Stargazing by sound: an audio guide mode for blind and low-vision users
Stargazing should not be only for people who can see. Spider Astro has a mode that uses sound to give directions and reads information aloud, and you can control the app by voice. It is free on your phone.
How it works
- Audio scan: hold your phone and sweep it slowly around you. Faster “ticks” mean you are closer to the chosen object; the left or right side tells you which way to turn; a higher or lower pitch tells you to tilt up or down. When you find it, a cue tone plays and the name is spoken. Headphones make left and right clearer.
- Read aloud: most windows have a 🔊 button that reads a summary, such as the 7-day forecast and “Tonight’s sky”.
- Voice commands: turn on “Voice Guide mode” in Listen mode, then say things like “What is the weather like now?”, “What is in the sky tonight?”, “Find Venus”, “Take a photo”, or “Help” to hear all commands.
- Works with screen readers: choose to send speech to TalkBack or VoiceOver so the voices do not overlap.
Getting started
- Open the site in Chrome or Safari.
- Open “Listen mode” from the menu and turn on “Voice Guide mode”.
- Tap the microphone button in the menu bar and say a command.
Limits you should know
- Speech recognition uses your browser's service (for example Google in Chrome), so your voice is processed outside this site according to that browser's policy.
- Direction accuracy depends on your phone's sensors. If the compass drifts, wave the phone in a figure-8 to recalibrate.
- This feature is new and has not yet been formally tested with blind or low-vision users. Feedback from real users is very valuable for improving it.
- Reading aloud in English needs an English text-to-speech voice on your device; if there is none, the app shows how to install one.
Privacy
The site never asks for your name and keeps your settings only in your own browser. There is a button in Listen mode to delete them.
🔊 Open the app and choose “Listen mode”