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 Astrarium September 9, 2024 colspan="2" C2A May 1, 2021 colspan="2" Cartes du Ciel November 24, 2019 colspan="2" Celestia November 4, 2023 colspan="2" Digital Universe Atlas July 18, 2024 colspan="2" HNSKY June 14, 2024 colspan="2" KStars August 9, 2026 colspan="2" Stellarium September 22, 2024 colspan="2" (limited) (limited) OpenSpace July 18, 2024 colspan="2" Nightshade 2022 SkyExplorer 2024 colspan="2" Sky Map November 30, 2024 colspan="2" SpaceEngine December 5, 2024 colspan="2" XEphem February 13, 2024 colspan="2" WorldWide Telescope July 12, 2022 colspan="2" Redshift May 19, 2024 colspan="2" SkySafari December 10, 2024 colspan="2" Starry Night - colspan="2" Sky Guide August 18, 2021 colspan="2" TheSky July 12, 2024 colspan="2" WinStars December 28, 2023 colspan="2" Google Sky - colspan="2" - - - - - Digistar - colspan="2" - - - - - Shira Player (software) May 20, 2024 colspan="2" Shira Universe (software) July 27, 2024 colspan="2" PlanetariumVR (virtual reality) December 17, 2021 colspan="2"
See also Space flight simulation game List of space flight simulation games List of observatory software
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