AstroNova

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  AstroNova

Inspiration

Most people rarely see the real night sky anymore because of clouds, light pollution, and city environments. We wanted to build something that lets anyone rediscover the universe above them. AstroNova was inspired by the idea of turning a smartphone into an AI-powered telescope that reveals the sky even when it’s hidden.

What it does

AstroNova is an AI-powered AR astronomy app. By pointing your phone at the sky, it detects stars, planets, and constellations in real time and overlays them onto the camera view. Even when clouds or pollution block the view, AstroNova reconstructs the clear sky for that exact location. Users can tap celestial objects to receive AI-generated explanations or ask astronomy questions through voice or text.

How we built it

We built AstroNova using React Native (Expo) for the mobile app and FastAPI for the backend. The system uses GPS and device motion sensors to determine where the phone is pointing, then maps that to astronomical catalogs such as SIMBAD and NASA datasets. AI capabilities are powered through Amazon Bedrock, enabling explanations, voice queries, and intelligent responses.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was aligning celestial coordinates with the phone’s camera orientation to place stars accurately in AR. Another challenge was simulating the sky when it isn’t visible due to clouds or light pollution. We also had to optimize AI interactions so responses stayed fast and affordable.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud that AstroNova can reconstruct the real night sky anywhere, even when it’s hidden. Combining AR, astronomy datasets, and generative AI into one seamless experience was a big achievement. The result feels like having a smart telescope and space guide in your pocket.

What we learned

This project taught us how to combine mobile sensors, astronomy data, and AI systems into a real-time application. We also learned how powerful AR can be when paired with scientific datasets and generative AI.

What's next for AstroNova

Next, we want to add more precise sky tracking, deep-space objects, telescope integration, and educational experiences. Our vision is to turn AstroNova into a full AI-powered platform for exploring and learning about the universe.

Built With

• amazon-web-services
• fastapi
• langchain
• nova
• react-native