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Cancel anytime in App Store settings. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EA5pFZEYKnE4eKi9wJ3ZkbLFaaN7axsINYfzjmjY-DU/edit?usp=sharing Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nBwhY139wu7Np32TH6vCzvOOq-Qvv5sVK9wkvh-ZjNE/edit?usp=sharing
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Planet Finder at Free against Celestial Simulation's $3.99. Celestial Simulation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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
Planet Finder is free to download; Celestial Simulation costs $3.99 up front. Planet Finder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Celestial Simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Celestial Simulation | Planet Finder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 4 days |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 88 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dung Le | Sahan Kara |
In-app purchases
Celestial Simulation
No in-app purchases
Planet Finder
- Pro Weekly$6.997 Days
- Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
Questions
Is Celestial Simulation free?
Is Planet Finder free?
Do Celestial Simulation or Planet Finder have ads?
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