Updated By - September 6, 2019

Celestia Portable Planetarium

Celestia Portable is a stand alone version of the popular Celestia interactive space simulator program. Unlike most planetarium software or astronomy software, this utility enables you to explore the solar system and universe in 3d (three dimensions). Addons are available from the Motherlode allowing you to customize to suite your needs.

Celestia Portable Planetarium

Celestia Portable

Celestia Astronomy Software Features

This popular open source, cross platform 3D astronomy software application allows users to explore and simulate the universe in real time. It was first created by Chris Laurel in the late 1990s and has since been maintained and improved by a community of developers. It is often used by astronomers, educators, and space enthusiasts to visualize and study the cosmos. Here are some of its key features:

  • Provides a realistic representation of the universe, with accurate depictions of stars, planets, moons, asteroids, and other universal objects. Users can navigate through space and zoom in on specific objects.
  • The software comes with a comprehensive catalog of over 100,000 stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft. Users can also add custom objects to the database.
  • The free astronomy software allows users to manipulate time, enabling them to view celestial events in the past, present, or future. This feature is useful for studying planetary motion, eclipses, and other time-dependent phenomena.
  • Users can enhance Celestia's functionality by installing add ons, which include high-resolution textures, additional universal objects, and educational content. This makes it a versatile tool for both casual exploration and serious astronomical research.
  • It is widely used in educational settings, from classrooms to planetariums, to teach astronomy concepts. Its interactive nature helps students better understand astronomical phenomena and the scale of the universe.

This is an excellent free planetarium type tool for anyone interested in astronomy, from amateur stargazers to professional astronomers. Its realistic rendering of universal objects and its educational capabilities make it a valuable resource for exploring and learning about the cosmos.

Specifications | Official Site | Where to Download