What’s That In The Sky? 5 Apps To Try
- Jessie Desmond
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
If you have ever seen something in the sky and asked yourself “what’s that in the sky?” then you will know how frustrating it can be when you don’t know how to find out. Thanks to the advancement of technology and the abundance of satellites around the earth, it just takes an app (or 5).
Alaska Space has 5 suggested, free-to-use apps that you can put on your phone to help you answer the question: What’s that in the sky?
L to R: App logo, screenshot of Anchorage and Fairbanks air traffic, screenshot of Juneau, Sitka, and Whitehorse air traffic and cruise ships.
Air Traffic (android, iphone)
This app just gives you air traffic and cruise ship information. This is a great app with some very straightforward information. I have a screenshot showing the Anchorage and Fairbanks air traffic; another showing Juneau, Sitka, and Whitehorse air traffic and cruise ships.
Download from: Google Play or Apple iStore
L to R: Satellite Tracker logo, screenshot of the app.
Satellite Tracker (android, iphone)
This app tracks the International Space Station (ISS) for free. It does have a subscription to track satellites, which used to be free. If you are looking for the next ISS passing, perhaps for skywatching purposes, then this is a great app to have.
Download from: Google Play or Apple iStore
L to R: Star Walk 2 logo, what's in the sky interactive screenshot, "visible tonight" screenshot.
Star Walk 2 (android, iphone)
Star Walk 2 is a good way to learn about what is in the sky (stars, planets, etc), especially at night. This would be a very useful app for stargazing. There are some possible in-app purchases that can be made, but the free stuff outweighs the purchase options.
Download from: Google Play or Apple iStore
T-Minus (android soon, iphone)
This app tracks space launches from NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Rocket Lab, Roscosmos, Blue Origin, Arianespace, ISRO, and more. Soon they will have it available for android. Right now it's only for iphone.
Download from: Website or Apple iStore
L to R: Space Weather Live logo, screenshot of some solar activity, screenshot of some auroral activity.
Space Weather Live (android, iphone)
Space Weather Live provides information on auroral activity, solar wind, moon phase, solar activity, solar flares, coronal holes, and coronal mass ejections (CME). You can even read various reports. If you're looking to see or photograph the aurora, this is definitely the app you need.
Download from: Google Play or Apple iStore or Website
Hopefully these apps can help you figure out what is overhead. For those of you who want to know if there is a reliable UFO app, there isn't.
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