Sky photos — User guide
Photos of the sky from the ground, shown on Earth and in a day strip. Playback pauses while this extension is on.
Turn it on from Menu → Extensions → Sky photos. The corner icon (and E) cycles panels + overlay → overlay only → off. Double-click the icon to hide it. Sign in (in the main menu while this extension is on) is required to upload. The Google session is remembered.
Turn it on
- Open the menu.
- Extensions → Sky photos. Playback stops.
- Photos appear as thumbs on the globe and in the bottom strip if Extended UI is on.
What’s on screen
| Area | What it does |
|---|---|
| Globe thumbs | Photos placed by GPS at the time they were taken. |
| Day strip | Horizontal filmstrip of photos for nearby times. Drag to scroll. |
| + / FAB | Add a photo from Camera or Gallery. Sign in first. |
| Photo popup | Full image on the globe after you click a thumb. Click the popup or press Escape to close. |
Gestures
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Drag strip | Scroll the photo strip horizontally. |
| Click card | Jump the EPIC clock to that photo’s time. |
| Click thumb | Open the photo popup on the globe. |
| FAB / + | Choose Camera or Gallery. |
| Account | Sign in from the main menu (only while Sky photos is on) to upload. Remembered after the first time. |
Add a photo
- Sign in (menu → Sign in, while Sky photos is on) with Google. After that, the session is remembered.
- Tap +.
- Camera (phone) or Gallery (existing file).
- The app reads EXIF when it can:
- Time — when the photo was taken (aligns with EPIC).
- GPS — where to place it on Earth (green if present, pink if missing).
- It estimates sky coverage (how much of the frame is sky).
- Review the publish modal (timestamp, GPS, coverage) and tap Publish Photo.
Without GPS the photo may not sit on the globe. Without sign-in, + will not upload.
Share and Extended UI
Share includes Sky photos and, when relevant, the current photo. Recipients may see Extended UI off — use E to show the strip and FAB again. Globe thumbs can still appear.
Tips
- Globe gestures still work, but play stays paused while Sky photos is on.
- Open Help with Sky photos on for the live gesture list.
