Simulation Curriculum (http://www.simulationcurriculum.com) has acquired Southern Stars Group's SkySafari apps for iOS, Mac OS X, and Android, as well as its SkyFi, and SkyWire hardware product lines. Simulation Curriculum Corp. is the publisher of the Starry Night and Layered Earth software.

The acquisition also includes Southern Stars (http://www.southernstars.com) developers Tim DeBenedictis and Bill Tschumy. They'll join Simulation Curriculum, and continue to support and develop Southern Stars' products under the new company.

The first new product to be released under the combined company is SkySafari 4, an update of Southern Stars' flagship mobile astronomy app. SkySafari 4 represents a complete overhaul of this award-winning product line for iOS 7, and is available on the Apple App Store now. SkySafari 4 will be offered at an introductory 50% discount through Jan. 20, 2014.

"SkySafari and Starry Night are the two most well-known and highly regarded astronomy software applications on the market today," says Simulation Curriculum co-founder and CEO Michael Goodman. "This combination of the best products and the brightest talent will allow the company to continue to exceed its customers' expectations while creating new products intended for new consumer and education audiences, the latest platforms and the most popular devices."

Southern Stars founder Tim DeBenedictis adds: "SkySafari and Starry Night are the two strongest brands in astronomy software today. Joining our teams together and finding common efficiencies will lead both companies to develop new products that neither could have imagined alone."