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
AstrariumSeptember 9, 2024MIT LicenseYesNoNoNoNo
C2AMay 1, 2021ProprietaryYesNoNoNoNo
Cartes du CielNovember 24, 2019GPLv2YesYesYesNoNo
CelestiaNovember 4, 2023GPLv2YesYesYesYesYes
Digital Universe AtlasJuly 18, 2024Illinois Open Source LicenseNoYesYesNoYes
HNSKYJune 14, 2024GNU General Public License v3YesYesYesNoNo
KStarsAugust 9, 2026GPLv2YesYesYesYesNo
StellariumSeptember 22, 2024GPLv2YesYesYesPartial (limited)Partial (limited)
OpenSpaceJuly 18, 2024MIT LicenseYesYesNoNoNo
Nightshade2022GPLv3 (Nightshade Legacy)Nightshade Public License (Nightshade NG)YesYesYesNoNo
SkyExplorer2024ProprietaryYesNoNoNoNo
Sky MapNovember 30, 2024 Apache License, Version 2.0NoNoNoYesNo
SpaceEngineDecember 5, 2024ProprietaryYesYes (Proton)
Native build Planned		PlannedNoNo
XEphemFebruary 13, 2024MIT LicenseNoYesYesNoNo
WorldWide TelescopeJuly 12, 2022MIT LicenseYesNoNoNoNo
RedshiftMay 19, 2024ProprietaryYesNoYesYesYes
SkySafariDecember 10, 2024ProprietaryNoNoYesYesYes
Starry Night-ProprietaryYesNoYesNoNo
Sky GuideAugust 18, 2021ProprietaryNoNoNoNoYes
TheSkyJuly 12, 2024ProprietaryYesYesYesNoNo
WinStarsDecember 28, 2023ProprietaryYesYesNoYesNo
Google Sky-Proprietary-----
Digistar-Proprietary-----
Shira Player (software)May 20, 2024GPLv2YesNoNoNoNo
Shira Universe (software)July 27, 2024MIT LicenseYesNoNoNoNo
PlanetariumVR (virtual reality)December 17, 2021ProprietaryYesNoNoNoNo

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. ↑ "KStars 3.8.4 Released". Retrieved 2026-09-19.
  6. ↑ "Releases 1.10.4". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  7. ↑ ""ProtonDB - Game details for SpaceEngine"". ProtonDB. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "XEphem". xephem.github.io. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  9. ↑ "wwt-windows-client/WWTExplorer3d/CHANGELOG.md at release · WorldWideTelescope/wwt-windows-client". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  10. ↑ "SkySafari 7 Pro - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  11. ↑ "Change Logs – Software Bisque". Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  12. ↑ "Download – WinStars 3". winstars.net. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  13. ↑ "Shira Player". www.sureyyasoft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  14. ↑ "Shira Universe". www.sureyyasoft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.