If you are passionate about stars and star maps, it is best to look for a place without too much light pollution and go out to look up. But beyond that, there are tools that can help you explore, learn more or quench your curiosity. Small free online planetariums that you can access with the best astronomy programs available.
Beyond going to an observatory or lying down to see the sky at night, you can learn about stars and astronomy in front of the computer thanks to specialized software that will give you more details or that will allow you to know everything about the stars, from home, without leave and regardless of whether or not at that time you can observe the sky well. To do this, we compile some of the best astronomy programs from our PC.
Google Sky
Google has its own “planetary” mode built into Google Earth for some years, Google Sky. It is a sky mode focused on discovering all kinds of stars, constellations, galaxies or planets. A tool that you can activate from Google Earth from versions equal to or greater than 4.2. You can discover all the space through an interface already known and very practical.
If you don’t want to download anything on your computer, Google Sky has an online interface that you can access from the Google Sky website itself and will allow you to take a walk through space. The only condition to use this tool from Mountain View is to have a good Internet connection.
Stellarium
One of the best options if you are looking for astronomy programs is Stellarium , a free tool that you can install on Windows, macOS or Linux. It is a program that you must download and install and does not use online but it will be worth it. Stellarium is a free, open source tool that has a database with millions of stars. The program will allow you to access 600,000 stars but you can expand the collection with an “extra” database that allows you to download up to 117 million stars on your computer and have all kinds of details.
Stellarium is a very simple and intuitive program, but very complete with which we can access all kinds of controls as if we had a planetarium in the room. A realistic atmosphere and even a large zoom so that we can approach each star and see more details about it.
It has no cost and you can download Stellarium from its official website.
Cartes du Ciel
Cartes du Ciel is one of the best options for astronomy programs and is available for Windows, for Mac OS X and for Linux. It is a planetarium that not only allows you to know the position of asteroids, planets and comets but also allows you to prepare celestial cards for your astronomy sessions. You can choose everything you need or let the program, automatically, use the catalogs you want, the size, color or size of each star that is displayed.
If you are looking for one of the most complete astronomy programs, Cartes du Ciel has all kinds of stellar catalogs and options and tools . Of course, it is not as easy or intuitive as that of Google or Stellarium. It is a more professional software that will allow us all kinds of options with the telescope control or visualizing the field of vision with up to ten eyepieces, so as not to lose detail.
Celestia
Celestia allows us to have a real-time 3D view of space, which makes the experience more realistic and sophisticated. It is one of the most interesting astronomy programs since it is compatible with all kinds of complements that allow us to add functions or have access to planets, stars, stars, satellites.
In this case, it is an option for all audiences: for the curious or the professionals. The program is capable of simulating space from any planet in the Solar System so you can see everything from a different perspective or you can even make trips between planets, simulation and real flight at various speeds or an automatic location. And if you want to have more detail, you have a zoom that will allow you to get closer to what you want to discover.
Space Engine
A 3D space simulator in real time. Space Engine is software that allows us to explore the entire Solar System as if we were traveling in space on a ship. It is an original and entertaining astronomy program in which we will not only know all the real data of the areas of space but also immerse ourselves fully in it.
According to the simulator’s own page, real objects are present if you want to visit them “including the planets or moons of our solar system, thousands of nearby stars with newly discovered exoplanets and thousands of galaxies that are currently known.”
Space Engine is a payment program, unlike others on this list. You can download it for Windows from the Steam website although it costs about twenty euros. Of course, it is compatible with virtual reality support and will allow you a unique experience if you like astronomy. In addition, the interface is available in 15 different languages and you can get an idea of how it will be through the images and trailers of the simulator.
Gaia Sky
Gaia Sky is a free, open source astronomy program with a 3D system that we can use with virtual reality glasses if we want to immerse ourselves fully in space. It allows you to access a real-time engine where you can travel as you want and discover more than one billion stars available.
You can move with a 360 degree mode to see everything around you and it is compatible with controls and controls to give you more freedom of movement or to discover everything that interests you.
Another of the advantages and interesting options is that it has a planetary projection option mode and with the possibility of recording or reproducing the routes you take through all the galaxies.
You can explore surfaces, it is free and has real-time filters to choose the coordinates of all types, distance or magnitude. In addition, it is fully translated into Spanish but also available in Catalan, English, German or French. One of the most recommended and free options.
WorldWide Telescope
One of the best astronomy options for beginners is WorldWide Telescope with an online tool where you won’t need to install anything on your computer. It has a large database with information, photography or videos of galaxies, constellations, stars or planets.
You can take an interactive tour through missions that the main space agencies have done or you can explore in 3D some of the planets of the Solar System. It is a very basic and easy to use tool so it is ideal for curious or for students.
Sky-Map.org
Sky Map is another astronomy program in online version that we will not have to download anything but that has a very complete catalog of stars. In addition, it allows uploading astronomical images that are approved and added to the online database.
It has images from various international sources although the negative point of this option is that it does not offer you information but you can simply enjoy images and photographs but not data. It is less complete than others on this list but it is interesting if you are looking for something basic and without installing anything.
University of Nebraska
The website of the University of Nebraska is not one of the best astronomy programs as such but it is an ideal encyclopedia to teach about the subject and where you will find all kinds of information about it.
You will find simulators that you can use online without downloading anything but you will also find encyclopedias, answers or glossaries with ideal vocabulary to learn more about the stars.
