When comparing SkySafari 4 vs Star Chart, the Slant community recommends Star Chart for most people. In the question“What is the best stargazing app for Android?” Star Chart is ranked 1st while SkySafari 4 is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Star Chart is:
Star Chart lets users see the sky as it was 10,000 years ago, or as it will be in 10,000 years. It also lets people see what the sky would look like from a different place on earth .
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Pros
Pro Shows smaller objects
Users can view asteroids, satellites, comets, and meteor showers with information included.
Pro Detailed search function
Objects can be found according to name, magnitude, number, Ra, and other attributes.
Pro Highly informative
The app has historical mythological and scientific information on hundreds of objects. Over 120,000 stars can be viewed, near star clusters, nebulas, galaxies, and major planets and moons in our solar system.
Pro Can simulate changes of celestial bodies over time
The app is capable of simulating movement up 100 years in the future and past.
Pro Adds a subscription to SkyWeek, Sky & Telescope
SkyWeek, Sky & Telescope's subscription inform of upcoming eclipses and meteor showers.
Pro Various events can be animated
Events such as eclipses, meteor showers conjunctions and transits can be animated.
Pro View stars from a different time period or place on earth
Star Chart lets users see the sky as it was 10,000 years ago, or as it will be in 10,000 years. It also lets people see what the sky would look like from a different place on earth .
Pro Perfectly looking on screen!
It is fun to stargaze :)
Pro Provides useful information
Star Chart comes with the Messier Deep Sky catalog which contains information about galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters.
Cons
Con Paid Plus or PRO of app only for current version
Payment of Plus or PRO app is active only for current version (f.e. v.5). Next version (v.6) has to be paid again.
Con Might overwhelm a casual stargazer
There's a lot of information and functionality in this app that might be a bit too much for a beginner astronomy enthusiast.
Con Limited Data information
Limited information about listed objects.
Con Lots of information is blocked by in app purchases
Instead of offering everything for a flat rate, every additional feature is offered at anywhere from $2.99 to $9.99.
Con Limited "search" function
Instead of doing global search in between all object sets, you have to choose up front the set to be searched (stars, constellations, etc.) - which is inconvenient if you do not know to which set the object belongs (i.e. is it a star, a planet, a comet, etc.).
Con High on energy
Unfortunately, uses a lot of battery.