WinStars is a free and very excellent virtual planetarium application for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and Raspberry Pi platforms, developed by Franck RICHARD from France. It can be regarded as one of the most thoughtful and professional three-dimensional solar system simulation observation tools to date, and is suitable for teaching, entertainment, and viewing.

WinStars has very comprehensive and detailed astronomy information. Users can accurately view various celestial bodies in our solar system in this three-dimensional environment, such as the sun, moon, stars, planets, planetary belts, asteroids, comets, meteorites, satellites, constellations, space probes, artificial satellites, etc. It can simulate the arrangement and layout of the night sky at any place and time on the earth. Users can also select the longitude and latitude, planetarium coordinates, continental plates, countries, continents and other location information on the earth, just like using a real astronomical telescope.

WinStars uses 3D technology to display the data from space station observations into a realistic representation of our solar system. Users can tour planets, follow space probes on long voyages, or observe celestial events from distant worlds, as well as receive the latest astrophysics news from live broadcasts. In short, it is of great help to users who like to study astronomy. Of course, it can also be used as an advanced educational tool for exploring our universe.

Key Features

  • Visualize the sky as it was 500 years ago or as it will be in 10,000 years! Discover the names of the main stars or locate constellations by moving your mobile. WinStars helps you identify the objects you point at.
  • Looking for an object? Type its name and let the software guide you.
  • WinStars gives you access to a vast database of information about each object.
  • The software manages ASCOM (Windows) and INDI (Linux and MacOS) compatible telescopes. Click on an object, and WinStars points and follows it automatically.
  • The software includes a massive database of billions of objects. Each object has a detailed card updated in real-time, including distances, right ascension, declination, azimuth, altitude, and magnitude.
  • Track all satellites orbiting the Earth and predict the International Space Station (ISS)’s visibility times, for example.
  • It accurately represents the position of the main satellites of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, with zooming on the main planet.
  • It also calculates the position of hundreds of thousands of additional objects in our solar system, such as comets and asteroids.
  • Track planetary missions like Voyager 2, Pioneer 10, etc.
  • Locate all known exoplanets.
  • Indicate significant astronomical phenomena visible from your observation location.
  • Plot the celestial equator, the ecliptic, and the azimuthal and equatorial coordinate grids.
  • Represent the orbits of planets in 3D.
  • A night mode enables watching the screen in the dark without being dazzled.
  • Customisable landscapes.
  • It offers easy installation of additional modules and automated software updates.
  • The software is available in Bulgarian, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish.
  • Adding the Gaia EDR3 catalogue, containing 1.7 billion stars up to magnitude 22! (Internet connection required)
  • Adding more than 100,000 galaxies, nebulae, clusters, pulsars, quasars, and other deep sky objects.
  • Exploring the stars close to our Sun and leaving the Milky Way to visit other galaxies. Discover the large-scale structures of our Universe.
  • 3D-rendered planetary surfaces with improved textures. Fly over mountains and lunar craters or walk on the surface of the Earth, Moon, or Mars! Please note that your device must be compatible with OpenGL 4.1 (or OpenGL ES 3.2 for mobiles).
  • Displaying many comets and asteroids in their true shape.
  • Displaying the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) in various wavelengths.
  • Android & iOS : Unlocking better textures for landscape, sky background, etc. on Android & iOS.
  • Offering more interplanetary missions.

Official Demo Videos

Related Links

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