Features include an Earth map showing day and night regions, position of selected satellites, positions of the planets, positions and phases of the Sun and Moon, sky map based on either the Yale Bright Star Catalogue or the 256,000 star SAO catalogue, including rendering of spectral types, planets, Earth satellites, asteroids and comets, and much more.Ĭomplete astronomy software suite exploring realistic skies in real time, with observing log, Sky Quiz, Live Orbits, telescope support, spoken pronunciation guide, a half-million word Encyclopedia Astronomica, and concentrated searches embracing planets, comets, asteroids, DSOs, and over 300,000 stars. Home Planet is a comprehensive astronomy, space, and satellite-tracking package for Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 and above. Platform: Windows 95 and above Cost: Free Demo: N/A

Celestia is highly recommended by Sea and Sky! You can even take screen shots of your favorite scenes. For those with fast processors, you can even download and install super high resolution images of the planets and moons enabling you to zoom in close and explore every subtle detail. A library of add-ons and expansions is available including everything from additional stars & galaxies to science fiction worlds and spacecraft. The program is highly configurable and expandable.

If that's not enough, you can download dozens of easy to install add-ons with more objects. Celestia comes with a large catalog of stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft. With it you can travel throughout the Solar System, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy. Platform: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X Cost: Free Demo: N/AĬelestia is a very unique 3-dimensional universe simulator. Due to its intuitive and easy-to-use graphical user interface, it fits well to the demands of astronomy beginners. Platform: Windows 98 and above Cost: Free Demo: Download availableĪstroViewer is a planetarium software that helps you to find your way in the night sky quickly and easily.

Stellarium software tour