Downloading apps onto your phone is one of the great joys of Google Android, currently doing its latest star-turn in the HTC Magic. It’s really rather cool being able to add on just about any software you like to your phone.
According to the Telegraph, Google may have in fact topped even their best efforts, with the latest downloadable they plan on releasing. Called StarDroid, it’s designed to make every user into a virtual astronomer.
While, on the surface, that sounds just like Google Sky, StarDroid takes things a lot further, by using the GPS on the phone to pinpoint exactly where you are, and then using the accelerometer and, presumably, the camera, to work out precisely what bit of space you’re pointing the phone at. It then shows you the view of the heavens unobscured by light pollution, and even goes so far as to add on real-time tags for what you’re looking at.
Now that, right there, is quite probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard of a phone doing! Even from the name StarDroid (which rocks), the whole thing just sounds superb, and hey, it might actually get some new people to get into astronomy, or at least to realise a fundamental truth.
Space. Is. Awesome.
Honestly, I’ve spent gawd knows how many hours amusing myself flicking around Google Sky, hunting supernovas, spiral galaxies, and finding constellations I recognise. Instant info about space on tap, just by pointing your phone at the sky is raaaaaaaaaather appealing!
I may have had a bit of a pop at Google in the past (oh ok, a lot of a pop), but believe me, they’ve got me firmly on side with StarDroid.
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