SkyFriend is a simple, easy-to-use guide to the positioning of the planets within our solar system.
For ages, people have looked at the sky, fascinated by what they saw. This fascination led some to develop methods for discerning an individuals personal characteristics and fortunes based on planetary influences. Their observations and computational techniques became the forerunners of modern astronomy; and eventually evolved into the field of astrology. How effective these methods are is a matter of considerable debate. At the very least, however, the systems they created (some of which originated millennia ago) serve as intriguing prisms for interpreting events and human behavior.
SkyFriend calculates the positioning of planets based on one of the oldest of these systems, whose simplicity and purported predictive capabilities have ensured its popularity even to the present day. Specifically, the app uses ephemeris data from NASA to track planetary movements by dividing the sky into twelve thirty-degree segments. Each segment, in turn, corresponds to a constellation of what is now known as the Western zodiac.
In addition to this classical approach, SkyFriend also offers location information grounded in more contemporary astronomy. Utilizing star charts from the International Astronomical Union, the apps SkyMap feature calculates planetary alignments using our most up-to-date understanding of the constellations and their boundaries. Declination, right ascension and geographic coordinates are used excluding effects associated with atmospheric refraction. The app also displays the lunar year, as well as the local sidereal time. Planetary locations using both the classical standard view and SkyMap are available for all dates from 1900 through 2099.
SkyFriend provides all of these features in a single easy-to-use app for your iPhone. Everything is self-contained. If you dont require data roaming services and arent on a prepaid plan, SkyFriend consumes none of your data plans bandwidth aside from the initial download of the app itself and any future updates. So, if youve been searching for a simple and handy guide to the positioning of the planets and the stars, look no further! SkyFriend for the iPhone is here and available today!