Distant Suns 5
$3.99
5.0.3for iPhone, iPad and more
8.5
93 Ratings
Mike Smithwick
Developer
684.9 MB
Size
Apr 14, 2021
Update Date
Education
Category
4+
Age Rating
Age Rating
Distant Suns 5 Screenshots
About Distant Suns 5
Distant Suns: The night sky, reimagined.
2013 finalist in the Family category of TabTimes' best tablet app contest;
"I am putting together some mobile astronomy apps for our local "Sky's the Limit" Observatory in Twentynine Palms, CA. I have been searching for something as good as, or better than, Distant Suns. Short answer: I have not found it yet. ...nothing portrays the night sky as well as Distant Suns.
Distant Suns has been your personal guide to the cosmos since 1985. First on the desktop, now right in your hands. While others play games, you can travel to the stars.
Award-winning Distant Suns has the reputation of both having one of the most realistic displays of the night sky, while being one of the easiest to use astronomy apps for casual sky watchers as well as serious astronomers.
•Named in the "100 Essential Apps" by iLounge
•Featured on NPR's MarketPlace
Features include:
•No Internet required. Just a sense of wonder.
•View from the Earth or out in the solar system
•Simply aim and gaze.
•Over 18 million pinpoint stars scintillating like diamond dust in the palm of your hand (18 mil? Yup.)
•Integrated with NASA's Night Sky Network space events in your area (US only at present)
•What's Up? Gives a quick one snapshot overview of the evening's sky
•Realistic ghostly band of the Milky Way
•Stories behind each constellation
•Viewpoint Lock keeps any object centered
•Current weather patterns on the earth, updated daily
•Change the look of the stars
•Galaxies, nebula and star clusters
•Hubble Space Telescope images
•All 8 planets (or 9 for you purists)
•GPS aware
•Special color mode preserves your night vision.
•Touch the sky to reveal hidden data for each object
•Planetary data and information
First Light is a proud member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers with family-friendly apps.
Twitter: @distantsuns
Support: www.distantsuns.com
2013 finalist in the Family category of TabTimes' best tablet app contest;
"I am putting together some mobile astronomy apps for our local "Sky's the Limit" Observatory in Twentynine Palms, CA. I have been searching for something as good as, or better than, Distant Suns. Short answer: I have not found it yet. ...nothing portrays the night sky as well as Distant Suns.
Distant Suns has been your personal guide to the cosmos since 1985. First on the desktop, now right in your hands. While others play games, you can travel to the stars.
Award-winning Distant Suns has the reputation of both having one of the most realistic displays of the night sky, while being one of the easiest to use astronomy apps for casual sky watchers as well as serious astronomers.
•Named in the "100 Essential Apps" by iLounge
•Featured on NPR's MarketPlace
Features include:
•No Internet required. Just a sense of wonder.
•View from the Earth or out in the solar system
•Simply aim and gaze.
•Over 18 million pinpoint stars scintillating like diamond dust in the palm of your hand (18 mil? Yup.)
•Integrated with NASA's Night Sky Network space events in your area (US only at present)
•What's Up? Gives a quick one snapshot overview of the evening's sky
•Realistic ghostly band of the Milky Way
•Stories behind each constellation
•Viewpoint Lock keeps any object centered
•Current weather patterns on the earth, updated daily
•Change the look of the stars
•Galaxies, nebula and star clusters
•Hubble Space Telescope images
•All 8 planets (or 9 for you purists)
•GPS aware
•Special color mode preserves your night vision.
•Touch the sky to reveal hidden data for each object
•Planetary data and information
First Light is a proud member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers with family-friendly apps.
Twitter: @distantsuns
Support: www.distantsuns.com
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What's New in the Latest Version 5.0.3
Last updated on Apr 14, 2021
Old Versions
* Has a higher resolution texture for the moon
* Constellations now have boundaries
* Add a small WhatsUp? Type display, "overview"
* Updated the Milky Way image
* of course there are the usual bugs dealt with.
* Constellations now have boundaries
* Add a small WhatsUp? Type display, "overview"
* Updated the Milky Way image
* of course there are the usual bugs dealt with.
Show More
Version History
5.0.3
Apr 14, 2021
* Has a higher resolution texture for the moon
* Constellations now have boundaries
* Add a small WhatsUp? Type display, "overview"
* Updated the Milky Way image
* of course there are the usual bugs dealt with.
* Constellations now have boundaries
* Add a small WhatsUp? Type display, "overview"
* Updated the Milky Way image
* of course there are the usual bugs dealt with.
