Stellarium Mobile
A realistic planetarium for your phone that names the stars, planets and satellites you point it at
by Noctua Software Limited · listed Nov 2, 2026
Quick verdict
A polished, trustworthy star map that covers casual stargazing well for free, with a sensible upgrade path if you get more serious. Worth installing for anyone who looks up on clear nights.
Best for Beginners and hobbyists who want an accurate, easy sky map to identify what they see overhead
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Nov 2, 2026. How we review
Stellarium Mobile review
Stellarium Mobile turns your phone into a pocket planetarium. Hold it up to the sky and it labels the stars, constellations, planets, comets and satellites in that direction, including the International Space Station. You can also set any date, time or place to see how the sky looked or will look. It suits curious beginners, families on a clear night and hobbyists who want a quick reference before getting out a telescope.
Day to day it feels uncluttered. The sky fills the screen, the landscape and atmosphere change with sunrise and sunset, and tapping an object brings up its details. A red night mode keeps your eyes adjusted to the dark, and you can switch constellation artwork to see how other cultures grouped the stars. The free version covers casual stargazing, while the optional Stellarium Plus upgrade shows much fainter objects and adds features aimed at serious observers.
Why we picked it: It comes from the team behind the well-known Stellarium desktop planetarium, and the sky rendering is accurate and attractive without being hard to use.
Watch out for: Deep-sky depth and advanced observing tools sit behind the Plus upgrade, and phone compass accuracy can make point-at-the-sky mode drift.
What we like
- Point-and-identify mode for stars, planets and satellites
- Sky simulation for any date, time and location
- Red night mode to protect dark-adapted vision
- Constellation art from many sky cultures
- Clean interface that beginners can pick up quickly
What could be better
- Fainter objects and advanced observing tools require the Plus upgrade
- Sky alignment depends on your phone's compass and sensors
- Serious observers will outgrow the free catalogue
Questions about Stellarium Mobile
Is Stellarium Mobile free?
Yes, the app is free to download and use for everyday stargazing. An in-app purchase upgrades it to Stellarium Plus, which shows much fainter objects and unlocks advanced observing features.
Is it available on iPhone and Android?
Yes. It is on the App Store as Stellarium Mobile and on Google Play as Stellarium - Star Map, from the same developer.
Is this the same as the free Stellarium desktop program?
They are related but separate. The mobile app is made by Noctua Software, the team associated with the original Stellarium, and has its own design and paid upgrade, while the desktop version is free open-source software.
Can I use it while out in the dark away from town?
Yes, the red night mode is designed for observing outdoors. Basic sky viewing generally works without a connection, though satellite positions and some extras may need data to stay current.
From the developer: how Stellarium Mobile describes itself
Stellarium Mobile is a planetarium app that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars.
Identify stars, constellations, planets, comets, satellites (such as the ISS), and other deep sky objects in real time in the sky above you in just a few seconds, just by pointing the phone at the sky!
This astronomy application has an easy to use and minimalist user interface, that makes it one of the best astronomical applications for adults and children who want to explore the night sky.
Stellarium Mobile features:
• View an accurate night sky simulation of stars and planets for any date, time and location.
• Dive in a collection of many stars, nebulas, galaxies, star clusters and other deep sky objects.
• Zoom on realistic Milky Way and Deep Sky Objects images.
• Discover how people living in other regions of the planet see the stars by selecting the shapes and illustrations of the constellations for many sky cultures.
• Track artificial satellites, including the International Space Station.
• Simulate landscape and atmosphere with realistic sunrise, sunset and atmosphere refraction.
• Discover 3D rendering of the major solar system planets and their satellites.
• Observe the sky in night mode (red) to preserve your eyes adaptation to darkness.
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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