Satellite Safari App Reviews

This is a very interesting and visually appealing app. I could spend hours looking at the orbits of different satellites. The info button provides a wealth of information about every satellite. The interface is very similar to sky safari, so thats helpful. Two suggestions: a 24-hour clock option in addition to AM/PM, and let the user define how far in advance to set alerts, or at least include options for earlier alert times. I would like to know about visible ISS flyovers 24 hours in advance so I can plan to see them.

Best satellite tracker by a huge margin! But it has serious shortcomings and limitations in its notification controls (which for me, is over 90% of the apps role - and with most others too, Ill bet). It simply needs more robust and configurable alerts or its usefulness is limited even with a good and comprehensive data base. For example, the ability of a simple and general alert when the ISS is within visual range of a given location - each time - anytime. Not a only for one specific path or fly-by, once. Also, it would be nice if a category of Iridium flares be calculated and added, like other apps have done (and again, both specific and general notifications) with great results.

Great App! Easy to use and lots of info.

Makes finding satellites easy. Natural user interface and lots of info on many satellites and where they will be visible or useable for communications.

This app performs consistently with its excellent reviews in the Mac Observer and elsewhere. Presentation is good on iPhone and gorgeous on iPad. Can be used easily for basic functions without a lot of study but shines when some care is taken to learn the settings and controls. Highly recommended.

I am writing this review as a satellite observer and iPhone 4 user. Overall, I think it is very well done a provides most of what an observer is looking for in a mobile app. I would suggest a few improvements to make it a 5 star app. As others have mentioned, including Iridium flare events is a must. The satellite view is a useless diversion and having both orbit and ground track views is largely redundant. I would like to see the next 2 orbits of a satellite plotted in orbit view since only one satellite is plotted. In sky view, I would like to see tracks for all visible satellites as this would cue me in to watching for interesting conjunctions. I like being able to move forward and back in time, but would also like to be able to input a date and time. A couple of quirks noted: The slide bar for limiting magnitude is too sensitive and invariably changes value as I lift my finger from the screen. Would prefer a menu of magnitudes or just a keyboard to type a value in. In info view, satellite lat/long is immediately available and updating but can take 10 seconds before distance starts updating. Cant get alert notifications to work. Conclusion, good app and worth the money and hoping for further improvements.

As an avid amateur astronomer, Ive used the internet to predict when major satellites like the ISS would make a pass but have always craved knowing what other satellites were that passed in my eyepiece. Now, I can!! The interface is great and the myriad of views available are useful and entertaining. Good show!!!!

Neighborhood kids are about to wear it out! Gets used every day. Amazing to see how many satellites are out there, and to see all their positions update in near real time.

Real time updating of distance, speed, location etc. stops working after approx. 5 minutes. Only uninstall/reinstalling the app solves the issue....but a couple of minutes later the real time updating crashes again. App crashes on all our IPads (2nd + 3rd generation IOS 6 or 7). Really disappointing for a pay app and especially by the publisher of the reputed Sky Safari app.

You guys could add a little bit more special features with this app that would be so awesome and wonderful.

It always amazes me hope much "iron" we have put up around our planet. With this app you can actually track much of it. A wonderful tool for those of us who like to see "what that was", but also an app for any that wonder what satellites are and where they are . The main downer is the constant updating needed to keep the satellites up to date.

Another great product by southern stars!!!

I am tracking the Cygnus Sat. that contains the SkyCube (from Kickstarter). All the different views make it very easy to see where any satellite is at any time.

Intuitive and well thought out app.

My main gripe is that I wish it had more settings options, similar to sky safari pro. Id like to reduce the number of background stars and change the Milky Way overlay, among a few other details. Overall its a solid app though.

Already have the SkySafari big boy, but this one is just plain fun. Would like more options but this is still fascinating.

What would truly make this app awesome: 1. Smooth motion of satellites and tracking. 2. Show what the night time earth looks like. I believe you can see city lights from orbit, and if you cant, at least giving that option as an overlay to help give visual context in the orbit view. 3. If you have a photo of the satellite, then at least make the 3D model look somewhat like the original. Other than that it is truly great. If you didnt add these features, I would still be satisfied.

Needs to be able to see through a lens to see what it sees! Lame!

Downloaded it tonight to track the international space station and found it absolutely fascinating to see all the different satellites surrounding the earth. Tracks their position perfectly. All sorts of cool ways to view what is around me. Highly recommended.

This is easy to use and very informative.