- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: August 29, 2008
- Total Downloads: 76,682
- Downloads last week: 484
- See full specifications
A newer version of Stellarium is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 83 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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.
Publisher's description
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.
Version 0.9.1 is primarily a bug fix and stabilization release, but users can expect to see improved start-up times and a new sky culture (Tupi-Guarani) as well as some progress with translations and overall stability.
What's new in this version:
Version 0.9.1 is primarily a bug fix and stabilization release, but users can expect to see improved start-up times and a new sky culture (Tupi-Guarani) as well as some progress with translations and overall stability.
More popular Science Software downloads
- 15,442 downloads 1. Google Earth
- 4,824 downloads 2. I-Doser
- 1,164 downloads 3. WorldWide Telescope
- 979 downloads 4. Solar System 3D Simulator
- 705 downloads 5. ACD/ChemSketch Freeware
- See all Science Software downloads
User reviews of Stellarium 0.9.1
- Average user rating: 4.1 stars out of 83 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 5 of 17 user reviewsSee all 17 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Stellarium 0.9.1
"Appreciate the design of this FREE & easy to use app."
Pros: Small in size.
Cons: No Cons, as I can see.
Summary: I didn't need the most fancy astronomy app, just something for identifying simple backyard stuff. Appreciate the art and the design of this FREE and easy to use application. It's running on my Acer Aspire Pro - and running well. Also loved alterna... read more >>
-
Version: Stellarium 0.9.1
"Satisfies all my needs for what's up tonight."
Pros: I especiaally liked the sky filter that allows me to see naked eye stars as they appear due to light pollution in my area. Veru user friendly.
Cons: None so far
Summary: For my needs it works as well as another product I currently run on my computer costing $250.00.
-
Version: Stellarium 0.9.1
Pros: More realistic than others I've seen
Cons: Nothing as of yet.
Summary: Gives a good view of what the night sky actually looks like as well as controls to look at different directions in different locations. Installed easily and runs well.
-
Version: Stellarium 0.9.1
"I've used several astronomy apps, and this is the best."
Pros: The interface is reasonably intuitive. The zoom function is amazing: as you zoom in towards a planet or other object, it seamlessly transitions into a photographic image of the object.
Cons: Slightly non-standard key commands: F1 doesn't get you help, it switches between full screen and windowed, mode. ('H' gets you help.)
Summary: I've used other star programs--some of which were quite good--to find out what's going on in the sky. This is the first one that's been so good, I just sit and play with it.
-
Version: Stellarium 0.9.1
"great product,use it for my grand children"
Pros: It has all the planets, constellations and nebula ,great teaching tool
Cons: Nothing so far
Summary: fun , educational for you and your children
- See all 17 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Previous Versions:
