The Stellarium Crash Course

The Great Hunt (Using Apps to Find Planets)

Goal: Turn Your Smartphone into a Digital Star Map.

Telling you that your Koolpte 80600 can see Jupiter is one thing; actually finding it in the vast night sky is another. In this module, we will bridge that gap. Watch the videos above, download a free stargazing app, and let’s go hunting.

The Stellarium Crash Course

Before we look through the telescope, we need a map. We highly recommend downloading Stellarium (or SkySafari), a free and incredibly powerful planetarium app for your phone.

Here is how to use it in 3 easy steps:

1. Download and Open: Install Stellarium and allow it to access your location. This ensures the digital sky matches the real sky above your backyard.

2. Activate Sensor Mode (AR): Tap the compass icon on your screen. Now, when you physically move your phone around and point it at the sky, the star map on your screen will move with you in real-time.

3. Use the Search Function: Tap the magnifying glass icon and type in "Jupiter" or "Saturn". The app will draw a massive arrow on your screen. Simply move your phone in the direction of the arrow until the planet appears on your screen.

< Mentor's Pro Tip: The Figure-8 Trick > Is the app's compass lagging or pointing in the wrong direction? Your phone's internal compass might be confused. Hold your phone and wave it in the air in a "Figure-8" motion for a few seconds to recalibrate it.