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Friday, July 9, 2010

Best Free Astronomy Software

Updated Thu, 07/08/2010 - 16:05 by okrick

In a Hurry?

Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide

Introduction

Astronomy Software is a pretty broad spectrum, providing everything from simple mapping software (relative positions of the solar system), through detailed observation planning software to first-person planetarium software. I looked at several free astronomy programs for producing sky maps.

Unless otherwise stated all of the rated programs:

Simulate a view or the stars as if the observer is looking at the horizon.
Display the sun, moon, and major planets.
Display or hide planet names or symbols.
Display or hide constellation names.
Display or hide names or designations of the brighter stars.
Display deep space objects, e.g. Andromeda galaxy.
Display lunar phases.
Can vary the space time coordinates of the observer.
Can zoom in on sections of the sky.

Discussion

Stellarium creates fairly realistic views of the sky. The basic program has over 600,000 stars (roughly up to magnitude 9.9) with another 240 million available as an add on. This is the only free program that shows constellation groupings for other cultures.

I loved the zoom in ability which would show actual images of planets and some deep space objects. I even located and zoomed in on an image of Saturn's moon Titan as well as the asteroid Ceres.

Stellarium provides many visual effects, including the Milky Way, twinkling stars, shooting stars, clouds, and light pollution. Several landscapes are included.

The telescope control plug in allows Stellarium to control a computerized telescope. The Satellites plug in calculates and renders satellites in Earth orbit from NORAD/TLE data.

I couldn't find the Comet 10P/Tempel 2 in Stellarium. It's catalog did seem a little weak in comets.

Celestia is more of a simulator. You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy. It's catalog is expandable.

I feel this is a great learning tool for celestial mechanics. It is also a great way to view many of the objects themselves. Like Stellarium there were images of Saturn's moon Titan as well as the asteroid Ceres.

This program was designed for ease of use as a trip simulator. I found it a bit difficult to set up a night sky as viewed from my location. I suggest one of the other programs might be better for that purpose.

Celestia does not indicate constellations. It has images of a few comets but I couldn't locate the Comet 10P/Tempel 2.

WorldWide Telescope is in two versions, Windows Client and Web Client. Both versions work equally well. If connected to the Internet the Windows client automatically downloads images that aren't already in the catalog.

I felt the views were nearly the equal of Stellarium but without the ability to add visual effects. There are many images of deep space objects such as NGC 7023 as well as the major Solar planets. However, except for Earth none of the moons are represented, e.g. Saturn is shown without moons. Also there are no asteroids and only two comets represented. Moon phases are not displayed or calculated.

The Windows Client version can control a computerized telescope.

Home Planet is the only program I tested which included artificial satellites. It excels at locating comets and asteroids. There are 256,000 stars in its catalog. Planetary moons such as Titan aren't shown.

The display isn't as realistic as Stellarium, Celestia, or WorldWide Telescope. The default sky display is a sky map display, e.g. as a circle with straight up as the center and the horizon as the circumference. There are smaller displays centered on the horizon and a telescope zoom window. There are no images. Solar system objects are indicated by symbols.

Home Planet is portable.

The online offering Your Sky, like its sister program Home Planet, also excels at locating comets and asteroids. However, its catalog is limited to magnitude 6 stars or roughly 9,000 stars. Planetary moons such as Titan aren't shown.

Related Products and Links

Quick Selection Guide

Stellarium
		Default catalog of 600,000 stars. Stars shown in spectral colors. Very realistic displays with atmospheric controls. 210 million stars available as add in.
		Few comets in the catalog.
		http://www.stellarium.org
		http://sourceforge.net/projects/stellarium
		43 MB 0.10.5 Open Source Freeware (includes program code)
		Portable version available http://portableapps.com/apps/education/stellarium_portable
		Linux and Mac OS X versions

Celestia
		Excellent educational tool for celestial mechanics. Additional stars available as add in.
		No constellations. Few comets.
		http://www.shatters.net/celestia
		http://sourceforge.net/projects/celestia
		34 MB 1.6.0 Open Source Freeware (includes program code)
		Portable version available http://portableapps.com/apps/education/celestia_portable
		Linux and Mac OS X versions

WorldWide Telescope Windows Client
		Attractive display. Can control computerized telescope.
		No moons, asteroids, and few comets. No moon phases.
		http://www.worldwidetelescope.org
		http://www.worldwidetelescope.org
		40 MB 2.6.2.1 Unrestricted Freeware

WorldWide Telescope Web Client
		Attractive display.
		No moons, asteroids, and few comets. No moon phases.
		http://www.worldwidetelescope.org
		2.6.2.1 Unrestricted Freeware Online program requires an Internet connection, browser, and Microsoft Silverlight 3.0
		Mac OS X capable

Home Planet
		Excels at comets, asteroids, and artificial satellites,
		No planetary moons.
		http://www.fourmilab.ch/homeplanet
		http://www.fourmilab.ch/homeplanet
		14 MB 3.3a Open Source Freeware (includes program code)

Your Sky
		Excels at comets and asteroids
		Stars limited to magnitude 6, ~9,000 stars.
		http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky

		Unrestricted Freeware Online program requires an Internet connection and browser
		Online program