5.0.2
May 29, 2020
* Added a new feature in Extra preferences, to use the compass just for heading, leaving the elevation manual. That can make it easier to follow objects high in the sky without having to hold the iPad/iPhone over your head
* Removed the "Boing" menu item
* Made the momentum swipe a little smoother.
* The local horizon with cardinal points defaults on for new installs
* Dimmed the compass rose a little and made it a bit smaller from a user request
* The Events display will now show only local events and not those from across the country
* Fixed a bug in star preferences that could cause a crash.
* The local events feature should now show only those events near you, and not all across the country
* Numerous other small bugs and feature tweaks
* Removed the "Boing" menu item
* Made the momentum swipe a little smoother.
* The local horizon with cardinal points defaults on for new installs
* Dimmed the compass rose a little and made it a bit smaller from a user request
* The Events display will now show only local events and not those from across the country
* Fixed a bug in star preferences that could cause a crash.
* The local events feature should now show only those events near you, and not all across the country
* Numerous other small bugs and feature tweaks
5.0.1
Oct 12, 2019
● Added locations of all spacecraft that have landed or crashed on the moon.
● Added labels for the lower button bar
● Fixed a crash relating to iOS13
● Added labels for the lower button bar
● Fixed a crash relating to iOS13
5.0.0
Feb 15, 2019
Completely rewritten
●New modern UI for iPad
●18 million stars (no in-app purchase required)
●Names of lunar details
●Cloud-sync your favorites among different devices
●Over 7500 deep-sky objects
●Atmospheric effects
●Highlight multiple objects at once
●Travel to the planets in virtual-reality
●Lock on any objects in the sky
●Chart mode views the sky without local distortion
●Improved night-vision mode
●From Zero-to-Wow in a single click
●New modern UI for iPad
●18 million stars (no in-app purchase required)
●Names of lunar details
●Cloud-sync your favorites among different devices
●Over 7500 deep-sky objects
●Atmospheric effects
●Highlight multiple objects at once
●Travel to the planets in virtual-reality
●Lock on any objects in the sky
●Chart mode views the sky without local distortion
●Improved night-vision mode
●From Zero-to-Wow in a single click
3.4.16
Oct 8, 2017
● Fixed some issues due to iOS 11 changes that could have caused app exits
● Made some mods under the hood for the next major release
● Made some mods under the hood for the next major release
3.4.14
Jul 13, 2015
•Now shows where each the Keck telescopes are pointing in real-time
•Twitter account no longer needed
•Twitter account no longer needed
3.4.13
Mar 6, 2015
•Added support for the iPhone 6+ native screen resolution
•64-bit support
•Updated textures for several of Saturn's moons
•Fixed the usual "misunderstood features" (bugs), typos and the like
•64-bit support
•Updated textures for several of Saturn's moons
•Fixed the usual "misunderstood features" (bugs), typos and the like
3.4.12
Nov 25, 2014
● Fixed a bug that could prevent the Hubble Guide Star Catalog from showing in some special cases
● Fixed a number of dialog and GPS issues generated by iOS8.
● Fixed a number of dialog and GPS issues generated by iOS8.
3.4.11
Oct 22, 2014
● In cooperation with the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, added displays to show the current status of Keck's two massive telescopes.
● Reworked the toolbar making it less complex by combining all of the Find tasks under a single button.
● Did extensive internal modifications to support future expansion and products
● Reworked the toolbar making it less complex by combining all of the Find tasks under a single button.
● Did extensive internal modifications to support future expansion and products
3.4.10
May 22, 2014
● Lens flare now turns off when "Clear" is on.
● Fixed an issue with the new in-app purchase item
● Fixed an issue with the new in-app purchase item
3.4.9
May 5, 2014
• Support for the 17 million star Hubble Guide Star Catalog
• The tumblers for setting date/time/location now match the color-scheme
• A new Inbox to handle important messages about upcoming events and contests
• The compass should feel more responsive
• Astronomy's RSS feed on the iPhone should now display the proper articles when selected
• The screen now updates 1/second instead of once a minute
• The clock strip now opens and retracts along with the status and toolbars, so its button has been removed.
• The preference button has been changed to use a standard gear icon
• Lots of under-the-hood stuff for future major updates.
• The tumblers for setting date/time/location now match the color-scheme
• A new Inbox to handle important messages about upcoming events and contests
• The compass should feel more responsive
• Astronomy's RSS feed on the iPhone should now display the proper articles when selected
• The screen now updates 1/second instead of once a minute
• The clock strip now opens and retracts along with the status and toolbars, so its button has been removed.
• The preference button has been changed to use a standard gear icon
• Lots of under-the-hood stuff for future major updates.
