Name: Celestron SkyPortal
Rating: 3.60932 (279 reviews)

User Reviews for Celestron SkyPortal

3.61 out of 5

279 Ratings

1 year ago, Jm the Duke

App is simplistic perfection

I was introduced to sky portal when I got a celestron go to telescope a short time ago and it’s become my primary astronomy app since it easy to use, contains a through library of visible objects in the night sky of the northern hemisphere and with the compass mode gives you a rough view of the sky you are looking at in real time, my only recommendations for anyone using this app would be to use it on a iPad or tablet over a smartphone as the arrow keys used to slew a telescope and the crosshairs used to target an object can be tricky to use on the smaller screen. It would be nice if there were more satellites and objects listed maybe that’s what Sky Safari Pro is for and I may upgrade one day but at the moment Sky Portal meets the means for my backyard astronomical observations. App is 4 stars

4 years ago, Ghostfleet2020

Great App

I use this app with my Celestron 11” Edge HD and the CGX mount. I also utilize the Star Sense camera with it for alignment and it works beautifully. The only issues I have are the Celestron focus control is very sensitive and very confusing and almost impossible to use and updates to the app to include data for new comets are very slow to occur for example the latest new comet Neowise has been visible for a while now and it is not listed in SKy Portal but has been in the Sky Safari app for quite some time now.

3 years ago, virtualMtd

Great app for learning and controlling telescope. One improvement.

I love this app however I have one suggestion for improvement: When using the audio guides in the Info section, let the audio playback continue to work when the screen locks or auto locks. Many people have their phones set to auto lock after as little as 30 seconds and when this happens any audio playback currently in progress instantly shuts off when the phone locks. Only unlocking the phone will instantly resume playback. Seems like that improvement should be possible based on many other apps out there being able to play audio while the phone is locked. Thank you!

5 years ago, JOIN Cat-O-Rama

Works, but not as I want it to

I finally got my first celestron 6se telescope that is one of the Best purchases I’ve bought. With that, I also bought the WiFi module that connects to SkyPortal. For about five months I was trying to align the app to my telescope. The app estimates where your telescope is pointing for extra accuracy, but for an odd reason, my pointer on the app is nowhere close to where the telescope is actually pointing. Though this is a minor problem one may say, but because the pointer on the app is so inaccurate, whenever I try aligning, the second star always says that there was an error. The error was that the app says that the alignment for, say Jupiter, is impossible in that location. If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

7 years ago, Ridgesoar

Junk

This is a terrible downsized version of a great app (sky safari). It will not consistently go-to, it won't keep the settings that you've put in the hand controller (max elevation,cordwrap!etc.) the cordwrap setting doesn’t work—if you try to use this with your scope remote it will wrap itself to a grinding standstill. The only reason I have this is that it is the only thing offered with Celestron's Wi-fi module. I'm junking both the module and the program and going back to the Orion setup that allows use of SkySafari Newest view—-IF you have sky safari already you can use the Celstron wi-fi module by bypassing this junk and selecting “Celestron Wi-Fi “in the telescope drop down in the Telescope settings in SkySafari .It ties you in and works!! (Even though your scope is NOT a Wi-Fi scope)

11 months ago, netsurfr1

Has a major issue!

Discovered that the app has a bug where it does not show any Deep Sky Objects (nebulae, galaxies) on the sky chart. I tried every single option in settings to make them visible but nothing works. You can search for them and then it will center them BUT no luck in getting DSOs to show up in charts. I found a review from 2 years ago complaining about the same thing so not a recent issue so guessing Celestron is not planning on fixing it. I bought the wifi adapter for my 6SE to use this app to find and slew my scope to objects in the sky but without seeing DSOs on sky chart that severely limits it. Too bad. Will be returning the wifi adapter.

4 years ago, siyamak abdi

Issues on new update

Hi, new update for iOS14 has a problem! the app doesn’t run! (My device is iphone SE 2016)

5 years ago, Z-Leroy

Why all the poor reviews?

