Celestia for Windows

User Reviews

• Allows you to be your own astronomer...

  rkshah10November 3, 2011

  Pros

  Realistic exploration of space can be felt, including closing to our star or other star...

  Cons

  Once exploring Sun, it can be rotated but probably view panning can not be done, otherwise, in my view, there are no cons...

  Summary

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• An Armchair-Astronaut's Dream Come True

  brianmhassMarch 18, 2011

  Pros

  The program is easy to install and runs very smoothly. It provides a very realistic and accurate depiction of celestial objects in simulated 3-D space. A large number of add-ons are available. And, it is free.

  Cons

  There is a steep learning curve. Some older add-ons/scripts are not compatible with newer versions of the software. When viewing objects on planetary surfaces, the planet can "disappear" when the viewing angle with the planetary surface is too low.

  Summary

  Whether you are into astronomy or spaceflight, this program has a lot to offer. The program runs very smoothly, rendering the simulated 3-D environment at a high frame-rate. The images are very detailed and realistic. A user can use his/her computer as a simulated spacecraft to fly from one celestial object to another; or, the user can catch a ride on an interplanetary probe. The program allows the user to take virtual trips through both space and time. A growing number of add-ons are available for Celestia. These allow users to add numerous stars, extrasolar planets, asteroids, comets, spacecraft, and other celestial objects to the software's catalog. And, programmers can create new add-ons and make them available to other users. For science-fiction buffs, a large number of science-fiction themed add-ons are also available for Celestia. The software is a planetarium program, a 3-D space simulator, and a library of astronomical information. This software is fun to use, very educational, and highly recommended.

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• Exploring space was never this easy.

  progan01October 13, 2010

  Pros

  Quick responses, relatively easy to navigate, excellent detail of stars, planets and galactic objects. Very complete range of motion and display controls.

  Cons

  Non-intuitive user interface; motion controls best used as separate screen. Can be a little overwhelming for the novice user.

  Summary

  Celestia is a very complete advanced viewing tool for astronomical objects up to galactic scale, but it lacks a tutorial on using the motion and viewing controls and has a steep learning curve. Rewarding, once you learn it, which could take some time.

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• NO GO DIDNT WORK

  RAMAMAX44February 23, 2010

  Pros

  ZERO WONT WORK

  Cons

  DOWNLOADED TWICE WITH THE SAME RESULT SYSTEM CRASH(THE BIG BLUE SCREEN WITH ALL THE WHITE LETTERS AN REBOOT) VERY DISAPOINTING

  Summary

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• i enjoy it, still getting the hang of everything!

  christianharveyJanuary 17, 2010

  Pros

  I am enjoying celestia, being a person who has interest in the solar system - I find it satisfying! You can view constellations with the press of a button, etc..

  Cons

  navigation takes some practice...

  Summary

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• Excellent Simulation of Stars, Planets and Moons

  ZiorSamJanuary 4, 2010

  Pros

  It is extremly detailed with smooth fluid animation. You can go to any planet and moon in the solar system including newly discovered planets. You can even vist the American and Russian space stations and the Hubble.

  Cons

  There is really nothing about this program that I can say negative against it. It is an excellent program.

  Summary

  You can travek to any planet in the solar sytem including and moon. You can go to the sun or the hubble space telescope or the russian and american space stations. You can go to distant stars. You can seed up or slow down the time making the animation quicker or slower. You can set synchronous orbit of a planet also. Under options there are many options. I tried turning on night lights and then I went to the Earth and speed up the time so the animation was quicker and set a synchronous orbit and was able to see the night lights of all the cities when they have their lights on at night. You can take pictures of what you see and save it to the computer or save what you see to a video. There is a demonstration mode also. This program is full featured and I am only scratching the surface of what it is capable of doing. This program is a must have download and it is compleately free.

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• excellent, lots of available extras

  007cakeNovember 26, 2009

  Pros

  good graphics, tons of options, controls and settings. celestiamotherlode.net has just about everything that you could want form real to sci-fi.

  Cons

  none, its free. what else could you want

  Summary

  try it out

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• Wow.......

  nmweathermanNovember 14, 2009

  Pros

  Good graphics, easy navigation

  Cons

  None...it's a keeper

  Summary

  Celestia is an encyclopedia of space. It's a keeper. You can go here, there and everywhere with a click or two. The background stars can be identified with one click, just get them in the target and click. I also liked the click and grab feature which let one scan the entire view, 360 degrees. I must have spent an hour playing with all the menu bar options just to see what they'd do. This program is very very easy to navigate and configure and the data it will show is unbelieveable! It's a keeper...a virtual picture library of the entire universe. How can this be free??? Wow.

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• Nice images, an interesting to zoom around the Universe

  ChandosMSeptember 5, 2009

  Pros

  visuals, science content that works correctly

  Cons

  I want even more of the same

  Summary

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• perfect for space travel

  AljubouriahmedAugust 18, 2009

  Pros

  you can control the time too

  Cons

  there's no cons

  Summary

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