There are tons of apps available across different platforms so it seems quite difficult to choose the best one. But as I personally use only android phone and a Windows PC so I don’t have much idea of apps of different platforms so I’ll recommend apps only for these platforms.
For Android:-
1. Nightshift: Stargazing & Astronomy by Waddensky Astronomy ( free)
This is the app that I use the most. It is both precise and accurate. It has most of the features that one need. It tells you the overall observing condition of a particular place and of particular time as well as the observing condition of a single object. You can even add your very own telescope/binoculars to get the observing condition of an object with it. It also informs you about the upcoming events.
However, there is one drawback that it does not show the visibility calculation of some of the objects with telescopes/binoculars. But still it is awesome!
2. S&T SkyWeek by Sky & Telescope Media, LLC (free)
This is another app that gives you a summary of ‘what’s up this week’. It gives you information about planets observing conditions. It also gives you a visual image of some of the weeks highlights that you can get by clicking it. This is a great application to have with no drawback that I can find other than a little slower speed for downloading data at times.
3. SkySafari – Astronomy App by Simulation Curriculum Corp. (free/paid)
This is a planetarium software which projects on your display the exact copy of the sky overhead. I found it the best in class planetarium app. I’ve used the free version and it just works awesome! However there are some features which are available only in paid versions but I never felt its need. However it all depends upon your own need.
4. Astronomy Picture of the Day by Sam Oakley (free)
As it is written in the description, “ Get the latest pictures from NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) service” it does bring the latest and most spectacular picture. Not only this, along with delivering the most fabulous pictures it also provides the information about them. It’s just awesome!
5. Heavens-Above by Heavens-Above (free)
This app is more focused on detection of satellites, especially, Iridium satellites. It gives you an estimated time and magnitude of most of the satellites passes overhead. Nice to have it.
6. ISS Detector Satellite Tracker by RunaR (free)
This is another satellite detecting app and very much similar to Heavens-Above.
7. Sky Events by Axl Softs (free)
This is also an astronomy event telling app but differ very much from SkyWeek. It is also another great app to have as it tells you about almost all future astronomy events.
For Windows:-
1. Stellarium (free) (also available for android(paid))
It is a free planetarium software that is the best in class for windows. There is no better alternative to this and plus it’s free. So you should download it right now!
2. Celestia (free)
It is a 3d planetarium cum space exploration software that you can get for free.
3. Astroplanner (free)
It is observation planning software that can really come in handy while planning observing sessions.
So these are some apps that I use and will suggest you to download. There are plenty more alternatives that you can download but these are that I found awesome. If you know some other great apps then do tell me about them.
Astronomy in life 