3.4.8
Nov 11, 2013
● Improved the comet visuals
● Labels for Phobos and Deimos will no longer show up on field-of-view>85 degrees when viewed from Earth.
● Addressed a stability issue when the Region Format is set to something other than English speaking countries.
● Labels for Phobos and Deimos will no longer show up on field-of-view>85 degrees when viewed from Earth.
● Addressed a stability issue when the Region Format is set to something other than English speaking countries.
3.4.7
Oct 30, 2013
● Fixed a couple of issues that could cause crashes on iOS6
3.4.6
Oct 19, 2013
• Added Comet ISON
• Added a new and much simpler tutorial, getting rid the QuickStart
• The ticker should now resume ticking when coming out of background
• The asterism selector now handles landscape mode
• Added a new and much simpler tutorial, getting rid the QuickStart
• The ticker should now resume ticking when coming out of background
• The asterism selector now handles landscape mode
3.4.4
Jun 6, 2013
● Show your position to other users on the Earth globe using Beacons.
● Get breaking space and astronomy news alerts even when Distant Suns is not running
● New interactive help system
● Numerous smaller cosmetic enhancements
● Numerous UI enhancements
● Numerous bug fixes with SETI, Spaceflight mode navigation
● Get breaking space and astronomy news alerts even when Distant Suns is not running
● New interactive help system
● Numerous smaller cosmetic enhancements
● Numerous UI enhancements
● Numerous bug fixes with SETI, Spaceflight mode navigation
3.4.3
Mar 1, 2013
●Now fully iPhone 5 compliant
●Added tracking of Comet Pan-STARRS
●Cloud patterns on the Earth now update every 3 hours instead of once a day
●The toolbar buttons should be much easier to hit
●Some outstanding issues in landscape mode have been addressed
●The news ticker will now continue when coming out of background
●Restored some of the missing SETI meta-data, as the SETI archive site changed nearly everything with no warning, breaking nearly everything on DS. Meh.
●Added to preferences: Hide status when hiding toolbar. This completely hides the top status bar whereas the date/look angle strip is normally visible.
●Fixed an alignment issue with the Milky-way
●Added a small green compass icon in the upper right corner when the compass is on
●Lock is now automatically disengaged when trying to drag the window
●Fixed a number of landscape and night vision issues
●Fixed a number of issues with the coloring of different elements
●Tapping on an element in Astronomy’s RSS feed will no longer launch two instances of the browser
●Changed the show-toolbar button from a ball to an up-caret: ^, as that is more easily seen
●Reorganized the data in the on screen pick data
●The status bar will now show the look angle on the iPhone when in landscape
●And many other smaller UI changes and tweaks have been made
●Added tracking of Comet Pan-STARRS
●Cloud patterns on the Earth now update every 3 hours instead of once a day
●The toolbar buttons should be much easier to hit
●Some outstanding issues in landscape mode have been addressed
●The news ticker will now continue when coming out of background
●Restored some of the missing SETI meta-data, as the SETI archive site changed nearly everything with no warning, breaking nearly everything on DS. Meh.
●Added to preferences: Hide status when hiding toolbar. This completely hides the top status bar whereas the date/look angle strip is normally visible.
●Fixed an alignment issue with the Milky-way
●Added a small green compass icon in the upper right corner when the compass is on
●Lock is now automatically disengaged when trying to drag the window
●Fixed a number of landscape and night vision issues
●Fixed a number of issues with the coloring of different elements
●Tapping on an element in Astronomy’s RSS feed will no longer launch two instances of the browser
●Changed the show-toolbar button from a ball to an up-caret: ^, as that is more easily seen
●Reorganized the data in the on screen pick data
●The status bar will now show the look angle on the iPhone when in landscape
●And many other smaller UI changes and tweaks have been made
3.4.2
Nov 15, 2012
•Astronomy Magazine Newsticker shows up-to-date space & astronomy news
•Tweaked up some UI bits for the iPad mini
•Fixed a problem with the GPS that would cause it to use the default location of Silicon Valley.
•Tweaked up some UI bits for the iPad mini
•Fixed a problem with the GPS that would cause it to use the default location of Silicon Valley.
3.4.1
Sep 28, 2012
* Added support for SETI Intistute's search of exo-solar systems
3.4.0
Sep 26, 2012
•Real-time SETI feeds showing where the SETI Institute's antenna arrays are pointing
•Tag the stars with distances, magnitudes and various identifiers
•New Milky Way image
•Addressed many small issues and requests
•Tag the stars with distances, magnitudes and various identifiers
•New Milky Way image
•Addressed many small issues and requests
3.3.3
Jun 2, 2012
* Added several new lens-flare styles
* Deep-sky wonders are now displayed as glyphs, instead of points
* Increased the accuracy of the moon's location so eclipses can be more readily simulated.
