OsmAnd 5.3 for Android adds astronomy plugin, 3D buildings, globe view, new widgets & more

OsmAnd 5.3 brings several key enhancements to its Android app, anchored by the introduction of an astronomy plugin. This tool overlays an interactive night sky on the map, displaying stars, constellations, planets, the sun, and the moon above your location. Users can preview celestial object paths for any date and time, with controls that aid in planning stargazing sessions.

Following this, OsmAnd now features a 3D buildings option, transforming flat building footprints into volumetric models. The globe view feature lets users switch the map display to a spherical earth for more realistic navigation around the globe. Both additions reshape map interaction and visual context.

The update also adds a map screen layout setting, allowing custom configuration of widget panels to prevent overlap and better utilize screen space, particularly when switching between portrait and landscape orientations. Trip recording benefits from new widgets for average speed and moving time, while the speedometer widget introduces visual warnings for exceeding set speed limits.

For greater personalization, a new palette editor allows users to create and edit color schemes for tracks and terrain. Cycling profiles unlock a bicycle width parameter, which helps the router avoid unsuitable narrow paths. Additional refinements include improved GPX track grouping, enhanced search details, upgraded track waypoint navigation, new activity profiles, and general bug fixes.