Everyone knows about Google’s navigation software for mobile operating systems (OS) – Google Maps. The application is used to find landmarks, addresses, navigation, and just to view a city plan and determine the best route. Recently Google released their new offspring for the Android OS, namely the application called Google Sky Map. “What is it?” – You would ask, “and what does it do?” It is used to find objects … objects on the star map.
The application may be considered useful for amateur astronomers as well as for people who consider themselves to be romantics… And who want to surprise (or impress:)) their friends, fellow travelers, or a loved one, showing him/her constellations in the sky or just individual stars.
Let’s talk about the program itself – it is simple and ingenious. When launched, Google Sky Map uses the built-in GPS-receiver of your smartphone to determine your current location. Next? You can simply point to the stars or constellations of interest to you and find their names, locations and/or coordinates. All the parameters are calculated using the G-sensor based on your location. If you just want to find a star, constellation, or a planet, simply use the search function.
Menu is very simple and easy to use. When you tap the Menu button, you get an option to use the search, enable/disable the night mode (changesthe color scheme), change settings, and learn more about the application.
In the settings menu you can choose what objects will be displayed on the screen, namely, stars, constellations or planets. There is an alternative and easier way to enable or disable the displayed objects -while browsing the star sky simply double-tap on the screen to open the side menu. You can then choosewhat objects should be displayed.
In conclusion I want to say that this application is a new, creative idea, and a breakthrough in mobile maps. I recommend everyone to at least give it a try. Google Sky Map is available on the Android Market.
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