User Manual

© Realtech VR
Last updated: 2026

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Getting Started
3. The Main Screen
4. Local Sky View
5. Exploring the Solar System
6. Viewing the Sun and Earth
7. Moon Phases
8. Ephemeris and Astronomical Events
9. Searching for Astronomical Objects
10. Changing the Date and Time
11. Location and Orientation
12. Updating Comets, Asteroids, and Satellites
13. Display and Graphics Settings
14. Notifications
15. Astronomy Databases and Accuracy
16. Troubleshooting
17. Glossary
18. Support and Contact

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1. Introduction

SkyORB Classic is an astronomy application for iPhone and iPad that helps you explore the night sky, the Solar System, the Moon, and upcoming astronomical events.

You can use SkyORB Classic to:

• Identify stars, planets, and constellations.
• View the sky from your current location.
• Follow the movement of planets through time.
• Explore a three-dimensional model of the Solar System.
• Check Moon phases, rise times, and set times.
• View sunrise, sunset, and twilight information.
• Search for stars, planets, constellations, satellites, and deep-sky objects.
• Receive notifications about selected astronomical events.
• Download updated orbital data for comets, asteroids, and satellites.

SkyORB Classic combines real-time sky simulation, astronomical databases, location information, and interactive 3D rendering in a single application.

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2. Getting Started

When SkyORB Classic starts, it uses the current date, time, and configured location to calculate the position of astronomical objects.

For the most accurate results, allow SkyORB Classic to access your location when iOS asks for permission.

Location information is used to calculate:

• The visible sky above you.
• Sunrise and sunset times.
• Moonrise and moonset times.
• Twilight periods.
• Which objects are above or below the horizon.
• The timing of local astronomical events.

SkyORB Classic does not require your exact location to operate. You can also search for a city or enter coordinates manually.

First-time setup

When opening the app for the first time:

1. Allow access to your location, or select a city manually.
2. Confirm that the displayed date and time are correct.
3. Open the Local Sky view.
4. Point or drag the view toward the part of the sky you want to explore.
5. Use the Search function to find a specific object.

You can change these settings later from the Settings page.

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3. The Main Screen

The main screen provides access to the principal sections of SkyORB Classic.

Depending on the app version and device layout, the available sections may include:

• Local Sky
• Solar System
• Sun Clock
• Moon
• Ephemeris
• Search
• Settings

On iPhone, some controls may appear in a toolbar or menu. On iPad, more controls may be visible at the same time because of the larger screen.

Tap an icon or menu item to switch between sections.

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4. Local Sky View

The Local Sky view displays the sky as seen from the selected location and time.

It can show:

• Stars
• Star names
• Planets
• The Sun
• The Moon
• Constellations
• Constellation lines
• Deep-sky objects
• Comets
• Meteors
• Artificial satellites
• The horizon
• Coordinate grids
• The path of the Sun

The visibility of these elements can be changed using the display controls or Settings page.

Moving around the sky

To explore the sky manually:

• Drag with one finger to rotate the view.
• Pinch with two fingers to zoom in or out.
• Double-tap an object when supported to select it or display additional information.

Zooming in allows you to inspect a smaller area of the sky and makes nearby objects easier to distinguish.

Selecting an object

Tap an object to select it.

When an object is selected, SkyORB Classic may display information such as:

• Object name
• Object type
• Constellation
• Apparent magnitude
• Distance
• Coordinates
• Rise and set times
• Physical or orbital information

The available information depends on the selected object.

Stars

SkyORB Classic displays stars according to their apparent brightness.

You can enable or disable:

• Star names
• Fainter stars
• Constellation lines
• Constellation names

Reducing the number of displayed stars can make the sky easier to read, especially when identifying bright stars and planets.

Constellations

Constellation lines connect the principal stars of each constellation.

Constellations are useful for locating objects and learning the general structure of the night sky. Their visibility can be changed from the Local Sky controls or Settings.

Deep-sky objects

SkyORB Classic includes objects outside the Solar System, including:

• Galaxies
• Nebulae
• Star clusters
• Messier objects
• NGC and IC catalogue objects

Some objects may include an image or an extended description.