This is a very nice app. Especially considering that it is free, has no annoying advertising, and has many features that are similar to starwalk2. It searches, uses current location, shows planets, stars, constellations, and much more. If one clicks on an object, it offers an audio description of the item. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.

1 year ago, PyroRaptor

Needs red mode

I’m surprised that a telescope control app does not include a mode to change its color scheme to shades of red. This app has either full color or grayscale. The “Star Chart” app has a red mode to help preserve your night vision while showing a chart of the night sky wherever you point it, but isn’t designed to communicate with and control a telescope like SkyPortal. Please add red mode to let us control our telescopes without destroying our night vision. That will raise this review to five stars.

4 years ago, AjaxMONK

Great App, but focus motor control has issues

I have a NexStar 8SE with a focus motor as well as the SkyPortal wifi module. Connecting to the module was very easy and its fun using my phone to navigate around. My main issue however is with the Focuser controls. Any movement in the positive direction using the fine focus buttons works fine, but any movement in the negative direction causes several focuser rotations one way, then back to the position I decreased it too. Seems like it should only increment a little bit, but it doesn’t.

2 years ago, Agood1613

This app is underrated

This app is amazing the people that develop this did an amazing job like jaw-dropping. It’s incredible to locate every star ,every planet ,every dwarf ,planet every ,galaxy every constellation, every moon. It even gives you facts about all of those it. It’s astonishing it’s hard to explain how much I love this app I really really recommend you downloading this!!

4 years ago, Jeffinma

Not very usable with iPhone XR

Downloaded this app too check it out. Sounded great on the Celestron web site. I installed it and just tried compass mode. When the phone is held still, the images bounce around like the phone is vibrating. It's unusable in compass mode without some kind of dampening. I liked star maps and features but because of the jumpy screen issue I'm deleting the app. Maybe I'll try it again in six months of they address the issues I mentioned.

2 months ago, Teeheehheehee

It’s a great app

It shows all stars planets and other celestial bodies in the sky you can even search them up and see information about them also if you go to somewhere in 500,00 bc at like 5 am you can go through the years and see the moon crash into earth for some reason

5 years ago, JEB137

A software failure due to limited scope. Has drop out connection to my Celestron 1100 CPC.

I ordered the module and assumed it was a problem with it. Sent it back for repair. In the meantime I purchased the Sky Safari module package and also the Sky Safari Pro app from apple App Store. Man did it ever work great!! Just received the repaired Sky Portal module. Still did not work. After reading other similar problems with the Sky Portal app., I must conclude that the app is overpriced at ‘free’. It appears that Celestron’s Sky Portal app is lacking the required software to fit the job required. Do not waste your valuable time on this app folks!!!

2 years ago, SkywackerJim

Doesn’t Connect

I used to us this with my Celestron scope but when I got it out for the recent lunar eclipse it wouldn’t connect. Tried with my iPad and my iPhone and neither would work. A day or so later decided to buy SkySafari and try it and it connected and worked. I feel that they need to do a update, maybe not compatible with the latest IOS.

5 years ago, Brian Berrett

Love it

Excellent search options, best items for viewing in your area, and a great map. Would love it if there was a check box to check if you found the item so you could log when, where, and what you saw.

4 years ago, mgmcd1

Very easy to use and great features

I use the app with an AVX mount and various refractors. Setup, alignment and calibration are very easy. Acquisition and tracking work very well at all magnifications. I use the scopes for visual astronomy, and it is the best I have had it in 30 years of observing. Thanks so much!

3 years ago, ADennisA

AMAZING APP

So many great features and sooo much information! I love watching the galaxies and stars while the Celestron Audio tells me at what I’m looking at. Lots of things to read and I just simply love it! Definitely recommend 100%

8 months ago, VFDirector

Incredibly frustrating!

None of the videos Celestron provides show me how to use this app! I have no idea how I’m supposed to use this to align my telescope. I think the iPhone version of the app I have must be faulty because I don’t have any controls on the screen and I don’t know what I’m doing. Please Celestron, put out an educational video that explains step-by-step how to use this app.

