For quite some time, we could say that from the massification of mobile devices with Android operating system, people who love astronomy have managed to have at their disposal a wide variety of tools that allow them to see the sky in a different way.
Thanks to applications developed for Android, such as the well-known Star Map, Star Tracker, Sky View and Sky Map, amateur universe researchers have managed to have at their disposal some basic , but necessary tools, to be able to enjoy their maximum passion. , since in general these apps provide the necessary indications to be able to carry out searches for objects that are beyond the sky that we see every day. For this reason they are an indispensable complement for those who usually use telescopes.
The truth is that in the Android world we can always find tools that go further and exceed our expectations, and in the case of astronomy, there are some very interesting applications that incorporate virtual reality, with which we can enjoy the universe as if we were true astronauts.
If you are one of the astronomy lovers, we invite you to continue reading this article, where you can find some of the most outstanding applications on astronomy with virtual reality.
It should be noted that in all the cases of the apps that we mention below, the procedure is basically the same, that is, we have to install the application, run it and configure it to our liking, and then we can activate and deactivate the virtual reality mode when we want, and to be able to use this mode we must use virtual reality glasses, which can even be homemade.
A good option is to use Google’s cardboard model of glasses, which are basically a type of virtual reality viewer made of cardboard and used with any compatible phone. The cardboard virtual reality glasses from Google can be purchased or you can even download the map to make them yourself from this link .
Titans of Space
It is an application that offers us to carry out a guided tour of some stars and planets, and one of its great advantages is that it can be used with Google’s cardboard VR glasses model. It should be noted that the developers recommend using an Android phone that has NFC support.
In addition to being able to visualize stars, planets, moons, and other celestial objects, Titans of Space includes the possibility of listening to the sound of the universe in a totally dynamic way, since it changes according to the movements we make.
Within the options included in the app, we can use zoom to achieve a true depth of the virtual reality that surrounds us. At the same time, the tool has a complete dashboard that shows us information about what we are seeing.
If by using the sample guided tour included in the application we want to have more, we can always purchase the complete 50-minute trip with a voice-over narration that tells us about different aspects of the creation of the universe and space exploration. It is important to mention that the narration is in English, but includes subtitles.
If you are interested in trying this application, you can download it for free from this link .
StarTracker VR
According to the developers, this application is “the mobile planetarium in virtual reality”, and the truth is that when using it we observe that they are not so wrong since the truth is that StarTracker VR gives us the possibility of visualizing space not only as astronomers amateur but practically as astronauts.
The application makes use of a complete 3D map of the star field, and shows us a large number of nearby objects, of which we can also see their movements, and its improved virtual reality mode allows us to get closer to the stars, constellations, planets and messier objects as if we were about to touch them with our hands.
It should be noted that the visualization of all the objects can be done in different layers, that is, we can choose what we want to see, that is, for example only stars, or only planets, or only constellations. It also includes information boxes that are displayed next to each object, so that we can know what we are looking at.
With StarTracker Vr we can access to visualize the Sun, the Moon, the planets of the Solar System, more than 8000 stars visible to the naked eye, 88 constellations and more than 100 objects in the deep sky. It also includes geolocation by GPS.
If you are interested in this application, you can find it at this link .
The Moon, Mars, and comets
Depending on our interest in the universe, perhaps at some point, we will have many more concerns about a particular stellar object, and the truth is that in most cases it is usually the Moon, Mars, and some special mission that arouse the interest of most amateur astronomers.
If what we want is to be able to enjoy the planet Mars in virtual reality mode, one of the best options is the application called VR2Mars, which we can find at this link .
Basically it is a tool that allows us to descend on the Martian soil, punctually in the Valles Marineris and from there begin our visit to the red planet, where in addition to observing the extraterrestrial landscape, we are given information about what we are seeing .
Those who prefer the lunar landscape can enjoy it using the VR MoonWalk application, which is not really an astronomy tool, but rather a virtual reality game, where we must find a series of objects lost in the craters of the Luna and return them back to the lunar lander.
If you are interested, you can find this application and download it for free from this link .
Finally, an application for Android devices ideal for astronomy lovers is Rosetta and Philae VR, with which we can explore the Rosetta satellite, which in 2015 was sent to explore comet 67P by a space mission of the European Space Agency Rosetta .
In addition to being able to explore the satellite, we can also take a look at Comet 67P. Likewise, the application allows us to take Rosetta’s journey through the solar system to arrive and descend on Comet 67P, giving us a unique virtual reality experience.
You can download and install the application for free from this link .