Stellarium
FreeA free, open-source planetarium that shows the night sky for your location on desktop and mobile.
About Stellarium
Stellarium is a planetarium that shows what you see when you look up at the stars. The desktop version is a free open-source program licensed GPL-2.0, and mobile versions are published by Noctua Software.
You can identify stars, constellations, planets, comets and satellites, step through time to see past and future skies, and adjust the location and landscape. Plugins extend the program with tools such as eclipse and observation planning. The latest Windows release adds a new Object visibility plugin and various tools for satellites, aircraft information and sky cultures.
The desktop app is free. The mobile version is listed by Noctua Software and shows in-app purchases on Google Play, so features there may cost extra. It suits stargazers, teachers and amateur astronomers who want a detailed sky chart. The desktop edition is the most complete, though its many options can take time to learn. Beginners will probably find the mobile app easier to pick up.
The desktop version is the full-featured one. Mobile apps come from a separate publisher, Noctua Software.
Version history
2 releases tracked- Windows: New Object visibility plugin
- Windows: Satellites plugin supports Alpha-5 TLE format
- Windows: Adds sky culture and AstroCalc tools
- iOS: Fixes a search input bug on iOS 27
Frequently asked
Is Stellarium free?
The desktop version is free and open source, while the mobile app has in-app purchases.
Do I need an account?
No account is needed.
Which platforms does it support?
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
Where does the download link go?
Directly to stellarium.org or the official app store for your platform. PlanetSofts never rehosts installers or adds wrappers, and these links were last verified Oct 6, 2026.