Many deep-sky objects are too faint to see without binoculars or a telescope, even if they are displayed in the app.

Planets

Planets are displayed at their calculated position for the selected date and location.

Depending on the zoom level, planets may appear as symbols or as rendered 3D objects.

Selecting a planet opens additional information about it.

Light extinction and daylight

By default, SkyORB Classic may continue to display stars during daylight so that you can inspect their astronomical positions.

To simulate what is realistically visible to the naked eye, enable the light-extinction or atmospheric-lighting option in Settings.

When this option is enabled:

• The sky becomes brighter during daytime.
• Faint stars disappear.
• Only sufficiently bright objects remain visible.
• Twilight and nighttime transitions are represented more naturally.

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5. Device Orientation and Point-to-Sky Mode

SkyORB Classic can use the iPhone or iPad orientation sensors to align the displayed sky with the direction in which the device is pointing.

This feature may be called:

• Automatic Tracking
• Compass Mode
• Point to Sky
• Device Orientation

When enabled, rotate the device and point it toward the sky. The displayed view follows the device orientation.

This mode can help identify a bright star, planet, or constellation visible above you.

For best results:

1. Make sure Location Services are enabled.
2. Keep the device away from magnets, speakers, metal structures, and electronic equipment.
3. Move the device in a figure-eight motion if iOS requests compass calibration.
4. Hold the device steadily.
5. Compare the displayed horizon with the real horizon.

Compass accuracy varies according to the device and surrounding environment.

If the view moves unexpectedly, disable automatic tracking and navigate manually.

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6. Exploring the Solar System

The Solar System view presents the Sun, planets, and their orbits in three dimensions.

Available viewing modes may include:

• Orbit view
• Real-scale view
• Enhanced-scale view
• Gallery view
• Planet-centered view
• Perspective view

Orbit view

Orbit view displays the paths of planets around the Sun.

Use this mode to understand:

• The current positions of the planets.
• Planetary alignment.
• Orbital movement.
• The relative structure of the Solar System.

Drag the screen to rotate the camera and pinch to zoom.

Real-scale view

Real-scale view represents planetary sizes and distances as accurately as practical.

Because the Solar System contains extremely large differences in scale, some planets may appear very small or may be difficult to see.

Enhanced-scale view

Enhanced-scale view enlarges planets so they remain visible while their orbital positions are displayed.

This mode is useful for observing planetary alignment and movement.

Gallery view

Gallery view places the planets together so that their sizes can be compared more easily.

This view does not represent their true orbital distances.

Planet-centered view

Select a planet to focus the camera on it.

The app may display:

• A 3D model
• Surface textures
• Major moons
• Rotation
• Shadows
• Physical characteristics
• Orbital information
• General facts

Hiding orbits and controls

Orbit lines and interface controls can be hidden when you want a clearer view of the Solar System.

Use the corresponding on-screen button or display setting.

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7. Viewing the Sun and Earth

The Sun Clock displays Earth with the illuminated daytime region and the darker nighttime region.

This division is called the day-night terminator.

The view may show:

• The current day-night boundary.
• The position directly beneath the Sun.
• The position directly beneath the Moon.
• Your current or selected location.
• Sunrise and sunset regions.

Drag horizontally to rotate or move across the world map.

The location marker can also help verify that SkyORB Classic is using the correct position.

If the marker is incorrect, update your location in Settings or select a nearby city using Search.

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8. Moon Phases

The Moon page displays the current Moon phase using a three-dimensional rendering.

It may also provide:

• Current illumination
• Moonrise time
• Moonset time
• New Moon date
• First Quarter date
• Full Moon date
• Last Quarter date
• Perigee date
• Apogee date
• Lunar eclipse information

Moon phases

The principal Moon phases are:

• New Moon
• First Quarter
• Full Moon
• Last Quarter

The phase depends on the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

Perigee and apogee

Perigee is the point at which the Moon is closest to Earth.

Apogee is the point at which the Moon is farthest from Earth.

The Moon generally appears slightly larger near perigee and slightly smaller near apogee.

Moonrise and moonset times depend on the selected date and location.

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9. Ephemeris and Astronomical Events

The Ephemeris page summarizes astronomical information for the selected location and date.

