[Leanna Lofte]

Distant Suns 3: Space Travel for the Rest of Us is a universal iPhone & iPad application that puts the universe in your hands.

• View from the Earth or out in the solar-system with the new Spaceflight mode
• Compass aware for the 3GS and iPad. Just aim and identify.
• Over 130,000 pinpoint stars scintillating like diamond dust in the palm of your hand
• Realistic ghostly band of the Milky Way
• All 88 constellations with images and articles on their mythology
• Viewpoint Lock keeps any planet centered
• Current weather patterns on the earth, updated every 3 hours
• Preference panel to change the way stars are rendered in over a dozen different ways.
• The Messier catalog of galaxies, nebula and star clusters
• Dozens of photos from the Hubble Space Telescope
• All 8 planets (Pluto is optional)
• GPS aware
• Red interface to preserve your night vision
• What's Up? Gives a quick one snapshot overview of where all of the important stuff is
• Point and Identify mode reveals a wealth of hidden data for each star, planet or deep-sky object
• Planetary data and information

In anticipation of the Perseid Meteor Shower on Thursday, August 12, the folks over at First Light have provided us with 14 promo codes to give away! Winners will be able to use the app to assist in their stargazing for the event. How do you win? Let us know your favorite planet and constellation and why. The contest begins now and ends Thursday, August 12 at 3 PM EST. (A US iTunes account is required to win. Apple's rule, not ours!)

Distant Suns 3 - iTunes link
Planets Align for the Perseid Meteor Shower - NASA Science

[Rene Ritchie]

I'm not allowed to win, but just wanted to thank Distant Suns. Now off to see if I can find any starships in them thar spaces!

[gadgetman#CB]

My favorite planet is Mars because that's where our eventual alien overlords will come from. My favorite constellation is Lyra because that's where the star Vega is; and this is where humans will go to escape the Martian invasion.

We'll use Distant Suns 3 to get there!



Brian

[KevinM#IM]

Of course, my favorite planet is Uranus. I love looking at it.

Actually, I do. I've always liked its pale blue color and its off-axis (to us) ring structure, and when a cloud or atmospheric disturbance pops up, it stands out from a million miles away (literally!).

Plus, it drives my wife crazy when I make stupid Uranus jokes.

[davecotter]

Cuz it just looks SO AWESOME in your telescope! Does that count as a constellation? If not, i'll pick Orion. Cuz, how cool is Orion? Yes i know the Lizzies came from there, but like the Klingons many of them are trying to heal their angry past and become more noble.

I also really like Betelgeuse just cuz it's SO! DARND! BIG!!! Does that count as a planet? probably not, okay so for a planet i'd have to pick Phobos, cuz i think Buzz is totally right on!

[Awhatnot]

Orion is my favorite, mainly because it's the easiest to find.

[scottder]

My current favorite is Jupiter, recently got a set of 15x70 binoculars and got a lovely view of Jupiter and 3 of it's moons (not shabby for living in light polluted suburbia). I love having astronomy programs on my iPhone, however I don't currently own Distant Suns and would love to give a try for my next night of viewing.

Scott

[smashthehombre]

i will have to go with Hoth. Cause Wampa's are super badass.

[papasmurfrock]

ok. call me boring but my favorite planet is earth because we live on it! and my favorite constellation is leo because it's just cool.

[bradsworld]

I like Earth the best.

[srieger1]

I would say Jupiter is the coolest planet. Not only because of the size but also the red spot, a giant storm that has been going on for centuries. Add on the fact that there isn't a surface and it is liquid makes it the top in my book.

[Dave01568]

The moon is the best it take blows for us. I was afraid to say Uranus

[kilsey]

Favorite celestial body is Pluto, because I feel badly for it You'll always be a planet in my eyes little buddy!

Favorite Constellation is Cassiopeia, because I like Ws. (also? easy to find due to W shape )

[C4Christ01]

My favorite planet is Saturn because of the rings around it.

My favorite constellation is the big dipper because it is easy to find and it is a good reference for finding some of the other constellations.

[sneaker7]

Another vote for Orion!

[djayme7]

i like orion, because i can always find it!

[Studz McBeefcake]

My favorite is Jupiter's moon Europa because of Arthur C. Clarke's 2001 series.

[meponder]

Always been a fan of Orion; 1.) it has Betelgeuse, which is a great name, and 2.) it was easy to find as a kid.

[jmleib]

I'd have to say the moon.

When I went to space camp as a kid about 20 years ago, Good Morning America filmed us for a while, and my 3 second claim-to-fame national TV appearance was me saying "I'd love to land on the moon."

Hey, it could still happen!

[wiseman8]

Mine is Orion's Belt . It's just so cool to look at. The way the stars are positioned makes it just a beautiful picture to me.

[salvadore]

Pluto, because it's been unfairly removed from planetary status.

Casiopia because it's simple and easy to find.

[derrickkendall]

favorite planet would have to be Jupiter. Not because of it's sheer size but for how many moons it has. All so varied. Specifically Ganymede. I still have an interest in it from reading the Heinlein 50's novel "Farmer in the Sky" when I was younger. Great book!

Favorite constellation would ultimately be Bootes because no matter what the mythical figure is supposed to look like every time I see it the outline reminds me of a whale flying through space with Arcturus being it's tail. It's nice to think many things are out there.

Derrick

Been using the original distant suns for a while with my 3g, just upgraded to a 4 and would love to try the compass feature. Thanks for offering the contest

[Wiltron]

40 Eridani A

Why? Because its the star system of the home planet of the Vulcans, AKA. Vulcan.

It's also a real star system, named by NASA, and is 16 light years away from Sol. Star Trek: Enterprise, Commander Tucker claimed that Vulcan is 16 light years away from Earth, in the Eridani system.

Gene Roddenberry must have done his research, or at least, the writers of the Vulcan story line must have!

[Metatron]

Ever since I had to do a report on it in the 4th grade, I have always been partial to Auriga.

[bobdole3141]

I would absolutely love this app - i'm starting a degree in astrophysics in 3 weeks time!

My favourite planet is Venus. You can see it rise with the sun, sometimes see it going down with the setting sun too and it always highlights the scale of the universe to me - something so big can seem so small when it's so far away, and how mind boggling huge the sun must be to appear so large next to venus when it's so much further away.

My favourite constellation is the big dipper/the plough. From 6 years old i've always been able to identify it really quickly, it looks like a frying pan and it can be used to point to other features of the night sky.

Fingers crossed, omg this app would rock to use in my astrophys course!