Stellarium is free astronomy and planetarium software that allows you to gaze at a realistic 3D view of the sky, planets, and stars by select location. There is a portable wrapper for the tool that was created by John Haller. This portable wrapper enables you to take this portable observatory or planetarium with you on removable media such as a USB flash drive. Enabling you to view the universe while on the go.
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Portable Stellarium Software
Stellarium Astronomy Software Features
This is another great open source astronomy software application designed for observing and exploring the night sky. Similar to Celestia, it is widely used by amateur astronomers, educators, and skywatching enthusiasts. Here are some of its key features:
- Provides a highly realistic simulation of the night sky, displaying stars, planets, constellations, and other celestial objects as they appear from various locations on Earth. It accurately depicts the positions and motions of objects in the sky.
- The software also includes a comprehensive catalog of stars, planets, moons, galaxies, nebulae, and more. Users can also add their own custom objects or import additional catalogs.
- Lets you control time and date settings, allowing you to view celestial events in the past, present, or future. This is useful for planning observations and studying celestial phenomena.
- It includes the ability to add custom landscapes and horizon profiles, which enhances the realism of the sky views. Users can specify the appearance of the ground and nearby features.
- Some versions can interface with compatible telescopes, allowing users to control their telescopes directly from within the software. This feature is especially valuable for amateur astronomers.
- Supports the use of plugins that can add additional features and functionality. Users can install plugins to enhance the software's capabilities and tailor it to their specific needs.
- It is widely used in educational settings to teach astronomy concepts and aid in celestial navigation. It is also used in planetariums for live presentations.
- Like Celestia, it is also distributed under an open source license, making it freely available for use and modification. This encourages community development and the creation of add ons.
This is a powerful tool for anyone interested in astronomy, whether looking to explore the night sky, plan observations, or learn about celestial objects and their movements. Its ease of use and extensive features make it a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced astronomers.
Authors Website: Project Page
Portable Wrapper: John Haller's Portable Apps Wrapper
Extracted Size: 50.5 MB
License: Open Source
Supported OS: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 (Linux, MacOS, and web versions are also available)
Downloading: You can get this free astronomy software here;
Download Stellarium portable wrapper