It may include:

• Sunrise
• Sunset
• Solar noon
• Civil twilight
• Nautical twilight
• Astronomical twilight
• Moonrise
• Moonset
• Current Moon phase
• Upcoming planetary events
• Conjunctions
• Oppositions
• Meteor-shower peaks
• Eclipses
• Other notable events

Twilight

SkyORB Classic may distinguish between three forms of twilight.

Civil twilight

The Sun is just below the horizon, but outdoor visibility remains relatively good.

Nautical twilight

The horizon is still visible under suitable conditions, and brighter stars become easier to see.

Astronomical twilight

The Sun is far enough below the horizon for the sky to become fully dark under good observing conditions.

The Ephemeris page may also indicate the remaining time before the next sunrise, sunset, or twilight transition.

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10. Searching for Astronomical Objects

The Search page provides a common search interface for the SkyORB Classic databases.

You can search for:

• Cities and locations
• Stars
• Planets
• Moons
• Constellations
• Galaxies
• Nebulae
• Star clusters
• Messier objects
• NGC and IC objects
• Comets
• Asteroids
• Satellites

Performing a search

1. Open Search.
2. Tap the search field.
3. Enter part of an object or place name.
4. Select a result.

You usually do not need to enter the complete name.

For example, entering the first few letters of a city may display matching locations.

After selecting an astronomical object, SkyORB Classic may:

• Open its information page.
• Center it in the Local Sky view.
• Center it in the Solar System view.
• Indicate whether it is above the horizon.

Objects below the horizon

Objects that are currently below the local horizon may be dimmed or marked differently in search results.

An object below the horizon cannot currently be observed from the selected location, although you can still inspect it in the app or change the date and time to determine when it becomes visible.

Selecting a location

Search can also be used to select a city.

This is useful when:

• Location Services are unavailable.
• You want to plan observations from another place.
• You want to compare astronomical events between locations.

If your town is not listed, enter its latitude and longitude manually in Settings.

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11. Changing the Date and Time

SkyORB Classic allows you to explore the sky and Solar System at dates and times other than the present.

This feature is useful for:

• Planning observations.
• Checking when a planet rises.
• Previewing an eclipse or conjunction.
• Following planetary motion.
• Viewing past astronomical configurations.

Time controls

Depending on the screen, time controls may allow you to:

• Move forward in time.
• Move backward in time.
• Advance by minutes.
• Advance by hours.
• Advance by days.
• Advance by months.
• Run a continuous time animation.
• Return to the current date and time.

Tap Now or the equivalent reset control to return to the current system time.

When the selected time differs from the present, verify the displayed date before using rise times, set times, or object positions for real-world observation.

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12. Location and Orientation

SkyORB Classic requires a location to calculate the local sky accurately.

You can configure the location using:

• iOS Location Services
• A city selected through Search
• Manually entered latitude and longitude

Using Location Services

To allow SkyORB Classic to access your location:

1. Open the iOS Settings app.
2. Open Privacy & Security.
3. Select Location Services.
4. Make sure Location Services are enabled.
5. Select SkyORB Classic.
6. Choose the appropriate permission.

The exact names of these options may vary according to the installed iOS or iPadOS version.

Manual coordinates

When entering coordinates manually:

• Latitude indicates the position north or south of the equator.
• Longitude indicates the position east or west of the prime meridian.

Make sure the north, south, east, and west signs are correct.

After changing the coordinates, open the Sun Clock and verify that the location marker appears in the expected area.

Temperature and atmospheric pressure

Some versions of SkyORB Classic may allow atmospheric values to be configured.

Temperature and pressure can influence calculations involving atmospheric refraction near the horizon.

For general use, the default values are usually sufficient.

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13. Updating Comets, Asteroids, and Satellites

Some Solar System objects require regularly updated orbital data.

SkyORB Classic may download data for:

• Comets
• Asteroids
• Minor planets
• Artificial satellites

The update command may be identified as:

• Update MPC
• Update TLE
• Update MPC/TLE
• Synchronize orbital data

An internet connection is required.

MPC data

MPC refers to data associated with the Minor Planet Center.

