If there’s one thing a smartphone (or even better: the larger screen of a tablet) is suitable for, it’s ‘astronomy on the go’. Searching for stars, planets, comets and other spacecraft has never been so easy. Simply via an app like Redshift Sky.
The fact that smartphones (and partly tablets) come in so handy when ‘stargazing’ has everything to do with the built-in measuring equipment that such devices have on board these days. Think of a GPS for accurately determining your observation position. But a compass and inclinometers also come in handy. This allows you to let the starry sky move with you in real time. In fact, some astro apps have the option to overlay information over the visible objects via an AR layer. In real time, where the camera is used to show reality as a background layer. Redshift Sky is one such app that is definitely worth getting if you’re even remotely interested in astronomy. Or are you planning to delve into it; as long as you do that on your own, it’s also a Covid-safe hobby as a bonus.
Virtual tours
Redshift Sky is much more than ‘just’ a real-time star map, based on your position. It also features the option to zoom in on distant objects, which are then displayed in 3D. This allows you to take an accurate look at, for example, Mars or a distant star. The built-in tours through the universe come in handy. This way you can quickly visit a number of interesting objects. Start the app and tap the encircled planet at the bottom left of the screen. Then tap 3D flights. Then choose Spectacular views and flights and then big trip. In a few minutes you will dive deep into space via local planets in our own solar system. Keep in mind that no human being can actually make such a journey while alive. Not with the current state of technology, at least. Imagine yourself the commander of an intergalactic spaceship and enjoy. As you may have noticed, there are more themed tours available, ideal for when you have nothing to do. The only drawback of all that beauty is that because of the enormous ‘travel speed’ you don’t get a feeling of the vast infinity. But that’s the way it goes with technology: everything is getting faster and faster.
Adjust location
At the end of the Great Journey you will return to your starting point. That’s your point of view. If you move your smartphone or tablet around, you see the starry sky as it is actually seen. If you haven’t already been outside, now is the time to do so. In clear weather, of course and especially after sunset. By default, constellations and object names are shown. Your observation location can be adjusted in terms of the rendered environment (which is fake and not based on your real location). To do this, tap the gear in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, followed by a tap General settings and then Panorama. Choose an environment or go for a more business-scientific one-color subject, or none if necessary. In the latter case, you have to pay close attention to where the horizon is, to avoid looking for something that is just not visible. Under General settings you will find more useful options, take a look around. Auxiliary grids are selectable, for example, but the (sometimes somewhat irritating…) background music can also be switched off.
Updating and dark-friendly display
It is also important to update the sky data every now and then (especially after the first start of Redshift Sky). Tap the gear at the bottom right again and then Downloads. In principle, you can tap and update all items listed here. This also immediately provides some extra data, including live views of (known) satellites and space stations. Once you’ve started observing, you’ll probably soon discover that your eyes have to adjust over and over again from the bright screen of your smartphone or tablet to the night sky. The longer you look at the black, clear sky, the more your eyes become accustomed to the darkness and the more you see. That advantage is immediately negated by a glance at your device. Even completely adjusting the screen brightness is still too much of a good thing. Now your eyes are not very sensitive to red light. Tapping the gear at the bottom right and then Sky Display will bring up a switch called Night View. Turn this on, and preferably also the switch behind Dark night sky. Then also reduce the brightness of your phone or tablet screen. If you are now going to observe outside, you will not be bothered by the enormous differences in brightness between screen and sky.
Zoom in and request object info
Incidentally, the name of the app – Redshift – has nothing to do with that red display mode. The name comes from a physical phenomenon. Due to the enormous distances that light from extremely distant objects has to travel before it is visible here, the wavelength is stretched. This leads to a ‘redding’ of the colour, or a red shift. That aside, however. In any case, you can use the app to zoom in quite far on parts in the sky. Now you can see much more detail with binoculars than with the naked eye; zooming through on a star to get a detailed picture of it is not possible (and also not with the best telescopes in the world). Redshift Sky is a godsend in that regard: it teaches you much more in an instant than was possible with the best paper star map ever. You can zoom in by making a spreading movement on the star display. Or tap on an object and then on the rocket in the button bar that (usually) opens on it. You then ‘fly’ at lightning speed to the celestial body! You can return to your location by tapping the home button at the bottom right of the screen. For each object (and that also applies to satellites and the like, more information can be requested via the button bar and the book button. Not every object has information, but many do.
Control telescope
There is much, much more to say about Redshift Sky. But it’s actually much better to just get on with it. There is a good chance that this will lead to a lengthy voyage of discovery. If you really get the hang of it, then upgrading to the Ultimate Edition (less than €15 per year at the time of writing) is an option. This gives you access to even more information and the possibility to control suitable telescopes. This allows you to zoom in very quickly on an object. Redshift Sky is available for both iOS, iPadOS and Android; the Pro version costs less than a tenner.
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