Report updated Apr 3, 2026
Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer
v1.2.4Amateur astronomers, night sky photographers, and stargazing enthusiasts who need data-driven planning tools to optimize their observation sessions.
What Is Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer?
Launched Sep 19, 2013
Updated Mar 2018
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
A proprietary hourly index that calculates optimal stargazing conditions based on weather, light pollution, moon phase, and visibility of celestial objects.
Seamlessly pairs with Star Walk 2 to visualize celestial objects and track their paths across the night sky.
Apple Watch extension provides real-time notifications for events like ISS flybys and Iridium flares.
Provides detailed reports and trajectory data for the Sun, Moon, planets, and the ISS for the week ahead.
Customizes astronomical data and weather reports based on the user's specific geographic location.
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
Gathering public signals...
Sentiment analysis will be available once enough user reviews are collected.
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Proprietary Stargazing Index simplifies decision-making
- Strong ecosystem integration with Star Walk 2
- High historical user rating (4.6 stars)
- Effective Apple Watch utility for real-time alerts
Cons
- No app updates since March 2018
- iOS exclusive; no Android presence
- Lack of direct monetization or 'Pro' features
- Potential for data inaccuracies due to aging API integrations
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- Modernize UI/UX to meet current design standards
- Expand to Android to capture a wider audience
- Integrate with smart telescope hardware (e.g., Unistellar, Seestar)
- Introduce premium 'seeing' and 'transparency' data for professional astronomers
Market Threats
- Astrospheric dominating the professional-grade planning niche
- Planetarium apps (Sky Guide, Stellarium) absorbing planning features
- App Store removal risk due to lack of maintenance
- New automated telescope apps providing built-in planning tools
Who competes with Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer?
The Nemesis
Astrospheric
Daniel Fiordalis
The most direct rival for professional-grade astronomical weather, transparency, and seeing forecasts used for planning observations.
The most direct rival for professional-grade astronomical weather, transparency, and seeing forecasts used for planning observations.
Contenders
SkySafari
Simulation Curriculum Corp.
While a planetarium app, its advanced planning tools and observation lists compete for the same serious amateur astronomer audience.
While a planetarium app, its advanced planning tools and observation lists compete for the same serious amateur astronomer audience.
Stellarium Mobile - Star Map
Noctua Software Ltd
The most popular mobile planetarium which includes visibility data and object tracking for planning purposes.
The most popular mobile planetarium which includes visibility data and object tracking for planning purposes.
Sky Guide
Fifth Star Labs LLC
Compotes on high-end UI/UX and Apple Watch integration for astronomical event alerts and sky tracking.
Compotes on high-end UI/UX and Apple Watch integration for astronomical event alerts and sky tracking.
ISS Detector
★4.1 (159)Derk Vrijdag
Directly competes with Sky Live's satellite and ISS tracking features with specialized pass alerts.
Directly competes with Sky Live's satellite and ISS tracking features with specialized pass alerts.
Peers
Essential for the night sky photographer segment of Sky Live's audience, focusing on planning Milky Way and star trail shots.
3D Augmented Reality Planner
Light Pollution Map
Jurij Stare
A utility used by the same audience to find optimal locations for stargazing based on light pollution levels.
A utility used by the same audience to find optimal locations for stargazing based on light pollution levels.
The Photographer's Ephemeris
Crookneck Consulting LLC
Used by night photographers to plan the exact position of the Sun, Moon, and Milky Way.
Used by night photographers to plan the exact position of the Sun, Moon, and Milky Way.
New Kids on the Block
Unistellar
★3.8 (95)Unistellar
The companion app for smart telescopes that includes sophisticated object visibility and planning tools.
The companion app for smart telescopes that includes sophisticated object visibility and planning tools.
What are the key takeaways?
Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer is a divisive education app that is completely free. With a 4.6/5 rating from 14.5K reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users.
Best for: Amateur astronomers, night sky photographers, and stargazing enthusiasts who need data-driven planning tools to optimize their observation sessions.
How much does it cost?
Model: free
The app serves as a utility-focused companion to the developer's broader ecosystem (Star Walk 2), likely driving cross-promotion and brand loyalty rather than direct monetization through this specific title.