Planetarium software

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.

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

Name Latest release License Operating system
Windows Linux macOS Android iOS
Astrarium September 9, 2024[1] MIT License Yes No No No No
C2A May 1, 2021 Proprietary Yes No No No No
Cartes du Ciel November 24, 2019 GPLv2 Yes Yes Yes No No
Celestia November 4, 2023[2] GPLv2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Digital Universe Atlas July 18, 2024[3] Illinois Open Source License No Yes Yes No Yes
HNSKY June 14, 2024[4] GNU General Public License v3 Yes Yes Yes No No
KStars December 5, 2024 GPLv2 Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Stellarium September 22, 2024 GPLv2 Yes Yes Yes Partial (limited) Partial (limited)
Nightshade 2022 GPLv3 (Nightshade Legacy) Nightshade Public License (Nightshade NG) Yes Yes Yes No No
SkyExplorer 2024 Proprietary Yes No No No No
Sky Map December 21, 2021 Apache License, Version 2.0 No No No Yes No
SpaceEngine December 5, 2024 Proprietary Yes Yes (Proton)[5]
Native build Planned		 Planned No No
XEphem February 13, 2024[6] MIT License No Yes Yes No No
WorldWide Telescope July 12, 2022[7] MIT License Yes No No No No
Redshift May 19, 2024 Proprietary Yes No Yes Yes Yes
SkySafari December 10, 2024[8] Proprietary No No Yes Yes Yes
Starry Night - Proprietary Yes No Yes No No
Sky Guide August 18, 2021 Proprietary No No No No Yes
TheSky July 12, 2024[9] Proprietary Yes Yes Yes No No
WinStars December 28, 2023[10] Proprietary Yes Yes No Yes No
Google Sky - Proprietary - - - - -
Digistar - Proprietary - - - - -
Shira Player (software) May 20, 2024[11] GPLv2 Yes No No No No
Shira Universe (software) July 27, 2024[12] MIT License Yes No No No No
PlanetariumVR (virtual reality) December 17, 2021 Proprietary Yes No No No No

See also

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. ^ ""ProtonDB - Game details for SpaceEngine"". ProtonDB. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  6. ^ "XEphem". xephem.github.io. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  7. ^ "wwt-windows-client/WWTExplorer3d/CHANGELOG.md at release · WorldWideTelescope/wwt-windows-client". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  8. ^ "SkySafari 7 Pro - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  9. ^ "Change Logs – Software Bisque". Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  10. ^ "Download – WinStars 3". winstars.net. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  11. ^ "Shira Player". www.sureyyasoft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  12. ^ "Shira Universe". www.sureyyasoft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.


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