About Where's Orion?

Where's Orion? is a daily game about knowing the night sky. Each day the game cuts three small patches out of a pixel-art map of the whole sky: a wide one, a tighter one, and a close one. You get the picture of each patch and a clock, and you pan and zoom around the real sky to find where it came from. Put the frame on it, lock, and the game tells you how much of the patch you covered. Everyone in the world gets the same three patches each day, so a score can be compared with a friend's.

How the sky is drawn

The sky is rendered from real star catalogues, not from photographs. Every star down to magnitude 10.5 is placed from its measured position and coloured from its measured colour index, pushed a little past what the eye sees so the pixel art reads well. Constellation figures, the Milky Way and more than five hundred deep-sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, clusters) are drawn in their true places and at their true sizes. The brightest objects are small pixel sprites sampled from public-domain and Creative Commons photographs, credited below.

How scoring works

Cover 75% of the patch for a PERFECT and 1,000 points. 50% is GREAT, 25% is GOOD, touching is CLOSE. A miss still scores by how far away you were.
A time bonus of up to 30% rewards locking early, but only on a GOOD or better: speed on a guess earns nothing.
Three rounds, at 90°, 50° and 25° of sky, with 60, 70 and 80 seconds.

Playing with friends

After a game, share your result or send a challenge link: your friend plays the same patches and the two scores are compared. A room gives a group a six-letter code; everyone plays the same patches whenever they like for a week and the scoreboard fills in as they finish.

The app

Where's Orion? is also an iPhone app by Shrub Software: the same daily game inside a pixel-art planetarium that shows the sky above you, with the horizon, the Moon, the planets and a desert landscape.

Data and credits

Stars: the HYG database v4.1 by David Nash (CC BY-SA 4.0), and the Tycho-2 catalogue (Høg et al. 2000, ESA/Hipparcos mission, via VizieR).
Deep-sky objects: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Milky Way: computed from Tycho-2 star counts and a galactic model.
Font: Silkscreen by Jason Kottke (SIL Open Font License).
Planetary positions in the app: algorithms after Jean Meeus, checked against JPL Horizons.

Photographs behind the deep-sky sprites

Each sprite below was sampled from the photograph named, used under its licence. Thank you to every photographer and observatory.

**HYG Database v4.1**, astronexus.com/hyg, CC BY-SA 4.0. Bright stars, names, Hipparcos ids.
**OpenNGC**, github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0. Deep-sky objects (NGC.csv, addendum.csv).
**Tycho-2** (Høg et al. 2000, A&A 355, L27), VizieR I/259, via `tools/fetch_tycho.sh`. Faint stars when present.
**Stellarium** modern sky culture, GPL-2.0-or-later. Constellation lines and names.
**Silkscreen** font, SIL Open Font License 1.1.
C009 Sh2-155, Cave Nebula (noao-sh2-155).jpg — T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) and H. Schweiker (WIYN and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA) — CC BY 4.0
IC0405 Flaming Star Nebula, IC 405.png — Chuck Ayoub — CC0
IC1396 IC 1396A Elephant Trunk Nebula (noao1507a).jpg — T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) and H. Schweiker (WIYN and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA) — CC BY 4.0
IC2177 Seagull Nebula (IC 2177).jpg — ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2 — CC BY 4.0
IC2944 IC 2944, Nicknamed the Running Chicken Nebula.jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
IC4703 Fairy of Eagle Nebula.jpg — NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) — Public domain
IC5070 The Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) (noao-ic5070).jpg — T.A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
M1 Crab Nebula.jpg — NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University) — Public domain
M31 Andromeda Galaxy (with h-alpha).jpg — Adam Evans — CC BY 2.0
M42 Orion Nebula - Hubble 2006 mosaic 18000.jpg — NASA, ESA, M. Robberto (Space Telescope Science Institute/ESA) and the Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Tea — Public domain
M51 Messier51 sRGB.jpg — NASA and European Space Agency — Public domain
M57 Hubble image of the Ring Nebula (Messier 57).jpg — NASA, ESA, and C. Robert O’Dell (Vanderbilt University) — Public domain
M8 Lagoon Nebula (ESO).jpg — ESO/S. Guisard — CC BY 4.0
NGC0205 Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy Messier 110.png — NASA Hubble — CC BY 2.0
NGC0221 M32, NGC 221 (noao-02326).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC0253 Potw1017a.jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
NGC0281 NGC 281 Pacman Nebula astrophotography by Denis Melamed.png — Denis Melamed — CC BY 4.0
NGC0598 VST snaps a very detailed view of the Triangulum Galaxy.jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
NGC0628 Messier 74 by HST.jpg — NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration. Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (University of Tole — Public domain
NGC0650 M76 - The Little Dumbbell Nebula - Flickr - gjdonatiello.jpg — Giuseppe Donatiello from Oria (Brindisi), Italy — CC0
NGC1068 Messier 77 spiral galaxy by HST.jpg — NASA, ESA & A. van der Hoeven — Public domain
NGC1316 Ngc1316 hst.jpg — NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) — Public domain
NGC1499 NGC 1499- The California Nebula (noao-n1499block).jpg — KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Adam Block — CC BY 4.0
NGC1555 T Tauri in NGC 1555 (noao-ttau).jpg — T. A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, H. Schweiker/WIYN and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC1904 Messier 79 - February 28 2022 (51911978446).png — Kevin M. Gill — CC BY 2.0
NGC2024 Flame Nebula NGC 2024.jpg — ESO/IDA/Danish 1.5 m/R. Gendler, J.-E. Ovaldsen, C. Thöne and C. Féron — CC BY 4.0
NGC2068 Messier 78.jpg — ESO/Igor Chekalin — CC BY 4.0
NGC2070 30 Doradus, Tarantula Nebula.jpg — NASA, ESA, ESO, D. Lennon and E. Sabbi (ESA/STScI), J. Anderson, S. E. de Mink, R. van der Marel, T. Sohn, and N. Walbor — Public domain
NGC2237 Rosette Nebula Captured with DECam (noirlab2424a).jpg — CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
NGC2392 Ngc2392.jpg — NASA, ESA, Andrew Fruchter (STScI), and the ERO team (STScI + ST-ECF) — Public domain
NGC3031 Messier 81 HST.jpg — NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) — Public domain
NGC3034 M82 HST ACS 2006-14-a-large web.jpg — NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) — Public domain
NGC3115 NGC 3115 2MASS.jpg — Unknown (2MASS-Team) — Public domain
NGC3132 A cosmic bubble- NGC 3132 (ngc3132-cc).jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
NGC3242 NGC 3242 "Ghost of Jupiter".png — Judy Schmidt — CC BY 2.0
NGC3351 M95, NGC 3351 (noao-m95).jpg — Hillary Mathis, N.A.Sharp/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/ — CC BY 4.0
NGC3368 M96 galaxy.png — paramsach — CC BY 2.0
NGC3372 Carina Nebula by ESO.jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
NGC3556 Messier108 - SDSS DR 14 (panorama).jpg — Sloan Digital Sky Survey — CC BY 4.0
NGC3587 Owl Nebula, M97, NGC 3587 (noao0310a).jpg — Karen Kwitter (Williams College), Ron Downes (STScI), You-Hua Chu (University of Illinois) and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC3623 Messier 65 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC3627 NGC 3627 (weic2403n).jpg — NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. Lee (STScI), T. Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team — CC BY 4.0
NGC3918 NGC 3918 "The Southerner".jpg — Judy Schmidt — CC BY 2.0
NGC3992 Messier109 - SDSS DR14 (panorama).jpg — Sloan Digital Sky Survey — CC BY 4.0
NGC4192 Messier 98.jpg — ESO
NGC4254 Messier 99 NGC 4254.jpg — ESO — Public domain
NGC4303 Messier 61 looks straight into the camera.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA
NGC4374 M84, NGC 4374 (noao-m84).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC4382 Messier 85 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC4406 Messier 86 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC4472 M49, NGC 4472 (noao-m49).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC4486 Messier 87 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC4490 NGC 4490 (noao-n4490gariepy).jpg — KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Michael Gariepy/Adam Block — CC BY 4.0
NGC4501 Spiral Galaxy Messier 88.jpg — NASA Hubble — CC BY 2.0
NGC4548 M91, NGC 4548 (noao-m91).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC4552 Messier89 - SDSS DR14 (panorama).jpg — Sloan Digital Sky Survey — CC BY 4.0
NGC4565 NGC 4565.jpg — ESO — CC BY 3.0
NGC4579 M58, NGC 4579 (noao-m58).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/ — CC BY 4.0
NGC4590 Messier 68 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC4594 M104 ngc4594 sombrero galaxy hi-res.jpg — NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) — Public domain
NGC4621 Messier59 - HST - Potw1921a.jpg — Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, L. Ho et al. — CC BY 4.0
NGC4631 NGC 4631 The whale galaxy.png — Juan lacruz — CC BY 4.0
NGC4649 Messier51 sRGB.jpg — NASA and European Space Agency — Public domain
NGC4736 Messier 94, Imaged by John Richards May, 2024.jpg — Johrich — CC BY 4.0
NGC4826 Blackeyegalaxy.jpg — NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI) — Public domain
NGC5024 Messier 53 HST.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA — CC BY 3.0
NGC5055 A galactic sunflower.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA — CC BY 4.0
NGC5128 Black Hole Outflows From Centaurus A.jpg — ESO/WFI (Optical); MPIfR/ESO/APEX/A.Weiss et al. (Submillimetre); NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al. (X-ray)
NGC5139 Omega Centauri, NGC 5139 (noao-02217).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC5236 Messier83 - Heic1403a.jpg — Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
NGC5272 M3 – 2020-05-02 – V3 (54830685226).png — horizon_productions_sfl — CC0
NGC5457 M101 hires STScI-PRC2006-10a.jpg — Credit:
NGC5904 Messier5 - SDSS DR14 (panorama).jpg — Sloan Digital Sky Survey — CC BY 4.0
NGC6093 Hubble Science Image Utilized in "Touch the Universe" – NGC 6093 (2002-28-1266).jpg — The Team (/) — Public domain
NGC6171 Messier 107 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC6218 M12 Hubble.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA — Public domain
NGC6254 Globular Cluster M10.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA — CC BY 3.0
NGC6266 Messier62 - HST - Potw1915a.jpg — Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Anderson et al. — CC BY 4.0
NGC6273 M19 hst 14197 01 wfc3 R814-G438-B336.jpg — https://hla.stsci.edu/hla_help.html#acknow
NGC6302 NGC 6302 Hubble 2009.full.jpg — NASA, ESA and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team — Public domain
NGC6333 Messier 9 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC6402 Messier 14.jpg — NOIRLAB / NSF / AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC6514 Trifid Nebula (M20) (gemini0207a).jpg — International Gemini Observatory/Ingrid Braul, Southlands Elementary, Vancouver BC — CC BY 4.0
NGC6543 Looking at the Cat’s Eye Nebula with Hubble (potm2602b).jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA, Z. Tsvetanov — CC BY 4.0
NGC6611 Eagle Nebula from ESO.jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
NGC6618 VST image of the spectacular star-forming region Messier 17 (Omega Nebula).jpg — ESO/INAF-VST/OmegaCAM. Acknowledgement: OmegaCen/Astro-WISE/Kapteyn Institute — CC BY 4.0
NGC6626 M28, NGC 6626 (noao-m28).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC6637 Messier 69 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC6656 The crammed centre of Messier 22.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA — CC BY 4.0
NGC6681 Messier 70 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC6779 Messier 56 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC6809 M55-3point6-m copy.jpg — ESO — CC BY 4.0
NGC6818 NGC 6818 "Little Gem" (9691374072).png — geckzilla — CC BY 2.0
NGC6826 Caldwell 15.jpg — NASA Hubble — CC BY 2.0
NGC6838 Messier 71 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC6853 M27, NGC 6853, Dumbbell Nebula (noao-02184).jpg — Bill Schoening, Nigel Sharp/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC6864 Crowded cluster Messier 75.jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA, F. Ferraro et al. — CC BY 4.0
NGC6888 Mgławica Półksiężyc NGC 6888.jpg — Wojciech Mazur — CC BY 4.0
NGC6981 A glittering cluster shines again (potw2516a).jpg — ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Sarajedini, G. Piotto, M. Libralato — CC BY 4.0
NGC7000 NGC 7000- The North America Nebula and the Pelican Nebula (noao-n7000mosblock).jpg — KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Adam Block — CC BY 4.0
NGC7009 The Saturn Nebula, NGC 7009 (noao-02211).jpg — NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC7023 NGC 7023- The Iris Nebula (noao-n7023block).jpg — KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Adam Block — CC BY 4.0
NGC7078 Messier 15 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC7089 M2, NGC 7089 (noao-m2).jpg — Doug Williams, REU Program/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0
NGC7099 Messier 30 Hubble WikiSky.jpg — en:NASA, en:STScI, en:WikiSky — Public domain
NGC7293 NGC7293 (2004).jpg — NASA, ESA, C.R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt University), M. Meixner and P. McCullough (STScI) — Public domain
NGC7635 The Bubble Nebula - NGC 7635 - Heic1608a.jpg — NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team — Public domain
Sh2-103 Panoramic Loop in Cygnus (noao1209a).jpg — T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) and WIYN/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA — CC BY 4.0