Tools / UAE heritage
Night sky
What's above you right now? A sky map from your place in the UAE with the Arabic star names — Suhail, Al Jadi, Pleiades, Sirius, Aldebaran — plus the planets and the Moon. Tap any star for its name and where to find it, let the phone turn the chart as you face, and use the red mode in the desert to keep your night vision.
Everything is computed on your phone, and it works offline
Brightest above you now
Star data and Arabic names: d3-celestial © Olaf Frohn (BSD-3 licence). Planets: Paul Schlyter's simplified formulas.
How to use it
- Pick your city or tap «My location».
- The chart: north at the top and east on the left — as if held above your head.
- Tap any star or planet for its name, direction and altitude.
- In the desert turn on «Compass» and «Night mode», and slide the time to see the sky hours later.
Questions
Where are the names from?
The Arabic star and constellation names come from the open d3-celestial data (BSD licence). Many star names worldwide are Arabic in origin: Aldebaran, Rigel, Betelgeuse, Altair.
Are planet positions exact?
They're computed from simplified orbital formulas, good to a degree or two — enough to find them by eye.
Where's best for stargazing?
Away from city lights: Liwa, the desert and Hatta. Give your eyes 20 minutes in the dark, and use the red mode.