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Tell the Sky

message lanterns drift on winds from live weather data

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I created a web/mobile app that lets you write a story/secret/encouragement/etc... on a lantern. You can then let it go and it will float over a world map using live wind data from NOAA's public wind forecast. Other users can then catch them in a timed window as they float by overhead and add on to the message chain. Then they release them to continue on.It's just a fun thing I was trying - kind of like a message in a bottle but in the sky. I thought it sounded like a cool idea and after playing with it, I really like it but was curious if other people also thought it was cool or just seemed lame. lolIf you'd be willing to check it out you can view lanterns without any signup or anything. But to launch one yourself, it requires an account (all free of course and Google and Apple OAuth supported). Only cities are shown for locations (never addresses).Does the idea of watching your own lanterns float around the world in real-time and seeing others catch them interest you enough to come back to, or does it need more?I welcome any feedback but would really appreciate creative ideas to enhance it. Thanks for any help!

HN · launched Nov 6, 2026 · 6 upvotes (top 66%) · 0 views

Niche: interactive mapping platforms · 191 launches, 18 in the last 7 days ▲ +20% · Explore this niche →

Category and tags

  • Horizontal
  • B2C
  • Not AI
  • Hobby / open-source project

Visit website ↗ Source listing ↗

Could you build this?

Yes It is a map UI over a public NOAA wind forecast feed, with user accounts, message storage, and a timed-catch mechanic that a solo builder can assemble from standard web and mobile tools.

Discussion

No comments on this launch.

Competitors

Other products that read as similar to this one : 213 launches clear the similarity bar, closest 8 shown.

Attention rank: #136 of 214 (itself plus its competitors, highest first, normalized so YC and Product Hunt are compared fairly).

Launched 361 days after the earliest competitor.

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