Let's learn how to use SkySafari, one of the most popular smart phone apps for astronomy. This is a powerful planetarium program in the palm of your hand! Point it at the sky to answer your questions, such as
- Q: "What's that bright star?" (A: Venus.)
- "Where can I find Saturn?"
- "Is that the constellation Scorpius?"
- "Is that group of stars the Big Dipper?" (A: No, it's the Pleiades.)
Please bring your phone or tablet to the meeting and follow along in this interactive program while we project the app on the big screen! We'll show you all you need to know to simply point your phone at the nights sky and identify the constellations, stars, and planets you're looking at. The basic version costs $4.99 and is available for Apple and Android devices, and I think it's one of the best astronomy accessories you can buy!
To learn more about the versions and which one to get, read our companion blog post, Smart Phone Apps for Astronomy.
And when the meeting starts, don't forget to not turn off your phone!