📖 User's Guide
Everything you need to know to get the most from GoSkyWatch Planetarium and GoSatWatch Satellite Tracking.
Getting Started with GoSkyWatch
GoSkyWatch Planetarium is designed to be intuitive from the moment you open it. Here is a guide to its key features and navigation modes.
Point your iPhone or iPad at any part of the sky and GoSkyWatch displays a real-time map of exactly what you are looking at. The display automatically rotates to match your viewing angle - no need to hold the device in any specific orientation. Visible planets are colour-coded by relative brightness.
GoSkyWatch uses your device accelerometer in a unique way that allows touchless operation. This is especially useful for older iPod touch or iPhone models without a compass. Simply move the device through the sky and the star map follows smoothly.
Tap the search icon and type any planet name, star name, Messier object, or constellation. GoSkyWatch will display a directional arrow guiding you to the object's position in your current sky. Works even when the object is below the horizon.
Enable constellation artwork in the display settings to overlay the traditional images on the star chart - the animals, heroes, and objects that ancient astronomers saw in the sky. GoSkyWatch was the first iPhone app to include this feature.
Switch to red-light mode via the display settings to preserve your dark-adapted vision during nighttime sessions. The entire interface, including maps, labels, and menus, switches to deep-red tones safe for nighttime use.
Adjust the star magnitude slider to match your actual sky conditions. Reduce it for bright urban skies, or increase it for dark-site observing to reveal fainter stars. This prevents overcrowding under poor conditions.
Step the clock forward or backward to see how the sky looked in the past or will appear in the future. Useful for planning observations, understanding retrograde motion, or showing children how planets move.
Getting Started with GoSatWatch
GoSatWatch makes satellite tracking accessible to everyone. Here is how to make the most of its tracking, prediction, and alert features.
Open GoSatWatch to see a world map with live satellite positions overlaid. Satellites move in real time across the map. Touch any satellite icon to view its name, type, altitude, orbital inclination, and current ground speed.
Switch to the sky view to see which satellites are currently above your horizon. The view is centred on your zenith with the horizon around the edge - like looking straight up. Satellites crossing overhead are shown moving in real time.
Navigate to the Pass Predictions section to see a list of upcoming visible satellite passes sorted by time. Each pass shows the start time, maximum elevation angle, duration, and the directional path across the sky (e.g., SW to NE).
Tap any upcoming pass and select "Set Alert" to receive a notification before the satellite becomes visible. You can choose how many minutes in advance you want to be alerted - giving you time to head outside and prepare.
Tap the refresh icon to download the latest Two-Line Element (TLE) orbital data. GoSatWatch can also be configured to update automatically. Fresh orbital data is especially important for tracking recently launched satellites and predicting ISS manoeuvres.
GoSatWatch comes with over 200 satellites pre-loaded, organized into sets (visible satellites, ISS, Starlink, radio satellites, etc.). You can activate, deactivate, or add custom satellites by importing TLE data from any standard source.
Use the dish alignment tool to find the optimal pointing direction for a geostationary satellite from your GPS location. Enter the satellite's longitude and the app calculates the exact azimuth and elevation angles for your dish.
Getting Started with GoSunWatch
GoSunWatch tracks solar events for your location. Here is how to use it on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
GoSunWatch shows today's sunrise, sunset, solar noon, and all three twilight phases in a clean timeline view. Events are calculated based on your GPS location and updated daily automatically.
Navigate to the calendar view to see solar event times for any date - past or future. Plan your photography sessions, garden work, or outdoor activities around golden hour and blue hour precisely.
GoSunWatch includes an Apple Watch complication that shows relative solar time from the 12 o'clock position toward the nearest sunrise or sunset. Keep solar context on your wrist at all times.
The app clearly labels all twilight phases with times and brief descriptions - helping photographers know when to expect the best light, and astronomers know when true darkness begins.
Need Additional Help?
If you can't find what you need in this guide, check our FAQs or reach out to our support team directly.