This information is used for the calculated positions of objects such as asteroids and comets.

TLE data

TLE means Two-Line Element set.

TLE data describes the orbit of an artificial satellite and is used to predict its position.

Because satellite orbits change over time, update the data regularly when accurate satellite tracking is required.

If no comets, asteroids, or satellites appear in the Local Sky view, verify that:

• Their display option is enabled.
• Orbital data has been downloaded.
• The selected date is supported by the downloaded data.
• The objects are above the horizon.
• The app has access to the internet.

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14. Display and Graphics Settings

The Settings page controls the appearance, performance, location, and behavior of SkyORB Classic.

Available options may vary according to the app version and device.

Display settings

Display options may include:

• Star names
• Planet names
• Constellation names
• Constellation lines
• Coordinate grids
• Deep-sky objects
• Comets
• Satellites
• Planet orbits
• The Sun’s path
• Atmospheric lighting
• Light extinction
• Interface labels

Disable unnecessary elements when the sky becomes too crowded.

Graphics quality

Graphics settings control the balance between visual quality, performance, battery use, and memory use.

Options may affect:

• Texture quality
• Planet detail
• Shader quality
• Shadow quality
• Atmospheric effects
• Rendering resolution
• Animation smoothness

Use lower settings if the app becomes slow, the device becomes unusually warm, or battery consumption is excessive.

Interface size

On iPad, a larger interface or text size may improve readability.

Some interface sizing may also follow the system text-size settings configured in iOS or iPadOS.

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15. Notifications

SkyORB Classic may generate notifications for selected astronomical events.

These may include:

• New Moon
• First Quarter
• Full Moon
• Last Quarter
• Conjunctions
• Oppositions
• Meteor-shower peaks
• Solar events
• Astronomy news

The available notification categories depend on the app version and notification service.

Enabling notifications

When SkyORB Classic asks for permission, select Allow.

To review notification permissions later:

1. Open the iOS Settings app.
2. Select Notifications.
3. Select SkyORB Classic.
4. Enable the desired notification options.

Notifications may depend on:

• Your configured location.
• Your time zone.
• The astronomical-event database.
• Background notification support.
• Internet availability for news notifications.

Open the Ephemeris or events page at least once after installation or a major update so the app can initialize its event information.

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16. Astronomy Databases and Accuracy

SkyORB Classic uses several astronomical databases and calculation methods.

These may include:

• Star catalogues
• Variable-star data
• Messier objects
• NGC and IC deep-sky catalogues
• Solar System planet and moon data
• Exoplanet information
• Minor-planet orbital data
• Satellite orbital elements
• Meteor-shower information
• City and location data

Planetary positions

Planetary coordinates are calculated using astronomical ephemeris data and established orbital algorithms.

Planetary moons

The positions of major planetary moons may be calculated using methods based on recognized astronomical references.

Satellites

Artificial-satellite positions are commonly calculated from TLE data using SGP4 or related orbital-propagation methods.

Satellite predictions become less accurate as orbital data becomes older. Update TLE data regularly when using SkyORB Classic for satellite observation.

Practical accuracy

Calculated positions can be affected by:

• Incorrect location
• Incorrect date or time
• Time-zone settings
• Old orbital data
• Compass interference
• Atmospheric refraction
• Local terrain and buildings
• Device-sensor accuracy

SkyORB Classic is intended for astronomy education, planning, and general observation. It should not be used for professional navigation or safety-critical applications.

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17. Troubleshooting

The displayed sky does not match the real sky

Check the following:

• The date and time are correct.
• The selected location is correct.
• Location Services are enabled.
• The device compass is calibrated.
• The device is not near magnetic interference.
• Automatic tracking is enabled when using Point-to-Sky mode.
• The view is not displaying a past or future date.

The compass points in the wrong direction

Move away from:

• Speakers
• Magnets
• Metal furniture
• Vehicles
• Computers
• Magnetic cases
• Electronic equipment

Move the device in a figure-eight motion to help recalibrate the compass.

You can also disable automatic tracking and navigate manually.

Stars are visible during daytime

Disable the option that displays stars independently of daylight, or enable atmospheric lighting and light extinction.

