There are quite a number of astronomy apps available for the Apple Watch, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise when you consider that timing and location are critical components of the stargazing experience. One of the most comprehensive of all the astronomy apps that are available for free is Night Sky Lite by iCandi Apps.

Night Sky Lite is a collection of tools that any astronomer would likely find useful. The first, called Night Sky Tonight, provides general information about the conditions of that night’s sky based on the user’s location. This includes cloud cover, temperature, sunrise/sunset, moonrise/moonset, moon illumination (indicating the phase), and the next time the International Space Station will pass into sight. Another tool, Stargazing Clock, compliments this information by providing an hourly forecast of the stargazing conditions that night.

A third tool, Sky View, is a massive database of information about the constellations, stars, and planets that are visible to the user. Using a simulated image of the night sky, users can scroll through these objects by turning the watch’s digital crown. When you tap on the name of the constellation or star at the bottom of the display, detailed background information about the selection is displayed.

The Night Sky Community tool provides a social aspect to the app. It allows the user to discover more about nearby stargazing locations that have been catalogued by other Night Sky users. Information provided includes a map of the location, facilities such as parking and restrooms, whether or not you can camp there, and a general description which usually includes specific tips about the location. For example, there is a recommendation about using the birdwatch near the parking lot in Ft. Washington State Park because it provides a steady surface for telescopes.

The app also has a News section that provides a variety of related articles, including notifications of special events like planet alignments, eclipses, and meteor showers.

As mentioned earlier, the app provides information about the next time the International Space Station will pass into sight – this can also be displayed on the home screen as part of a complication that’s been included.

While there are two paid versions of the iOS app, The Night Sky and Night Sky Pro, all three appear to install the same watchOS app.