Welcome to Orbit Sky Observer
Orbit is a free sky-observing planner built around one question: what can I realistically see tonight, where is it, and how do I find it?
Why Orbit exists
Most astronomy apps either assume you own a telescope already, or bury the one useful fact — what's actually visible from where you're standing, tonight — under a wall of data you have to interpret yourself. Orbit is built to answer that question directly: real-time positions for the Moon, planets, deep-sky targets and comets, paired with practical guidance on what you can see with your eyes, binoculars, or a telescope.
What's in Orbit
- Real-time sky positions. Altitude, azimuth, and rise/set times for the Moon, planets, and other targets, plus a live sky map.
- Practical observing advice. Difficulty ratings that translate the astronomy into what you need — naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope — and what to expect through each.
- Night Explorer. Deep-sky objects shown as points when zoomed out, with photos as you zoom in — many of them Kevin Jones' own astrophotography.
- Comet tracking. Positions for tracked comets, including newly discovered ones still building up observation data.
- Sky darkness estimates (coming soon). A calculated sky-brightness model, still being refined. When it arrives, it will be shown honestly as an estimate rather than a guarantee.
Free, ad-free
Orbit's core app is planned to remain free, without ads. If you'd like to help keep it going, see Support Orbit — there's no pressure either way.
Public beta
Orbit is in public beta. That means some things are still rough, some features are still being validated, and your feedback genuinely shapes what gets fixed next. See the Accuracy Lab for an honest look at what's been tested and what hasn't yet.
Found something wrong, confusing, or broken? Send feedback — it goes straight to the person building this.
Who's behind it
I'm Kevin. By day I'm an HVAC technician in western Pennsylvania, and by night I'm usually working on a project or standing in a dark spot with a telescope, wondering what's worth pointing it at. Orbit Sky Observer started with that question: what can I see tonight, from right here, and can I trust the answer?
I built Orbit Sky Observer because I wanted a stargazing app that tells the truth. Every number it shows is meant to be checked, and I check them myself.
Orbit is published by Axis Orbital Creations LLC.