Planetarium software

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Planetarium software is application software that allows a user to simulate the celestial sphere at any time of day, especially at night, on a computer. Such applications can be as rudimentary as displaying a star chart or sky map for a specific time and location, or as complex as rendering photorealistic views of the sky.

Contents

While some planetarium software is meant to be used exclusively on a personal computer, some applications can be used to interface with and control telescopes or planetarium projectors. Optional features may include inserting the orbital elements of comets and other newly discovered bodies for display.

Comparison of planetarium software

NameLatest releaseLicenseOperating system
WindowsLinuxmacOSAndroidiOS
Astrarium September 9, 2024 [1] MIT License YesNoNoNoNo
C2A May 1, 2021 Proprietary YesNoNoNoNo
Cartes du Ciel November 24, 2019 GPLv2 YesYesYesNoNo
Celestia November 4, 2023 [2] GPLv2 YesYesYesYesYes
Digital Universe Atlas July 18, 2024 [3] Illinois Open Source License NoYesYesNoYes
HNSKY June 14, 2024 [4] GNU General Public License v3 YesYesYesNoNo
KStars December 5, 2024GPLv2YesYesYesYesNo
Stellarium September 22, 2024GPLv2YesYesYesPartial (limited)Partial (limited)
Nightshade 2022 GPLv3 (Nightshade Legacy)Nightshade Public License (Nightshade NG)YesYesYesNoNo
SkyExplorer 2024 Proprietary YesNoNoNoNo
Sky Map November 30, 2024 [5] Apache License, Version 2.0 NoNoNoYesNo
SpaceEngine December 5, 2024ProprietaryYesYes (Proton) [6]
Native build Planned
PlannedNoNo
XEphem February 13, 2024 [7] MIT License NoYesYesNoNo
WorldWide Telescope July 12, 2022 [8] MIT License YesNoNoNoNo
RedshiftMay 19, 2024ProprietaryYesNoYesYesYes
SkySafariDecember 10, 2024 [9] ProprietaryNoNoYesYesYes
Starry Night-ProprietaryYesNoYesNoNo
Sky GuideAugust 18, 2021ProprietaryNoNoNoNoYes
TheSkyJuly 12, 2024 [10] ProprietaryYesYesYesNoNo
WinStarsDecember 28, 2023 [11] ProprietaryYesYesNoYesNo
Google Sky -Proprietary-----
Digistar -Proprietary-----
Shira Player (software)May 20, 2024 [12] GPLv2YesNoNoNoNo
Shira Universe (software)July 27, 2024 [13] MIT LicenseYesNoNoNoNo
PlanetariumVR (virtual reality)December 17, 2021ProprietaryYesNoNoNoNo

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">KStars</span>

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References

  1. "Releases · Astrarium/Astrarium". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  2. "Releases · CelestiaProject/Celestia". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  3. "Release 0.20.1 · OpenSpace/OpenSpace". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  4. "History of the Hallo northern sky planetarium software program". www.hnsky.org. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  5. "Releases 1.10.4". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  6. ""ProtonDB - Game details for SpaceEngine"". ProtonDB. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  7. "XEphem". xephem.github.io. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  8. "wwt-windows-client/WWTExplorer3d/CHANGELOG.md at release · WorldWideTelescope/wwt-windows-client". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  9. "SkySafari 7 Pro - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  10. "Change Logs – Software Bisque" . Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  11. "Download – WinStars 3". winstars.net. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  12. "Shira Player". www.sureyyasoft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  13. "Shira Universe". www.sureyyasoft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.