Star Chart Support & FAQ for Apple devices:
Android Support Page
Problems with Augmented Reality
Problems with GPS
Problems with Compass
AR Support
AR Support: Please note that Star Chart requires an iPhone 3GS / 4 or iPad to function in Augmented Reality mode. This is due to the requirement of a compass included in the hardware. Star Chart will work on older iPhones and iPods, but you will be required to pan through the skies using your fingers.
AR issues: On devices with a built-in compass Augmented Reality mode should kick-in automatically upon startup. If it does not, please ensure the AR-mode toggle button at the bottom of the screen isn't disabled:
AR enabled:
AR disabled:
Time and Time Zone: Ensure your device is set to the correct time, and just as importantly, the correct time zone. Star Chart needs both these pieces of information in order to work properly.
GPS Support
GPS Failing to find Location:
- Ensure you have allowed Star Chart to use location services on your iPhone/iPad. If this was disabled then your device will withhold location updates from the application. To enable them, go to your Settings -> Location Services and ensure Star Chart is set to ON.
- Quit out of Star Chart and ensure that it's not running as a background task by double tapping the 'Home' button on your device, then hold down over the Star Chart icon and close it. This will ensure it starts up again from scratch and attempts to find the GPS - otherwise it won't try to re-establish its location.
- If it still fails to find GPS after trying the above first, from within Star Chart, go to Settings -> Location and press the Update From GPS button. Try a few times if it keeps failing because it will eventually get it, especially if your other apps are working.
Location: Star Chart also needs to know where you are located to accurately draw the skies as you would see them in your current location. Where possible we get this from GPS data available to us on your device. If Star Chart displays LAT: 0.00 LON 0.00 in the top left of the screen, then Star Chart has failed to get GPS data. There can be multiple reasons for this, ranging from your device's built-in technologies not supporting GPS, your personal device settings disabling GPS, the "Use GPS" toggle in Star Chart's "Set Location" menu option, as well as GPS signal strength in your current location.
| No GPS data: |
LAT: 0.00N LON: 0.00E
|
Compass
Compass: Sometimes devices with compasses lose accuracy and the compass needs recalibrating. This is often the case when you experience either "stickyness" or lack of movement, obviously inaccurate directional pointing (you know you're pointing north, but Star Chart seems to be pointing another direction) or if the screen pans in a different direction to your physical movement. If this happens, hold your iPhone out at arms length and make a figure-of-eight motion with your arm three or four times. This should recalibrate it. Also please ensure you are not near a strong magnetic field, for example electricity cables or a magnet attached to your device's case.
Object's Positions Inaccurate: There have been reports of the sun and other object's positions not showing up accurately. To function properly, Star Chart requires the following device settings to be accurate: Time / Time Zone / GPS coordinates. If you find this problem occurs for you, please try the following: Ensure your Time Zone is set correctly for your location. Ensure the right Time is set for your location. Ensure the GPS coordinates are accurate for your location (especially if you have input them yourself). There is a possible bug in some CDMA devices that may cause all Star Chart's objects to show up in the wrong position - we are working on this and will have a fix asap.
More serious issues: If your problems with Star Chart are more severe than those mentioned above, we ask that you reinstall the app. Delete Star Chart from your Home Screen and re-install it by downlaoding it again directly from the App Store (you will not be charged again). If your problem persists, please contact us on:
Finally Star Chart only works on Earth. So please don't take it with you on interstellar missions - it'll only get you lost ;).
Join us in discussing everything Star Chart related.
Join our Star Chart Forum
A lot of what makes Star Chart great is the input we get from you, our customers. We get great feature requests and help in resolving bugs that occur only when the app is tested around the globe or on multiple devices under different settings.
With this in mind we thought it might be a good idea to broaden that relationship so that it's not just two way, but so that we can all talk together about Star Chart and our passion for the night sky... so we've set up a forum; a place where we can discuss the software / hardware and of course our own Star Gazing experiences. We hope you join and help make it a wonderful resource for all Star Gazing enthusiasts.
Visit the Star Chart forum now.
Star Chart Feedback: We want to hear from you.
Contact us with your thoughts
We are constantly updating Star Chart with new features and enhancements, so please let us know if you find something missing or awkward - the more feedback we get, the better we can make it for all users.
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