6 years ago, Canon Fan

Wow, this is bad!

Something seems terribly wrong with this app. No deep space objects visible at all, despite the menu setting saying otherwise. The deep space objects are there, but you have to enter their names individually in the search menu. Seems to be missing half of the basic features in the free version of Sky Safari. I got this hoping to use it to control by CGX mount. But it’s unlikely this app will be any use for that.

2 months ago, Zman77

A piece of garbage and a waste of money!

This system has been the bane of my existence! I’ve never been able to get it to work right. One problem leads directly to another! If I could return it I would! What should be a pleasurable hobby and learning experience has resulted in nothing but frustration! Do not buy this system!

6 years ago, Star Server

Adequate but limited

I have used this app with a NexStar 5SE and the Celestron WiFi adapter. I had no problems controlling the scope. The object display left a bit to be desired. Messier objects are not displayed until chosen and then only individually, disappearing when the next object is chosen. Star density is not easily set, if at all. Custom lists do not exist. Get SkySafari 5, it’s free and has more bells and whistles.

2 years ago, Jason Iy

Works but glitchy

The app usually works but it’s a bit glitchy at times, especially when u rotate ur screen. Would love if it was optimized for newer taller iPhone screens as well.

2 years ago, fuzzybassoon

Annoying advertising push notifications

App works OK with my telescope, but I hate they that they kept sending me promotional push notifications with no option to turn them off other than to turn off all notifications.

4 years ago, CateDean

3.3.4 update is crap

This app used to work fine until my iPad updated to 3.3.4. Now it won't open. I can't even use my Celestron telescope to view the fall skies with the features and convenience that Celestron designed. What a waste of some terrific fall evening weather. I really hope someone is reading these reviews and will fix this soon.

4 years ago, Windjammed

Great app

The people giving it bad reviews must not know how to use it

4 years ago, RAYount

Doesn’t play well with Starsense.

Initially seems to work well, but when my Celestron 9.5 Edge is repositioned e.g. for a new viewing session, the app remembers the old alignment and will not perform a new align. No way to reset the alignment parameters as far as I can tell.

4 months ago, ArbronIssarooth

Uses Notifications for Ads

Decent app and works to control my telescope, but they are using notifications for advertisements which is bad.

2 years ago, tb5000

Used to be a good app.

I don’t know what they did to it with the last update but now in compass mode the horizon curls up as I point my phone to Zenith and for some unknown reason it’s showing a comet images where there are no known comets. Bad job guys, you ruined a good app!

3 years ago, smithsfan123

Thought it was good, them it started glitching

App on my ipad or iphone 7 doesnt show any deep sky objects no matter how i tweak the settings. Shows the stars fine but no dsi. Yes i have set the display properly. Want to use it to control scope, but its no use if it wont show dsis.

6 years ago, Tarun H

No search feature anymore?

I cannot seem to find the search feature any more.

4 years ago, BigBadDad45040

Crashes immediately

I live this app but it flat out crashes as soon as I open it since iOS 14. I’ve got an iPhone 10. Please fix because the app is awesome otherwise!

4 months ago, Leemurz

Wonky controls

Yet another night foiled by telescope controls that are inconsistently laggy (both on iPhone and iPad) so that alignment becomes an untenable task. Please update the software or control responsiveness.

4 years ago, lohankan

It doesn’t work with 90GT wifi

Almost all 90GT wifi telescope users have a big problem that can’t connect telescope on recent version. In case of previouse version, it didn’t have this issue. It’s very critical problem so plz fix it ASAP.

4 years ago, Skyeron

can not see/search c/2020 f3

I am able to see/search the comet after installation. however, when I open the app again, I can not see or search the comet any more. the list of the brightest comet has been changed, no C/2020 F3! why? how to fix it?

6 years ago, WhiteRaven

Bug showing DSOs

New version doesn’t show DSO objects on the sky map, regardless of settings. (I am a long time SkySafari user: this is a bug, not user error.)