* Increased performance on the 3rd generation iPad
* Numerous bug fixes
* Deep-sky wonders are now displayed as glyphs, instead of points
* Increased the accuracy of the moon's location so eclipses can be more readily simulated.
* Increased performance on the 3rd generation iPad
* Numerous bug fixes
3.3.2
Mar 25, 2012
3.3.2
* Fixed one button that wasn't sized correctly for the new iPad's retina display
* Other smaller cosmetic tweaks for the same reason
* Venus should now show the correct phase at all times
* Fixed a crash in the time strip when scrolling through the end of a Leap Year.
3.3.1
* Increased the Night Sky Network range to 300 miles fixing an issue for users in sparsely populated areas.
* Toolbar supports double-sized icons for the iPad HD.
3.3.0
* See all of the astronomical activities in your area using NASA's Night Sky Network. (US only)
* Increased the performance up to 100%
* Lens flares add a more photographic quality to the imagery
* Dozens of UI enhancements and performance tweaks
* Fixed one button that wasn't sized correctly for the new iPad's retina display
* Other smaller cosmetic tweaks for the same reason
* Venus should now show the correct phase at all times
* Fixed a crash in the time strip when scrolling through the end of a Leap Year.
3.3.1
* Increased the Night Sky Network range to 300 miles fixing an issue for users in sparsely populated areas.
* Toolbar supports double-sized icons for the iPad HD.
3.3.0
* See all of the astronomical activities in your area using NASA's Night Sky Network. (US only)
* Increased the performance up to 100%
* Lens flares add a more photographic quality to the imagery
* Dozens of UI enhancements and performance tweaks
3.3.1
Mar 14, 2012
3.3.2
* Fixed one button that wasn't sized correctly for the new iPad's retina display
* Other smaller cosmetic tweaks for the same reason
* Venus should now show the correct phase at all times
* Fixed a crash in the time strip when scrolling through the end of a Leap Year.
3.3.1
* Increased the Night Sky Network range to 300 miles fixing an issue for users in sparsely populated areas.
* Toolbar supports double-sized icons for the iPad HD.
3.3.0
* See all of the astronomical activities in your area using NASA's Night Sky Network. (US only)
* Increased the performance up to 100%
* Lens flares add a more photographic quality to the imagery
* Dozens of UI enhancements and performance tweaks
* Fixed one button that wasn't sized correctly for the new iPad's retina display
* Other smaller cosmetic tweaks for the same reason
* Venus should now show the correct phase at all times
* Fixed a crash in the time strip when scrolling through the end of a Leap Year.
3.3.1
* Increased the Night Sky Network range to 300 miles fixing an issue for users in sparsely populated areas.
* Toolbar supports double-sized icons for the iPad HD.
3.3.0
* See all of the astronomical activities in your area using NASA's Night Sky Network. (US only)
* Increased the performance up to 100%
* Lens flares add a more photographic quality to the imagery
* Dozens of UI enhancements and performance tweaks
3.3.0
Mar 5, 2012
* See all of the astronomical activities in your area using NASA's Night Sky Network. (US only)
* Increased the performance up to 100%
* Lens flares add a more photographic quality to the imagery
* Dozens of UI enhancements and performance tweaks
* Increased the performance up to 100%
* Lens flares add a more photographic quality to the imagery
* Dozens of UI enhancements and performance tweaks
3.2.2
Sep 27, 2011
* Fixed some small UI bugs
* Changed some artwork
* Disabled the real-time cloud data due to new restrictions from the data supplier.
* Changed some artwork
* Disabled the real-time cloud data due to new restrictions from the data supplier.
3.2.1
May 19, 2011
* Twilight Planner now works with the iPad 2 camera
* Fixed some issues with pre-iOS4 devices
* Added date/time to the Whats Up? Screen
* Fixed some typos and made a few UI tweaks
* Fixed some issues with pre-iOS4 devices
* Added date/time to the Whats Up? Screen
* Fixed some typos and made a few UI tweaks
Distant Suns 5 FAQ
Click here to learn how to download Distant Suns 5 in restricted country or region.
Check the following list to see the minimum requirements of Distant Suns 5.
iPhone
Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
iPad
Requires iPadOS 13.0 or later.
iPod touch
Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
Distant Suns 5 supports English
Distant Suns 5 contains in-app purchases. Please check the pricing plan as below:
Hubble Guide Star Catalog
$0.99
