Night Sky Guide

Find planets, galaxies, nebulae, and deep space objects with Night Sky Guide, the essential field guide for amateur astronomers and stargazers. Whether you're tackling a Messier Marathon, completing an observing program, or simply enjoying an evening under the stars with your telescope, this app transforms how you explore the night sky.

Stop wasting time scrolling through endless lists. Night Sky Guide shows you in real time which deep space objects are above your location and exactly where to find them in the sky. With 1,570 catalogued objects—including all entries from the Pocket Sky Atlas, plus the complete Messier, Caldwell, and Herschel 400 lists—you'll have years of observing targets at your fingertips. The intuitive viewing list and flexible display options ensure you never miss that favorite galaxy or nebula you've been hunting for.

Every observing session becomes more productive with real-time altitude, azimuth, and rise/transit/set times calculated for your exact location. Search by object name or identifier, sort by visibility or other criteria, and prioritize your viewing order to maximize clear-sky nights. Constellation maps and page references for common sky atlases help you star hop your way around the constellations with confidence, whether you're using binoculars, a small telescope, or a large reflector.

Track your observing progress with the built-in observation log. Record which objects you've seen, export your logs, and watch your achievement grow as you work through the Messier list, tackle the Caldwell challenge, or push yourself with the demanding Herschel 400 program. The Astronomical League sponsors these official observing programs, and Night Sky Guide was designed specifically to help you successfully complete them all.

Customize your experience by using GPS to detect your location automatically, or manually define your own viewing locations for future sessions. Whether you're observing from your backyard, a dark-sky site, or traveling across the country, the app adapts to your needs.

Best of all, Night Sky Guide is completely free, ad-free, and open source. No hidden costs, no distracting ads, no locked features. Download Night Sky Guide today and spend less time planning and more time observing the wonders above.