4 years ago, ghhvhubb

Okay but a few issue

Comets are not clickable and even few DSOs. It would be 5 stars until they fix it

3 years ago, gorgie the potato

Very great app!

I’m 12 and it’s the best in my opinion

5 years ago, AnonymousAmature

Limiting magnitude limited

This app has severely limited starchart. At 5 x 6.5 degree view, for example, SkyPortal shows up to 7th magnitude stars, vs SkySafari's 11.

2 years ago, Shmousey

Same as the Telecsope I bought from them- Dogwater

Bought a 100$ telescope that immediately broke during the setup, and this is the app to accompany that item, so it can't be very good.

3 years ago, Boardz20

Wonderful

Love this app, it helps me identify the beautiful heavens that the Lord God created.

2 years ago, jwalger

Won’t connect

Get telescope for Xmas, follow all instructions yet my scope won’t emit a wifi signal and there’s no directions on how to troubleshoot this so connecting with my phone is impossible.

5 years ago, antonykhoury

Good app

I’ve got a celstron telescope and this is very helpful to use with it

4 years ago, Gcrocker

Crashes on startup

Why did I spend $100 on a WiFi device that requires an app that just crashes? Because I am a fool. Do not buy the Celestron WiFi device. Their app is required and useless.

1 year ago, hellfiknow

MacBook Air [M2]

Seems to work just fine, on MacBook. 👍👍

4 years ago, CMH77

Train wreck

This app is a disaster. I can’t align the telescope to stars. I hit align and it won’t center on the stars. I try to track back to aligned objects and it is way of. It stops halfway to targets. It’s a piece of crap app. I’ll have to just use the telescope pad. Ugh FIX THIS!

4 years ago, 미스터문

update please

i have bought celestron 90gt wifi model a few days ago. but it don't connect with this app. update please... i really want to see the moon...

4 years ago, patfch2u17

SkyPortal

Unable to open app?

4 years ago, Ted Newland

Immediately Crashes

Doesn’t work at all on either iPad that I own. Worked for years until recently.

4 years ago, Hate frontier

Impossible to align.

Impossible to align, impossible to use. Never got it set up to see anything. I’ve tried a dozen times. Can’t find stars in the eyepiece to even start aligning on.

Description

Celestron’s newest planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. Explore the Solar System, 120,000 stars, over 200 star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and dozens of asteroids, comets, and satellites—including the ISS. SkyPortal includes everything you need to experience the night sky in an exciting new way. When connected to a compatible Celestron WiFi telescope, you can automatically point the telescope to any object in the database and view it with great detail. Planetarium Features Simulate the night sky and plan your observing session with a custom list of tonight’s best objects based on your exact time and location. Look ahead to see when Jupiter’s Great Red Spot will be visible, animate transits, eclipses, and other celestial events. View hundreds of photos or listen to more than four hours of audio narration to enhance your stargazing experience. •Simulate the night sky from anywhere on planet Earth, up to 100 years in the past or future. •Compass Mode (with compatible devices): Hold your device up to the sky for a real-time synchronized display of celestial objects – from star names, constellations, planets, to nebulae and galaxies. •Control compatible Celestron WiFi telescopes with sophisticated mount modeling for quick and accurate go-to alignment. •Animate transits, conjunctions, eclipses, and other events with SkyPortal's Time controls. •Explore the sky with Night Vision turned on, and preserve your eyesight after dark. •Learn the history, mythology, and science of the heavens with SkyPortal's hundreds of object descriptions. •Browse hundreds of astronomical photographs and NASA spacecraft images •Access over 4 hours of audio commentary to guide you through the best celestial objects. Computerized Telescope Control Pair your device to your compatible Celestron WiFi telescope, align with Celestron’s patented SkyAlign™ technology, and you’re ready to explore! Identify objects instantly. Tap any object and your telescope automatically centers it in the eyepiece. SkyPortal’s telescope alignment incorporates advanced mount modeling, providing better pointing accuracy than other telescope systems which rely on a dedicated computer.