We may be cloaked in darkness, but on longer nights there's more opportunity to enjoy a sky full of stars. Taking a moment to look up and discover something bigger and brighter than us can be humbling. And what better time than Christmas to contemplate our place in the universe?
There are plenty of apps designed to help you get more out of your stargazing experience.
Night Sky Tools
The winning feature of this app is that it’s almost self-contained, most of its functions don’t need an internet connection. Perfect for when you’re venturing into the wilderness.
Sky map
Day or night, just point your phone at the sky and this clever app will reveal the location of constellations and planets, even those you won’t be able to see over the horizon.
The Night Sky Lite
As the name implies, this is a more basic app, perfect for beginners.
Star Chart
With more than 13 million users, this is one of the best apps for identifying stars.
Moon Atlas
You can always see the moon, so this app will make sure you can still learn, even on an overcast night in the city. Mars, Mercury, Venus and Saturn atlases are also available.
Brian Cox’s Wonders of the Universe
Professor Brian Cox continues his quest to bring astronomy to the masses with this fascinating app.