What it does
Stellarium Mobile turns your phone into a powerful, pocket-sized planetarium. By pointing the device at the sky, it identifies and provides detailed information on stars, constellations, planets, comets, satellites, and other deep sky objects. The app is designed for both curious beginners and amateur astronomers, offering a rich map of the cosmos from any location on Earth.
Where it shines
Stellarium excels by prioritizing exploration over hand-holding. It drops the user directly into the star map, providing immediate value. Its monetization is cleverly contextual. The paywall only appears when a user tries to access a premium feature like the "Atmosphere" controls (00:37), making the upgrade feel like a natural next step rather than an interruption. The depth of information is another highlight. Tapping any object, like the Pegasus constellation (01:54), brings up a detailed panel with astronomical data, mythology, and visibility charts, all without leaving the main map view.
UX highlights
- Contextual Menus: A long press on the screen (00:17) reveals a radial menu with core display settings, offering quick access to controls like constellations and labels without cluttering the interface.
- Night Mode: A simple tap (01:35) toggles a red-light mode, a critical feature that preserves night vision for users who are actively stargazing outdoors.
- Powerful Search and Filtering: The app's search functionality includes robust filtering options (03:40). Users can filter by object type or even the instrument required for viewing, such as "Binoculars" or "Telescope," turning the app into a practical planning tool.
- Interactive 3D Models: The ability to switch from the 2D star map to an interactive 3D model of planets like Saturn (04:48) provides an immersive and educational experience that makes astronomical concepts more tangible.
- Sky Culture Customization: The app includes various cultural interpretations of constellations, such as the Sardinian sky culture (05:28), adding a layer of historical and anthropological depth.
- Event Calendar: A dedicated calendar (06:14) lists upcoming astronomical events, satellite passes, and solar system phenomena, making it easy for users to plan their observation sessions.
Monetization & growth
The app uses a 'freemium' model with a contextual paywall. Core features are free, but advanced capabilities trigger an upgrade prompt. The paywall itself is well-designed, featuring a carousel of benefits (00:40) and offering a dual monetization strategy. Users can choose between a subscription with a 7-day free trial or a one-time lifetime purchase (00:41). This approach caters to different user preferences and likely maximizes conversion by capturing both subscription-averse and trial-oriented users.
Who it’s for
Stellarium is for anyone with an interest in the night sky. This includes students learning about astronomy, hobbyist stargazers planning their next observation, and families looking for an educational activity. Its intuitive interface makes it accessible to beginners, while its vast database and advanced tools like telescope control appeal to more seasoned amateur astronomers.
Notes & opportunities
While powerful, the sheer number of options tucked away in menus could be daunting for a first-time user. A brief, optional tutorial or a series of contextual tooltips on first launch could improve discoverability. The multi-layered menu system, requiring several taps to access settings like "Landscape" or "Sky Cultures," could be streamlined, perhaps by consolidating more options into the main radial menu or a more organized settings panel.