Well conceived, expertly coded – Planisphere Review

This app has five-star underpinnings, the kind you'd expect from a developer whose Moon Map is coded as a fully rotateable, zoomable, rendered sphere, rather than just a bunch of photographs. With so much information presented with such clarity and ease of use at such a low price, this new entry is poised to become a favorite. Experienced astronomers will want it as a comprehensive quick reference, and beginners will be well rewarded with a fine download worth well more than its $0.99. This first release feels perfected like a third or fourth update, especially with its simple, efficient operation. Even so, for its fifth star, I'd like to see more flexible hiding of objects not of current interest, to render the display easier to read: dim stars, constellation boundries, and the like. I'd also appreciate if the delicate images were beefed up for forty-year-old eyes. Such a fine astronomy app at this price point could tip the curious into becoming ametuer astronomers. Support this developer. He deserves it. <><><><><> A Note to Dave Moore of South Boston: Serious planetaria (star charting apps) do not list Earth because they look outward; they list other objects one can see from Earth at a given time. Orreries (apps showing the relative motions of the planets) do show Earth, because they look inward, as though from outside the solar system, with Earth just another object to be studied. A few planeteria list the Earth as "always visible," a corny joke that can confuse beginners, an important clientele that deserves more respect. It sounds sarchastic, but is not: It's understood that if you want to see the stars and Messier objects, look up using Planisphere as a guide, but if you want to see the Earth, look down at your feet.
Review by Bozocity on Planisphere.