Some great softwares for learning Astronomy

By adarsh on Jan 9, 2009 | In Useful Softwares | Send feedback »

This year, 2009 is being celebrated as the 'International Year of Astronomy'

So let me start the blog on Cosmos by introducing to you, some of the best softwares which will help you learn more about our Universe :)

Telescope Simulators

Stellarium, Stellarium is planetarium software which shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars. It's easy to use, and is free, with the help of this software you can pinpoint the stars and planet locations as they move along your night sky, it has also features to let you see the constellations drawings, with some good informations
Size : 40 MB , Platform Supported : Linux, Mac, Windows, License : GPL

Microsoft WorldWide Telescope : This is an attractive telescope simulator, and need Internet connection for some of it's features, (it's also a free software) WWT has got a lot of options, such as custom tours, high resolution images etc.
Size : 28 MB , Platform supported : Windows XP (Need .Net Framework 2.0, Direct X 9.0c), License : Free

Real Universe Simulator

Celestia, Celestia, a free real-time 3D space simulation featuring a database of over 100000 stars, nearly a hundred solar system objects, this one is the best thing ever built to learn everything about the cosmos, it can run custom guided tours & has a lot's of add ons available
Size : 22 MB, Platform Supported : Linux, Mac, Windows, License : GPL

Check (celestiamotherlode.net) to download a huge lists of add ons,

:)

Tags: astronomy, celestia, cosmology, microsoft world wide telescope, softwares, stellarium