A planet or star cannot be found

Use Search and check whether the object is below the horizon.

You can also move forward or backward in time to determine when it becomes visible.

Comets or satellites are missing

Verify that:

• Their display option is enabled.
• MPC or TLE data has been downloaded.
• The orbital data is recent.
• The selected object is above the horizon.
• The current date is compatible with the orbital data.

Rise and set times look incorrect

Verify:

• Location
• Date
• Time zone
• System clock
• Manual coordinates

Objects close to the horizon can also be affected by atmospheric conditions and local obstructions.

The app runs slowly

Try the following:

• Reduce graphics quality.
• Disable some object categories.
• Disable high-resolution textures.
• Close other demanding applications.
• Restart SkyORB Classic.
• Restart the device.

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18. Glossary

Altitude

The angular height of an object above the horizon.

An altitude of 0 degrees is on the horizon. An altitude of 90 degrees is directly overhead.

Apogee

The point in the Moon’s orbit at which it is farthest from Earth.

Apparent magnitude

A measurement of how bright an astronomical object appears from Earth.

Lower or negative values indicate brighter objects.

Conjunction

An event during which two or more astronomical objects appear close together in the sky.

Declination

One of the coordinates used to locate an object on the celestial sphere.

Declination is similar to latitude on Earth and is measured north or south of the celestial equator.

Deep-sky object

An astronomical object outside the Solar System, such as a galaxy, nebula, or star cluster.

Ephemeris

A table or calculation describing the predicted position of an astronomical object at a particular date and time.

Light extinction

The reduction in the apparent brightness of astronomical objects caused by daylight and Earth’s atmosphere.

Meridian

An imaginary line crossing the sky from north to south through the point directly overhead.

Minor Planet Center

The organization responsible for collecting and publishing observations and orbital information for minor planets, asteroids, and comets.

Opposition

An event during which a planet or other Solar System object appears approximately opposite the Sun in the sky.

A planet near opposition is generally visible for much of the night and may appear brighter because it is relatively close to Earth.

Perigee

The point in the Moon’s orbit at which it is closest to Earth.

Perihelion

The point in an object’s orbit at which it is closest to the Sun.

Aphelion

The point in an object’s orbit at which it is farthest from the Sun.

Right ascension

One of the coordinates used to locate an object on the celestial sphere.

Right ascension is comparable to longitude on Earth and is usually measured in hours, minutes, and seconds.

SGP4

An orbital-propagation model commonly used to predict the position of artificial satellites from TLE data.

Terminator

The boundary separating the illuminated and unilluminated portions of a planet or moon.

TLE

A Two-Line Element set containing orbital parameters used to calculate the position of an artificial satellite.

Twilight

The period before sunrise or after sunset when the Sun is below the horizon but still illuminates the atmosphere.

Zenith

The point in the sky directly above the observer.

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19. Support and Contact

For information about SkyORB Classic, updates, support, and other Realtech VR applications, visit:

SkyORB website
https://www.skyorb.app

Realtech VR website
https://www.realtech-vr.com

Support
https://www.realtech-vr.com/support/

Email
info@realtech-vr.com

Before contacting support, include:

• Device model
• iOS or iPadOS version
• SkyORB Classic version
• A description of the problem
• The steps required to reproduce it
• A screenshot when relevant

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Legal Notice

SkyORB Classic provides astronomical simulations and predictions for educational, informational, and observation-planning purposes.

Calculated positions and event times may be affected by the selected location, date, device sensors, orbital-data age, atmospheric conditions, and other factors.

SkyORB Classic must not be used as the sole source of information for navigation, safety-critical operations, spacecraft tracking, or professional astronomical measurement.

Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, and iPadOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.

We’re excited to announce new updates SkyORB ∞ (1.4.0) 

This update introduces new features and improvements across the app:

• Added the ability to enter a custom date and time for sky simulations

• Fixed widget layout overflow issues

• Improved network handling and the astronomy news calendar

• Enhanced shadow rendering on the Saturn page

• Fixed planet labels in the planetarium view

• Resolved several menu navigation and layout issues

Additional bug fixes and performance improvements are included to make exploring the night sky even smoother.