Show HN: Orbit – AR satellite tracker, watch 15k+ objects

Orbit is an innovative AR satellite tracker for iOS that lets users track the ISS, constellations, and over 15,000 space objects in real time. The app stands out with its strict privacy-first policy and an optional built-in AI chatbot.

Orbit

Watch satellites pass overhead in real time.

Point your camera at the sky to find the ISS and thousands of other spacecraft, planets, constellations, and debris.

Orbit turns your iPhone and iPad into a real-time satellite tracker. Watch satellites, planets, constellations, and orbital debris appear through augmented reality, then tap to explore everything currently flying overhead.

Everything above you, on one screen

iPhone & iPadPlatform

**iOS 17+**Requires

Augmented realitySky view

**15,000+**Tracked objects

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 9 June 2026

Orbit is designed to respect your privacy. This policy explains what the app accesses on your device, why, and what happens to it. In short: Orbit does not require an account or ask for your personal information. The diagnostics and usage data we collect is anonymous and not linked to your identity, used solely to keep the app stable and improve it. The one exception is the optional AI chatbot, which sends the messages you type to Google to generate a reply, as explained below.

Camera

Orbit uses your device camera to power the augmented-reality Sky View, overlaying satellite positions, planets, and constellations onto the live view of the sky. The camera feed is processed on your device in real time and is never recorded, stored, or transmitted anywhere.

Location

Orbit uses your approximate location and your device's motion and orientation sensors to calculate which satellites are overhead, where to point you in the sky, and when upcoming passes will be visible from where you are. This data is used only on your device to perform those calculations. It is not stored on our servers, shared, or used to identify you.

Data we collect

Orbit collects a limited amount of diagnostics and usage data. In line with Apple's App Store privacy definitions, all of it is labelled "Data Not Linked to You" — it is not associated with your identity, account, or device in a way that could identify you. Specifically:

Performance data— metrics such as launch times, responsiveness, and energy use that help us find and fix slowdowns.Crash data— diagnostic logs generated if the app crashes, so we can reproduce and resolve the problem.Product interaction— anonymous, aggregated usage signals (such as which features are opened) that show us how the app is used so we can improve it.

This data is collected in aggregate and is never used to track you across other apps or websites.

Information we do not collect

We do not require you to create an account or provide a name, email, or any personal details to use the app.
We do not collect or store your photos, camera frames, or precise location history.
We do not sell or share your data with advertisers or data brokers.

Satellite and orbital data

To show accurate positions, Orbit downloads publicly available satellite tracking data (such as orbital elements) from trusted public sources. These requests retrieve reference data only and do not transmit personal information about you.

AI chatbot

Orbit includes an optional in-app chatbot that answers space-related questions with short replies. The chatbot is powered by Google's Gemini API. When you send a message to the chatbot, the text you type is sent to Google to generate a response, and is subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

The chatbot is heavily guardrailed to stay on the topic of space and astronomy. Please avoid entering personal or sensitive information into it. Messages are sent only when you choose to use the chatbot; if you never open it, no chat data leaves your device. Orbit does not attach your name or account to these messages, because the app has no account, and it does not use your conversations to build a profile of you.

How this data is handled

The performance, crash, and product-interaction data described above is used only to diagnose problems and improve Orbit. It is aggregated, cannot be used to identify you, and is never sold. Orbit does not use third-party advertising or cross-app tracking SDKs.

Children's privacy

Orbit does not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app is suitable for general audiences, and the only data it collects is the anonymous, non-identifying diagnostics described above.