I found an engaging app that has become a treasured guide and companion to the skies

Star Walk 2
(Image credit: Future)

I used to live in the city. I loved being connected to other people, to bus and train stations, and to all the amenities that cities provide. But there was one thing I didn’t like and it was that every time I looked up, all I could see was light pollution. Street lamps, office lights, and car lights all teamed together to stop me from enjoying the beautiful, majestic night sky. 

I was therefore glad when the day came for us to buy a new home, this time in the countryside. We are less connected but now, when I look up, I can see a wide array of stars and constellations. If I’m honest, though, I have no idea what I’m looking at half the time. I needed a companion – someone to talk me through what I saw. I needed an expert. Unfortunately, I lacked that in a person, but I found the next best thing, an app called Star Walk 2, which is free with ads.

The app has opened my eyes and expanded my understanding of what is out there. Did you know there is a constellation called Tucana that looks like the Toucan, a South American bird? No? Neither did I. With a plethora of information and interactive features, I’ve never experienced anything like it.

Homescreen heroes

This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn't live without. Read them all here.

The best thing about the Star Walk 2 app is the real-time interactive sky map that takes center stage in the app. By lifting up your phone to the sky and pointing it in any direction, it is possible to identify what you're looking at and locate constellations with ease. No more guessing which stars belong to which constellation.

This augmented reality (AR) feature is particularly useful for people who want to discover new sky objects. It’s tempting to only look at the same old things every time, but the AR feature enables you to move beyond that, finding new and exciting things you never knew about.

Star Walk 2

(Image credit: Future)

By enabling the app to know your location, Star Walk 2 can tell you what sky objects you can expect to see from where you are. It’ll then tell you what the best time is for observing those specific objects. Ursa Major (The Big Bear), was one of my favorite constellations growing up. This was therefore one of the first things I used the app to discover. The app helped me to understand not only when to look but also where to look. It wasn’t long before I was reliving my boyhood memories.

One of my other favorite features is the travel through-time functionality that lets users visualize the sky map at any date and time in the past or future, for any place on Earth. How incredible is that? Traveling back in time on the map lets you see how the stars have evolved and changed over time. 

Star Walk 2

(Image credit: Future)

I loved using the app to get me off the sofa and out exploring the night sky. I was less interested in studying more about it but I know many people will delve deeper. Star Walk 2 provides an expansive encyclopedia of the sky, which allows users to get extended information and learn curious facts about sky objects. To make the process more interesting, there are also photos and elaborate 3D models, which make the exploration process much more interactive.

Users of the encyclopedia will also love the astronomical news that is a key part of the app. When life is busy, it’s easy to forget that there is a whole galaxy of activity out there. The app helped keep me abreast of this, including an asteroid collision that the Webb telescope picked up. Our universe and the technology to discover it are truly amazing.

Star Walk 2

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve loved what the Star Walk 2 app has made possible. It has helped me slow down, get outside, and look up. As I’ve learned more, I’ve also been able to pass on my knowledge and experience to my children, opening their eyes to the wonder of the night sky. The magic in their eyes is something wonderful to behold.

Download the Star Walk 2 app on iOS or on Android

Freelance writer

Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. With a particular love of all things visual, including photography, videography, and 3D visualisation Paul is never far from a camera or other piece of tech that gets his creative juices going. You'll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine. 

Read more
A woman standing next to a telescope looking up at the moon
How to step up your stargazing game in 2025 on the cheap, according to space experts
Flightradar24
This flight app blew my mind and I’ll never underestimate the role of an air traffic controller ever again
Sleep as Android app
This Android app fixed my sleep routine in 2024 – here's how it could improve your shuteye this year
Flighty
This app made flying more fun and a lot less stressful – and I won't go anywhere without it
DailyArt
I’m not an art expert, but this app might turn me into one
Marathon app
This app is like Letterboxd for TV shows – and it's sorted my streaming plans for 2025
Latest in Websites & Apps
A mobile phone showing the Signal logo in front of a screen showing the app
Signalgate explained: what is Signal, and how secure is the messaging app?
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Friday, March 28 (game #1159)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, March 28 (game #390)
Google Maps on a phone being held in someone's hand
Google Maps is getting two key upgrades, for easier route planning and quicker access to Gemini AI
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, March 27 (game #1158)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, March 27 (game #389)
Latest in Features
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed Shadows has Max subscribers streaming the 2016 movie flop – here are 3 better video game adaptations with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
David Kampf #64 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms-up before playing the Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
ChatGPT and Gemini Deep Research helped me choose an NHL team to support, and now I'm obsessed with ice hockey
Context Windows
Why are AI context windows important?
A collage of a demasked Spider-Man, Captain Marvel staring into the camera, and Daredevil shouting
17 Marvel heroes I want to see added to the Avengers: Doomsday cast – Spider-Man, Ms Marvel, Wolverine, and more
BERT
What is BERT, and why should we care?
Google Gemini 2.5 and ChatGPT o3-mini
I pitted Gemini 2.5 Pro against ChatGPT o3-mini to find out which AI reasoning model is best