Features
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License:
Free
- Editor's Rating:
- Average User Rating:
-
Downloads:
83,940
- Operating Systems:
Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows NT
- Additional Requirements:
No additional requirements
- Limitations:
No limitations
- Date Added:
March 18, 2009
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Previous Versions:
Publisher's description of Stellarium
From Stellarium:Stellarium is a free open-source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go.
In version 0.10.2, a new projection mode is now available, called "Hammer-Aitoff", which allows for very wide fields of view (up to 360 degrees). This release also includes many bug fixes and some general performance tweaks.
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Editor's review of Stellarium
stars
- "Reach for the stars"
- Version reviewed: Stellarium 0.10.2
Open source and currently in use by planetarium projectors, Stellarium brings astronomer-level features to stargazers of all levels of interest. It's not quite as robust as its competitors, but it's also a much faster program. It doesn't suck away your RAM into a black hole when loading or running. It does run only in full screen mode, making any other programs you're running inaccessible except for the ALT-Tab switcher.
The default catalog includes 600,000 stars, with upgrade modules that can push the count up to 210 million stars. The constellations of 10 different cultures are included, as well as illustrations and asterisms to help you visualize what the ancients saw. There's a full Messier catalog of nebulae, too. The dawn, dusk and atmosphere backgrounds were good, but not great on our monitor. They probably look better on a planetarium dome, which is why it's useful that Stellarium also includes a fish-eye view for curved surfaces. Besides equatorial and azimuthal grids, users also get shooting stars when appropriate, eclipse simulation, and skinnable landscapes. Stellarium incorporates star-views from the Moon.
The controls live in the lower left corner and are transparent--a bit hard to find. The nifty record feature is somewhat hampered by the dark interface. When you run the program for the first time it asks that you set your current location, but the mouse-over map of the world was too small to use easily. Stellarium should appeal both to users who need something more academic and less distracting than Google or Microsoft's offerings, as well as those who have a need for an open-source planetarium. Fortunately, that could be any of us.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.1 stars out of 74 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 7 user reviewsSee all 7 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Stellarium 0.10.2
"A very good spectator program... However."
Pros: It does show what it advertises.
Cons: I just couldn't get it out of it's default set-up.
Summary: Almost too complicated. If you have loads of time and the patience to work with and eventually master the numerous views, this program would be awesome, however it's really not for the novice.. In my case I couldn't even get out of the French farm o... read more >>
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Version: Stellarium 0.10.2
"This is a fun, easy program for all ages."
Pros: It took only a couple minutes to figure it out. It appears to be one of the few programs that is clear and easy to read no matter what the resolution is set to on your monitor. (at least on mine)
Cons: no cons that come to mind.
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Version: Stellarium 0.10.2
"Wonderful everybody that has seen it is enchanted"
Pros: I teach youngsters how to use computers but I seem to have become a science teacher as well, for me one of the great things about this is I am having to learn myself in order to answer their questions.
Cons: My only gripe is that Sri Lanka is not on the list of countries so we have to view from either Dehli or the Maldive.
Summary: I would thank the developers for making this available as Freeware, the kids I teach are underprivaleged and would not normally get to use such programmes and/or see such things.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Stellarium 0.10.2
"I find it very good, in the lower elementary grades."
Pros: When I first turned it on, I was amazed that my computer, with only 512 mb of ram, could find so much information. I usw it at least three times a week. I still am amazed at the clearly marked 'how to' with this great program.
Cons: I found no problems with this program. It makes actual moves as needed!
Summary: Over-all, I find myself looking forward to this program. I sometimes take breaks from the internet with it, as it is so simple to use and quite good at what it is supposed to do. Who ever built this program is excellent in abilities and quit gifted ... read more >>
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Stellarium 0.10.2
"A great way to learn the night sky!"
Pros: Easy to set up and use!
Fun and easy to learn!
Lots of options to toggle on and off to suit individual preferences!Cons: I don't have any criticisms to offer.
- See all 7 user reviews Write review
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