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One thing you have got to hand it to this mobile revolution is the plethora of space and astronomy apps that have made their way to smartphones and tablets.
While desktop operating systems were several limited in this regard, modern astronomy applications are pushing the boundaries (figuratively speaking, of course) to bring sky gazing and universe watching to fans of astronomy.
SkyORB (http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/a08f0d35-4154-49e6-85d9-e1b3252d8dc9) is one of the most popular space and astronomy applications around, offering a 3D star map, 3D planetarium, sun clock, point to sky and many such features.
Here is a selection from the awe inspiring official description:
“SkyORB features many functions as a 3D real-time representation of the planets position around the sun, warn the user when a phenomenon is occurs as a full moon, a planet really visible, which is worth the observation.
The app also features an interactive 3D visualization of the stellar neighbourhood, including over 100000 nearby stars, and 3D visualization of the Milky Way.”
If there is one thing that is going for this free app, it is the overabundance of content that is available. The planetarium and the 3D visualizations of galaxies are rendered in realistic details. Users get the ability to simulate the sky from any place in the world, and move forward or backwards in time.
This educational app also identifies stars or planets, making it a perfect companion for star gazers. While the free version offers an excess of features, even more can be unlocked via in-app purchase.
The app integrates nicely with Windows 8 with options like Charm bar search, tiles and notifications. It is also available for all versions of Microsoft’s newest operating system, namely x86, x64 and ARM.
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Click here (http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/a08f0d35-4154-49e6-85d9-e1b3252d8dc9) to check out SkyORB on the Windows Store.