Gaia Sky vs ISS Detector
Gaia Sky
gaiasky.spaceISS Detector
issdetector.comSide by side
| Figure | Gaia Sky | ISS Detector |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Astronomy Apps | 9.0 (#1) | 8.5 (#6) |
| Headquarters | Heidelberg, Germany | Gouda, Netherlands |
| Integrations | SAMP support enables interoperability with Topcat and Aladin. | The privacy policy lists Space-Track for orbital data, RevenueCat for subscriptions, Google Analytics and Firebase for app statistics, met.no for weather, and Minor Planet Center for comet and celestial data. |
| Purpose | Gaia Sky is a real-time 3D astronomy visualization platform for exploring the Universe with scientific datasets. | ISS Detector helps users find visible International Space Station passes and satellite pass predictions for their location. |
| Support | The project directs bug reports and feature requests to its source repository and says old releases are not supported. | The app listing provides support by email at [email protected]. |
Plans
ISS Detector
- ISS Detector Satellite TrackerFree
- ISS Detector Pro$17.99, paid once
In their own words
ISS Detector
ISS Detector helps users find visible International Space Station passes and predict satellite passes for their location. For each upcoming ISS pass, it gives the local start time, direction, highest altitude, and duration, and can notify users minutes before the pass begins. It checks the local forecast and indicates when clouds may prevent a sighting. Premium features add tracking for Starlink, Hubble, rocket bodies, planets, comets, and amateur radio satellites; amateur radio tracking includes transmitter information and Doppler shift calculations. Users can share sightings on social media. ISS Detector says it combines information from NASA, Heavens-Above, the Minor Planet Center, and yr.no weather. It is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, and web. The free plan includes ads and in-app purchases; ISS Detector Pro costs $17.99, paid once and includes all extensions with no ads. Its privacy policy says location calculations happen on-device and precise location is not stored on the maker’s servers. Google Play says data can’t be deleted.