Mobile Observatory - Astronomy

Mobile Observatory — the astronomy app with real topographic horizon data.

See exactly when and where celestial objects rise above your local hills and mountains. Mobile Observatory uses NASA elevation data to compute your actual horizon profile — making it the only astronomy app that shows true rise and set times for your exact location. Perfect for astrophotographers planning the ideal shot of the Moon rising behind a mountain ridge.

★ WHAT MAKES THIS APP UNIQUE ★

REAL TOPOGRAPHIC HORIZON

Other apps assume a flat horizon. Mobile Observatory downloads NASA SRTM elevation data and renders a photorealistic 3D terrain profile for any location on Earth. All rise and set times are computed against your actual landscape — not a theoretical flat line. Astrophotographers and serious observers rely on this for precision planning.

PHOTOREALISTIC SKY RENDERING

The only Android app simulating true Rayleigh and Mie atmospheric scattering. Watch the sky transition from deep blue to golden hour to astronomical twilight — exactly as it appears in reality. Stunning time-lapse animations show celestial motion across a physically accurate sky.

★ NEVER MISS AN EVENT ★

• Aurora alerts when geomagnetic activity spikes at your location

• Solar flare notifications from real-time GOES X-ray satellite data

• ISS visibility alerts with brightness and trajectory predictions

• Daily astronomical event reminders — conjunctions, eclipses, meteor showers

• Push events directly to your calendar

★ INTELLIGENT OBSERVING PLANNER ★

The built-in Observing Plan Generator creates personalized target lists based on your equipment (naked eye, binoculars, or telescope), location, date, light pollution level, and minimum altitude. One tap generates the best objects for tonight — no experience required.

★ DAILY UPDATED CATALOGS ★

• 60,000+ minor planets with daily orbital element updates

• 1,000+ comets with observed light curves from the Minor Planet Center

• All active satellites including ISS and Starlink with pass predictions

• Real-time solar images and X-ray flux data from NASA SDO and GOES

• Variable star light curves and eclipsing binary predictions

★ TELESCOPE CONTROL ★

Connect directly to your computerized telescope via LX200, NexStar, or INDI protocol. Browse objects in the app and send GoTo commands — seamlessly integrated with the Observing Plan Generator.

★ COMPREHENSIVE FEATURE SET ★

• Photorealistic sky view with 45,000 stars (2.5 million with download)

• Augmented reality mode with live camera overlay

• Interactive 3D Solar System and VR/Cardboard support

• Complete deep sky catalogs: Messier, NGC, Caldwell, Hidden Treasures

• Solar and lunar eclipse predictions with worldwide visibility maps

• Galilean moon positions and Saturn moon tracking

• Live space weather dashboard with aurora forecast

• Home screen widgets and night mode

★ FREE VERSION ★

Explore the photorealistic sky view, check rise/set times for Sun, Moon, and planets, view Moon phases, and browse basic object data — all for free. Upgrade to Premium to unlock the full observatory: satellite tracking, deep sky catalogs, push notifications, telescope control, the Observing Plan Generator, and much more.

Trusted by astronomers, astrophotographers, and stargazers since 2011. Continuously updated with new features and data.

Learn more at https://zima.co