Object Info Help

The Object Info view shows a variety of information about the selected object. It also contains English-language description and images of several hundred of the brightest and best-known objects in the sky. Swipe the Object Info view left to see the object data; swipe right to return to the description.

Object Data

The exact information displayed depends upon the type of object you have selected. At a minimum, SkySafari displays:

• Names - the object's proper name, and any alternate names by which it is commonly known.
• Catalog Numbers - the object's numerical designation(s) in the catalogs of stars and deep sky objects.
• Description - the type of the object, and the constellation that it appears in.
• Apparent Size or Separation - how large the object appears in the sky, measured in arcminutes (') or arcseconds (").
• Visual Magnitude - how bright the object appears in the sky; smaller numbers imply a brighter object.
• Distance - the distance to the object, if it is known.
• RA and Dec - the object's Right Ascension and Declination in the Equatorial coordinate system.
• Azimuth and Altitude - the object's current position in the local Horizon coordinate system.
• Rise and Set Times - when the object appears on the horizon for the current local day.
• Transit Time - when the object crosses the meridian and appears highest in the sky.

Other Controls

Along the top of the Object Info view you might see two buttons:

• Audio Tour - provides an audio narration to learn the history, mythology, and science of the object. (SkySafari Plus/Pro or Cosmos Collection in-app purchase)
• Pronounce - helps you learn how to correctly pronounce the names of hundreds of celestial objects. (Cosmos Collection in-app purchase)

Along the bottom of the Object Info view are other buttons:

• Center - centers the object in the sky chart.
• Orbit - lets you leave Earth and orbit the object, if it's a solar system object. (SkySafari Plus/Pro only)
• GoTo and Align - If connected to a GoTo telescope, lets you slew or align on the object.
• Galaxy View - visualize the 3-D location of the object in the Milky Way. (SkySafari Plus/Pro only)
• More - Add to observing list, log observation, download DSS image, etc.