Galactic Compass

Just try occasionally opening it, orienting yourself, and really sitting in the feeling it gives you. I’m often surprised by how grounding it can be. Perhaps only for the kind of nerds for whom it’s easy to conjure an image of the galaxy and our place in it, but if you definitely give it a try!

Have you tried it with the camera feed as background?

This is my single favorite app on the iPhone. It’s simple, it’s profound, it collects no user data. It’s just a pure little nugget of fun that represents exactly what the App Store should be. Thank you for it, and if you release a premium version that includes no more features other than the price, I’ll still be one of your first customers

Performs as advertised. Does the job and does it well. Handy dopamine burst.

We should all feel some level of comfort knowing where we stand. This app gives us one more level of that in a very fun and philosophical way!

I had no idea I needed this app but it turns out I NEEDED this app. It’s incredibly simple to use, and without fail it shows me the exact vector to follow in order to find the supermassive black hole in the core of the Milky Way galaxy. Hard to describe the moment of perspective and joy this brings me, but it most assuredly does.

So clean and simple in its execution, yet delightfully mind blowing in drawing a personal connection between the user and the center of the galaxy. I open this often just out of curiosity, or to show whoever happens to be in the room with me at the time. Well done!

I thought this was pretty cool until I opened the app on my iPhone and my iPad at the same time. The arrows were pointing in opposite directions from each other moving the devices did not change the orientation of the respective arrows. if, and when this is explained to me in a satisfactory manner, I will upgrade my rating.

Hopefully you continue to expand on this because after pointing in the direction, I want to know more. What else is between my pointed finger and the center of the galaxy?!?!?!!!!! Now I think I’ll go watch a Star Talk or two. Hahaha great work!

I’ve been using this to put my own issues into perspective when feeling overwhelmed by life. I know it’s intended as just a fun little science app, but its’s also a powerful reminder of our relative insignificance, and helps me be a little less stressed out and uptight. Thank you, Mr. Webb.

I think the arrow, while simple (and simple is good), is a little boring. In both the icon and the app I’d love to see a simple star field background or maybe an actual black hole (or both). You should also charge a buck or two for this. You absolutely deserve to get paid for your work.

Thank you so much for making this! I have a special interest in sag a* and it’s so nice to be able to orient myself to her whenever I want to know where she is. 🦄😻👸🏴‍☠️

Ah, Galactic Compass, the app that helps you navigate the cosmos like a seasoned astronaut! As someone who's always up for a celestial adventure, I couldn't resist diving into the cosmic depths with this intriguing little tool. Let me tell you, strapping on my virtual space boots and setting course for Sagittarius A*, the gravitational giant at the heart of our Milky Way, was quite the stellar experience! First off, let's talk about supermassive black holes, those cosmic vacuum cleaners that gobble up anything unlucky enough to wander too close. Picture this: Sagittarius A* is like the Beyonc

Love this app. What a great way to remind one’s self of the vast scale and orientation of the world we live in. Every time I open in it’s a nice little perspective shift.

Looking at that simple arrow makes one contemplate our place in the Universe and wonder what it all means… Maybe a couple of thoughts/suggestions: I noticed the exact orientation of the arrow could be difficult to figure at certain orientations—so, maybe it would be possible to use ARKit and make an augmented reality option where the arrow is placed within the environment? Also, it would be cool to be able to see the speed relative to the galaxy center, or better yet show it as a velocity vector (also using AR).

the idea of the app is incredibly cool and interesting and when i heard about it i downloaded it immediately just to see what it was. the only thing i would want to see in it is a compass for other objects in the galaxy like pluto, james webb telescope, or voyager 1. all in all, i love this app and i think the idea is amazing.

I am but another step closer to being one with the universe. Also, all my friends are impressed when I whip this baby out.

It’s so simple to use and no matter how fast (no FTL support) or slow I’m moving nor time of day it might, I’ll never be lost bc I always know where my galactic center is! Way to GO 👍 😉

So hyped to have found this app (through Jason Kottke)! I’ve thought about orienting myself with the Sun/galaxy/etc., and I’m thrilled to see someone has had this same thought. I really liked the adjacent article about homecooked apps as well. It got me thinking up ideas for my own creations👍

Took me a second to realize the arrow is supposed to point to the top of your phone like an actual compass, my first inclination was to make it point up, out of the screen. This app is surprisingly accurate, and it’s fun!