Most of you have never seen the sky. Not really. If you live in a city or suburb, a pale blue or grey dome looms overhead while the Sun is up, and a darkish brown curtain hangs down at night, with maybe a few sparks of light poking through here and there if the clouds haven’t gathered and the glare from buildings and cars and billboards isn’t overwhelming. The Sun and the Moon are unmistakable of course, but the spattering of stars you glimpse are probably strangers to you. Some of them might even be planets – for most people, it’s hard to tell the difference.
All of this is about to change. You have in your hands an extraordinary tool for revealing not just new worlds, but the entire universe. The night sky is an incredible wonderland of diverse and spectacular objects and phenomena. Some of these breathtaking sights are created by tiny particles that ply the fringes of our atmosphere. Others are immense, ancient structures, incomprehensibly far away.
TheSky will bring all of these amazing marvels and more to your mobile device. It will help you learn the fundamentals of astronomy, the most ancient science, and teach you how to recognize just about everything in the real sky. Whether you’re looking up from the streets of a light-polluted city, or taking in the view from a remote, pitch-black mountaintop, TheSky will help you understand what you see and find what you’re looking for.
You’ll also enjoy experiences that are only possible through the magic of simulation and virtual-reality programming. Faster-than-light flights through the solar system, out-of-this-world views of the Earth and Moon, and the orbital tracks of satellites are just some of the features built into TheSky. Trips through space and time that were once possible only in the imagination will be vividly brought to life.
TheSky has something to offer everyone, from the absolute beginner to the most knowledgeable amateur astronomer. This User Guide will help you navigate the basic features and tools our unique app has to offer.
The sky is waiting for you. Let’s get started!